MENTAL MAP PROJECT
Objective:
- To use mental maps to externalize the subjective image of the immigrant's memories of the hometown (or homeland) he/she had left behind after immigrating to America.
- To use the exercise to experience the multiculturalismin our community.
Procedures:
Understand the nature of mental maps and their expressive power on one's subjective sense of place.
Ask an immigrant to construct a mental map of the hometown (or home country) he/she left behind after immigrating to America. (You cannot draw the mental map yourself even if you are an immigrant. You have to ask someone else who is an immigrant to draw the map. (He/she could be a family member, friend, classmate, etc.)
- Maximum map size is 8.5" x 11"
- Black/white map, no colors(NO PENCIL DRAWINGS)
- Should include a map title in the map
Interview the mapmaker to catch the immigration story of the map maker and to understand the hidden meanings embodied in the map (including the oral history of the map maker's story, the meaning of map symbolism, design, particular landmarks, map orientation, place names, history, and anything map information that portray the sense of place of the map maker's homeland).
Your project write-up should include:
- The background immigration story of the mapmaker
- Explanation of the map design and meaning of different map symbols
- Your cultural interpretation of the "homeland or hometown" characteristics as expressed in the mental map
Specifications of the write-up:
It should be type-written, around5 to7pages long (not including the map), double space, 12-point font size.
If applicable, include a reference section at the end of the paper with citations of scholarly works, web links, and/or government sources.