Reflection Essay Instructions

The purpose of this essay is to teach you to observe the significance of items on the landscape and to demonstrate mastery of the 5 main themes of geography. The cultural landscape reveals much about the values, history, and identity of a location. The association of the landscape with a particular area is a hallmark of human behavior and one with potentially serious consequences. Often, the very things that people correlate with this sense of "home" are actually a reflection of the 5 main themes of geography. You must address the following sections in this 2-3-page essay. You may not count a cover page and/or reference pages towards the 2-3-page minimum. This assignment must conform to current APA formatting.

• You must stroll through an area near your home considered to be a noteworthy area, such as a city or county seat of local significance. Pay particular attention to the landscape and describe what you see. For the purposes of this activity, landscape means any natural items (trees, mountains, etc.) or indications of human imprint (signs, buildings, statues) that appear vertically to the human eye and block the horizon. Describe the items that have made a particular impact or are of importance to your town or area.
• How do the items described lead you to identify with this particular area, and what items on the landscape do you identify with as being key sights or landmarks you associate with home? What sense of past and present values are expressed in this human imprint, or how has the natural landscape affected the human imprint you have observed?
• After identifying the features on the landscape and by describing what makes this area unique in terms of physical and human geography, you must look for any indications on the cultural landscape that can be described in terms of the 5 main themes of geography. For example, a railroad crossing may be a reflection of the movement theme. According to the theme of location, road signs on a landscape direct traffic a certain way. Are there tall buildings that reflect the value of real estate in terms of relative location to a particular business district? The theme of place could also be the explanation for the price of real estate.
• Describe what makes this particular area home. Use the preceding examples as a guide when writing your essay. By demonstrating knowledge of the 5 main themes, you can show an awareness of some of the spatial considerations that may reflect the values and past of this particular area.

Outline

Use the following section heading outline when writing your essay.

I. Introduction

II. General Overview

III. Region Relevance

IV. Location Relevance

V. Place Relevance

VI. Movement Relevance

VII. Human-Environmental Interaction Relevance

VIII. Conclusion

IX. References, if applicable