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How to Write a Complete Spatial Significance - Practice

Map of Mount Vesuvius and Naples

Complete the following steps for this new map.

STEP 1:  Identify the extent of the location you are studying. Use specific language that accurately defines the area of interest in one concise sentence. Tip: define the extent based on an obvious natural or human feature.

STEP 2: Identify natural features/processes relevant to the study area.  Tip: focus on the features that define the area.

STEP 3: Identify human features/activity relevant to the study area. Tip: focus on human features that define the area.

STEP 4: Explain how the combination of natural and human features make this place unique.  Tip: unique also means distinctive, but doesn’t mean it has to be one of a kind.

STEP 5: Explain how the spatial distribution of natural or human features is important in understanding the location. Tip: important means significant: e.g., creates conflict, danger/risk, unique beauty, isolation, ecologically special or vulnerable, resource rich/poor, generating wealth/ poverty, etc.   

Take your answer from each step and revise it into a paragraph

Exemplar:

This satellite image covers the northeastern corner of the continent of Africa, primarily in the Arabic country of Egypt. Prominently featured in this image is the vast Sahara Desert interrupted by a winding ribbon of greenery that fans out as it reaches the Mediterranean Sea. Creating this vegetated feature is the Nile River, which provides drinking water for millions of people living along its banks, including the capital city of Cairo. This combination of extreme desert and fertile river valley creates a unique situation where people are completely reliant on the resources provided by the Nile’s seasonal flooding.