Map Essentials

TODALSIGS• A good map must have nine elements to

be any good.1. T – Title2. O – Orientation3. D – Date 4. A – Author5. L – Legend (key)6. S – Scale7. I – Index8. G – Grid System9. S – Surrounding Area

Title

• Explains what the heck you are looking at.– Do I see London or

do I see France???

Orientation• Lets reader know

which way is which.

Date

• When was the map made?– Important because the world changes

– And maps get lonely

Author

• Need to know who made the map.

Legend (key)

• “Unlocks” the symbols on the map

Scale

• Tool that lets the map reader know distances on the map

Index

• Alphabetical list of all named features on the map– Cities– Roads– Counties– Countries– Lakes– Rivers– Seas– Etc.

Grid System

• A way for the map reader to locate features on the map– Latitude/Longitude– Number/Letter Grid

Surrounding Area

• Lets reader have context of where the map is focusing