HWK 25/11/09

 Watch the deforestation in PNG video on the home page and then paste your thoughts to the following questions at the bottom of this page:

1. Who is to blame for the rapid deforestation in PNG?

2. Can the rainforests of PNG be saved and by whom?

3. Any other points we should consider in relation to this issue

The information below is also on the common drive in the Geography area, where there is other useful and handy documents to help you write up your coursework. Use the information below as a guide for your write up. If you have any questions feel free to post them here or speak to me in school.

Coursework Write-up Guide / Check List (63 marks 25% 0f GCSE)

 Front Cover – Major Title Page Make it look impressive. Title must be a question

 Contents Page – Get the computer to do this for you if you can

1. Section headings + sub headings
2. Page numbers
3. Titles/numbers of maps, graphs, diagrams and their page number

Introduction (6 marks)

1.     Aims

1.  
   1. What is your study about?
   2. Why you chose the topic?
   3. Which section of the syllabus does it cover?
   4. How your investigation helped your GCSE / Geo understanding

2.     Sequence of Investigation

1. Why did you break your study down into hypotheses?
2. List of your hypotheses
3. Brief reasons why you selected these and what you expected to find
4. A sentence, listing the techniques you are going to use
5. Flow diagram to show time scale and different sections
6. At least 3 maps showing, Global, National and Local location
7. All maps need labels ie Map1 and Title + explanation for inclusion
8. Reasons you chose this/these location/s
9. Brief background information on country – stats and fact (CIA fact book) and some detail about the specific area you studied
10. What types of data did you collect? Eg Types include: Primary ie EQS. Traffic Counts and Secondary ie internet research and articles from the newspaper. Qualitative data ie People opinions, Quantitative data ie numbers of cars passing a point.
11. What type of sampling did you use eg random, systematic, stratified or pragmatic
12. Include all techniques including secondary data ie internet searches, photographs
13. When and where – give dates + times and references (with page numbers and map number) to maps in intro.
14. Method – Detailed explanation ie for EQS mention dividing the environment into different section to make table. Why you designed questionnaire with options and tally boxes not just blanks
15. Purpose – What reason you chose that technique? Questionnaires get peoples opinion. EQS quantifies environment making it easier to compare areas
16. Problems & Solution – Make sure you include a problem and solution for all techniques. Try to think of the obvious one that you corrected automatically.
17. Limitations – These are about the technique itself ie People might lie about personal detail. EQS only looks at section of environment  

3.     Location of study

Data Collection (15 marks)

4.     Introduction paragraph

5.     Techniques Grid – Look at example in Green Guide

6.     Examples of Questionnaires/EQS etc

1. Include actual examples of EQS, Questionnaire and reference them (with page no.) in your grid
2. Annotate or use an overlay to explain why you wrote specific questions or included specific sections of the environment on the EQS
3. Combine these 3 sections, using the hypotheses as headings eg Hypothesis 1
4. Break up text by inserting the relevant graphs/pic/maps into it.
5. An extract of the table of raw data should be included with graph
6. Wide range techniques means more than just excel graphs
7. Graphs must have accurately labelled axes and key (be careful Radar graphs start at 1 not 0).
8. Maps should have numbers, titles and key if necessary
9. Try to be original, only Excel produced data limits marks to level 2. A wide range means at least these 6: Bar charts, Pie charts, Radar graphs, Pictograms, Annotated photos and Land use maps.
10. Variation does NOT mean different looks to same graph type, ie 3D bars, columns and shaped bars are all the same type of presentation
11. Add a text box/paragraph next to each NEW data presentation to explain why you chose it and why you think it is the best for that bit of information
12. Avoid line graphs as they show a change over time. Only use scatter graphs with a best fits line to show a correlation between to variables.
13. Only hand draw if you can’t get the computer to produce it accurately
14. First, give a brief description of the data, quoting some figure.
15. Explain why you think your finding were as they were
16. Make links between the different, relevant data found using different techniques, eg EQS, traffic counts and parts of a questionnaire refer to the environment.
17. Bring in any Geographical theory you can, eg Land Use Models/Popn pyramids
18. Use figures from graphs/ reference to photos/maps to suggest if the hypothesis was proven / disproved.
19. As it is rarely 100% one way or the other comment on the extent.
20. Briefly comment if this was a surprise or want you expected.
21. This is a conclusion to your main title. An answer to the title question
22. Make reference to the different hypotheses to back up your answer eg As hypothesis 1 and 4 were proved by a large degree it would suggest…..
23. What parts reduced the accuracy of the study eg sample size was to small
24. Comment on areas that you would improve if you did it again
25. Be honest but don’t make out you were unprofessional in what you did.

Data Presentation + Data Analysis + Hypotheses Conclusions (25 marks)

This is a really important section – 25 MARKS!!!!!. So get it right. Make sure you set it out clearly. You could start by stating Hypothesis 1. Then explain how you tested the hypothesis. Then present the data. Make sure you use appropriate techniques. Dont just use bar graphs aim to have 1 cartographical technique such as flow lines or a proportional symbols map (ask your teacher about these). After you have presented the data describe what it shows – how does it prove/disprove the hypothesis. Then offer reasons for what is shown in the data be sure to EXPLAIN. Finally state if the hypothesis is true or false.

Tips: Variety of graphs & maps, describe the data and explain the data, integrate the graphs i.e. dont just have pages of graphs without any written explanation, use a variety of graphs and finally and most importantly check the mark scheme in the green guide to ensure you have the max marks you can get

7.     Layout

8.     Presentation ie Graphs + Picture + Maps + Original displays

9.     Justification of Presentation

10. Analysis of your findings

11. Hypothesis Conclusion

Conclusion and Evaluation

The conclusions should answer the initial questions posed. So if the title of the coursework is “What is the economic impact of migration on Bahrain?” then the conclusion should answer  this question. You dont need to necassarily include graphs here but you may wish to refer to the hyposthesis. Make sure your conclusion includes the following:

• Anser to the question set
• Evidence to support your answers
• Explanation of any links between ideas
• GEOGRAPHICAL THEORY
• Remember your project is not perfect you are only 1 Year 11 student so be aware that your research is incomplete and that if you had more time and resourecs you may find different information

Evaluation:

Dont lose marks by rushing this simple but vital part of teh coursework (I know its the end and you are bored of this but why lose marks at teh final hurdle). Try to include all of the following:

• The strengths and weakness of your coursework.
• What went well regarding your study
• What didnt work
• What you could do to improve
• If you were to do the project again and had more time and resources at your disposal what would you do differently
• What questions have been created by your research
• What direction could you take the project in if you were going to spend more time on it

13. Evaluation

NB Organisation, Cross-referencing, Spelling, Grammar, Writing style (12 marks)