Edexcel Unit 4 6GEO4 Revision The last phase before the exam! June 2012 10 top tips for success

1. Edexcel Unit 46GEO4 RevisionThe last phase before the exam! June 201210 top tips for success • Contents • 1. Audit of research and exam skills • 2. Tackling the pre release material • 3. Enquiry Qs and synoptic element- topic maps for each option • 4 Familiarity with the exam paper • 5. What is the report style essay product • 6 Research and preparation for content and report product • 7 Example of the whole process using Option 5 • 8 Characteristics of weak and good work • Common problems in exam- solutions? • 10 tips for success and FAQs

2. 1. How would you rate your own abilities? Revision skills- what do you use? Textbooks Original Notes Summary notes Cue cards Vocabulary glossary Practice exam Qs Topic maps.... Research Audit 1 poor to 5 good- total /50 Exam skills audit 1 poor to 5 good- total /50 Revision? Interpretation of Command + Key words in Question? Planning the answer? Time management? Use of technical language- geographical vocabulary? Keeping to the point? Creating a report style product? Sourcing? Showing evaluative skills? Creating an effective final conclusion? • Organisation? • Taking the initiative? • Problem solving ? • Effective researching from a range of sources? • Being flexible? • Time management? • Meeting deadlines? • Self-discipline? • Working outside of class? • Keeping orderly file? ...independent learning is highly valued by universities and employers.... Kim Adams

3. 2. What are You doing now to prepare? Sample pre release

4. Examples of how the pre release helps the real exam Q Have you looked at sample titles from the main textbooks and the sample assessment Materials on the main Edexcel website? Kim Adams

5. 2 As soon as you get the pre-release research focus: • Dissect it by relating it back to the specification. • Discuss it with your peers and teacher. • Ensure you know what ‘Explore’ and ‘Research’ actually mean. • Make a list of any key concepts and models likely to help • Which terms in your glossary may help? • Practice linkage words, to make your report structured and logical. • Marshall the parts of your file most related to the focus • Make final summary fact-files of your main case studies/examples: precise details are required in final exam for top grades • Identify the complexity in the focus- Geography rarely involves black and white decisions- where’s the element of gray? • Try to practice different introductions and conclusions - especially to time. Your plan should take 5 mins or so, introduction should be written in 10minutes, main conclusion in 10 minutes. • If you haven’t tried writing a full report in 90 minutes with no notes, now is the time! • Remind yourself of the components of the generic mark scheme: the formula is D+R+A+Q+C = 70! Kim Adams

6. 3 Enquiry Questions and Synoptic element- Topic mapping • Within each Option there are 4 Enquiry Questions, and sub questions to break up the topic into manageable chunks. • Each report style essay will either cut across several Enquiry Questions, or will examine several sub questions. • The synoptic element of People-Places –Power is built into each Enquiry Question Kim Adams

7. Topic mapTectonic activity and hazardswhere is the focus of YOUR prerelease title? Reasons for living in tectonic zones Range of Hazards + disasters Range of impacts Event profiles Tectonic Hazards + Causes Tectonic Hazards Human Impacts Links to economic develoment Trends frequency + impact Causes Plate margins Impacts from extrusive activity Types of approach + economic development Volcanic landforms Tectonic Hazards Physical Impacts Responses to Tectonic Hazards Effects from intrusive activity Effects from earthquakes Effectiveness of approaches and trends Strategies • Explore the factors which influence the effectiveness of responses used by different groups of people to cope with tectonic hazards. • Research volcanic and seismic hazards to examine the range of responses applied in contrasting locations Kim Adams

8. 4. What will the exam look like? • Exam booklet • Writing instructions on front page – eg BLACK pen! • Report titles-NB You have NO choice! One per option only • A page specifically for Planning • C.15 more blank sides • ENSURE YOU ANSWER THE OPTION STUDIED IN THE EXAM!! Kim Adams

9. 5. The exam product: What is a report style essay? • You need to merge traditional essay writing style with report style to produce a discursive argument organised into structured sections. • A report is a conventional method of presenting precise information. • Report style is highly structured and organised. • It is tightly focused on the subject of investigation • An effective report will also be compelling and stimulating to read. • Report titles will require an analysis and assessment of a situation. Plan Introduction Pollution provides substances, usually toxic chemicals, and conditions in the environment, especially in the air and in water supplies that create a risk to the health and well-being of people( online Medical Dictionary). Most pollution, whether incidental or sustained, is sub-lethal in effect, increasing morbidity rather than mortality, but may weaken the human system so it is vulnerable to another disease or even another pollutant . Series of linked sections ordered by concepts or case studies + sub conclusions Conclusion Kim Adams

10. DRAQ is the shortened reference to the generic mark scheme. Writing frame model K Adams 2009

11. Choice of option Research Pre release Revision Final exam  6. Research and preparation Planning before and during exam is essential. • It saves time- makes you a more efficient independent learner and achiever ! • Ensure you have a timeline, listing the days/ weeks up until the pre-release and final exam. • Add interim deadlines for research, class work such as presentations, and practice report essays. • Plan the information you need to collect and set aside time to organise the material. • The key is to achieve a balance between ‘reading around’ a topic as well as a focussing on specific aspects. • Last minute; revise vocabulary, key facts for mini examples and longer case studies, practice planning tiles in 5 minutes, actual introductions,ensure you know what the command words mean for A2...... There are 3 main factors to consider to give your report a sound framework, clear style and an attractive, readable appearance: I – Structure II - Content and discussion III - Language and presentation Kim Adams

12. Structure • Report essays need logical form and shape i.e. structure • As a basic structure you should think: Kim Adams

13. Plans and introductions Pull apart the Question: identify the: • Command words e.g. discuss, analyse, explain….. • Identify the key words e.g. all, mainly, increasingly • Identify the range of case studies/examples needed • Identify any restrictions i.e. case studies or themes that do not fit the question. • In your introduction : • Discuss • Define • justify • Are always marked, even if crossed out • Messy scribbles which help YOU are fine • Do not over-plan (take too long planning) to detriment of real report-essay. • A planning page is designated in the examination answer booklet Kim Adams

14. Example of Plans Kim Adams

15. Style and Quality of Written Expression Your sentences must be grammatically correct, well punctuated and words must be spelt accurately, especially geographical terminology and place names. Poor writing regularly indicates muddled ideas Use short sentences rather than rambling, long complex ones! Remember you are writing to communicate not to perplex or impress. Avoid jargon. Focus on the specific title. Every part of the essay-report should relate to it, and this will help to keep the report concise and coherent. Accuracy is vitally important so always be precise. Know the material you are trying to convey • Essential to practice hand written Report Essays before final exam • Assess the general layout of your product: • use proper report style with sections and paragraphs . • Use diagrams and figures • Bullet points are acceptable if part of an argument or diagram. Remember to reference any diagrams in your text as Fig 1, 2 etc • Use A-Level vocabulary and style, e.g. linking words, for example ‘in comparison’, ‘however’ • Is your argument easy to follow by the examiner? Kim Adams

16. Practising report style essays and the Exam The Exam Product: • A report has sections / numbered sections, headings, diagrams and possibly bullet points. • Structure is a key element of the report, make it obvious to the examiner! • One key aim is ‘readability’ – e.g. paragraphs need to be more than one sentence and linked logically. • Avoid colloquialisms( e.g. sad, cool) and abbreviations (e.g. etc, don’t). • Avoid “I did this or that” and write in the third person(e.g. “it can be seen that….”) Ans on next slide! Kim Adams

17. Language.... Kim Adams

18. Case studies and examples • Do not fall into the trap of collecting dozens of detailed case studies for the sake of it. • You will not be able to use them all in the final exam which is only 1 ½ hours! • Several extended examples and some really in depth case studies which cross over all the subsections is the best preparation for the final exam. • The key is to be flexible in your final choices and selection in the exam: to reject information as well as accept it!  Kim Adams

19. Usespecialist Geographical vocabulary: name at least 4 technical terms from YOUR OWN option Ans on next slide! Kim Adams

20. Use Specialist Geographical vocabulary: Kim Adams

21. Facts, stats and topicality • Facts- make factfiles for each of your case studies- dates, locations, types- ’ learning these is essential. • Real life geography: do not repeat information, or use overly similar examples. Are the comparisons between case studies wise, e.g. can you really compare an infectious disease with a trauma in terms of effects, or responses to a volcano and an earthquake ? • If relevant to your question, try to show the global spectrum of economic development rather than just the outdated N-S. • Be topical if you can. well researched older case studies are fine so long as they are brought up to date- for example what is happening now in Denali? Antarctica? Kobe? Bam? Chernobyl? Bhopal? Darfur? AIDs/HIV ,’ Food 2030 strategy of UK Government Jan 2009……….latest tsunami, earthquake, volcano....Swine Flu........ Kim Adams

22. Evaluating and conclusions • You get marks for evaluating throughout the essay, so after each main section have a link back to the title • Conclusion- • How long? • What should you put in it? Ans on next slide! Kim Adams

23. Evaluating and conclusions • Conclusion- This section, probably ¾ or a side of writing, is a summary of all the major findings made at stages throughout the report. • No new evidence or examples should appear here. • The conclusion consider the evidence presented in the main body, draws out the implications and brings it to one overall conclusion or an ordered series of final conclusions. • There should be obvious reference back to the title and your SPECIFIC case studies. • You might want to make reference to the future if relevant Kim Adams

24. Methodology + Sourcing . Quote some key references eg BBC news website, USGS, Greenfacts, New Scientist, Geography Review, key text or podcast or DVD Best=…..in your report, ........as a footnote .......or( less effectively )at the end as a mini Bibliography. Avoid vague reference to Google or Wikipedia or The BBC website! • Marks are awarded for briefly showing how you selected data • Eg from reputable sources • Range of sources • Possibly fieldwork • How you sampled data eg an example from a MEDC NIC LEDC LDC or from a range of scales, impacts etc • Mention in your introduction if possible Kim Adams

25. In the exam.......be a detective and a Rottweiler- look for clues and tear up the title! • Remember the mark scheme always! Kim Adams

26. 7 Example of a Pre release Research steer: Option 5Explore the complex causes of health risk and how some of these may be generated by pollution.Research a range of case studies causing different types of health risks  Unpicking the steer 1.Identify the overall causes of heath risk: infectious and degenerative/ chronic diseases. Range of causes: result of human lack of knowledge, poor choices in life styles or external causes, such as pollution, or environmental change. 2. What are the links to pollution? sustained and incidental/point pollution, toxicity, then impact on societies health. • direct (such as asthma and air quality) •  indirect, ---global warming leading to a spread of malaria • short term -- diarrhoea/cholera from water pollution- more a localised meso/micro scale) • long term --- ozone depletion and melanoma- global macro scale)  3. You need examples of health risk NOT linked to pollution too, such as TB,HIV/AIDS or obesity or ‘debt depression’ • Models --epidemiological model and Kuznet environmental curve may help focus research. • topical data on pollution? Other health issues? • Note all books, articles, DVDs, websites etc used. Check authenticity/reliability. Kim Adams

27. To what extent are the causes of health risk linked to pollution ? IN THE EXAM: BUG the Q! Box command word Underline key word Glance back at whole Q to make sense! Kim Adams

28. Obvious report style sections immediately Introduction- how to get 10/10 Gripping start! Shows understanding and doesn’t just repeat title • 1.1 The scale of the issues • Health risks are caused by a variety of internal and external factors, and can be classified into chronic, infectious and trauma types. However, the fact that both the World Health Organisation and the UNs Millennium Development Goals, view pollution control and prevention as critical in health risk management, highlights the potential relationship to be discussed in this report. • In 2008 the US NGO pressure group, The Blacksmith Institute, publicised the global health burden from pollution rather than just listing toxic hotspots in developing countries. This followed a 2007 Cornell University study attributing 40 % all deaths globally directly to pollution. • Pollution has changed from a fairly localised problem in communities to a much more globalised transboundary issue creating health risks,. This report will focus on a range of locations and scales, from the UK to China, hot spots like Chernobyl and China’s cancer villages. K Smith and M Ezzati, from Berkeley and Harvard Universities and Omram’s epidemiology model will also be used.(Fig 1). • A range of reputable sources will be quoted within the report from the WHO to the BBC. More biased data from pressure groups and governments will be used too ,for example Blacksmith Institute US NGO and China’s EPA, an agency uder Government control. Clear ref to title- introduces players Develops a focus Specifically refers to diagrams Indicates methodology ie sampling techniques nKim Adams

29. Accurate definitions key terms • 1.2 Definitions of pollution and how it may create health risks Pollution provides substances, usually toxic chemicals, and conditions in the environment, especially in the air and in water supplies that create a risk to the health and well-being of people( online Medical Dictionary). Most pollution, whether incidental or sustained, is sub-lethal in effect, increasing morbidity rather than mortality, but may weaken the human system so it is vulnerable to another disease or even another pollutant . • 1.3 Other causes of health risk Apart from pollution there are two other arguably more dominant causes of health risks, see Fig 2 health risk classification.Chronic diseases were once common only in more industrialised areas like USA, Japan and Europe, but are now a feature of transition economies like BRIC which are now suffering a ‘double burden’ of disease as well as pollution generated illnesses from their rapid industrialisation. Fig 2 Shows complexity of title simple tables useful Kim Adams

30. Fig 2 The Environmental Risk Transition INDIVIDUAL Household Sanitation + water quality CASESTUDY Darfur and Winchester MESO SCALE Community Urban Pollution rises with rapid urbanisation then falls with good management –case study Mumbai GLOBAL Climate change Today’s biggest pollution risk case study Copenhagen 2009 Severity Of impact Increasing Wealth/ development Global, delayed, risks to life support systems because world affected Simple black and white diagram Effective communication CUSTOMISED FOR THIS TITLE!!!! Shifting Environmental Burdens Local, immediate, risks to human health Omram model: over time health burdens change: pestilence receding infectious pandemics..>chronic diseases emergent/remergent diseases

31. Summary of rest of report... Wide range relevant case studies/egs and concepts Accurate topical • Section 2 pollution types and their associated health risks •  2.1 Air pollution and health risk: the case studies of Chernobyl and UK air quality •  2.2 Water pollution and health risk: the case of cholera 2.3 Spatial shifts in health risks from pollution • 2.4 Focus on China’s overall health risks including pollution • Non pollutant health risks elsewhere • 3.1 Health risks from infectious diseases • 3.2 Health risks from chronic diseases Mixture of prose, bullet points, mini diagrams... USING PEE MODEL! Point.Example, Evaluation All research directly applied to title Cogent (ie reasoned, convincing)argument Diagrams used to support answer Kim Adams

32. NB there has been ongoing evaluations throughout Conclusion Clearly stated end conclusion •  It has been shown that pollution has long been a part of health risks to humans, with a shift in the last few decades from the formerly industrial nations of the west to current developing and transition economies such as Darfur and China respectively. Both diffuse and point sources are involved, shown in the Chernobyl and China air quality examples. The fact that watch dogs like the Blacksmith Institute and global scale players like the United Nations focus on pollution issues indicates the importance of this to human quality of life. • The clearest direct link between pollution and health risk was shown in the Chernobyl case study, although as the BMA has stated recently, that there is overwhelming evidence now linking air pollution with increases of asthma as well as lead and the latest pollution source :e-waste. • This report used China as a major example since it demonstrates all health risk challenges , is the largest current scale globally of pollution related health issues and also the ‘time bomb ‘of chronic diseases .Pollution is estimated by China’s own environmental agency and the World Bank to account for up to 5% of total GDP by 2008! • Health risks certainly do have complex causes, and both pollution and health are priorities in the current MDGs targeting hotspots of risk. However, despite all the evidence shown in this report, statistically still the most important challenges to human health are infectious and especially degenerative health risks, as indicated in the rates of TB and obesity in the UK, with a double health burden in transition economies like China. Thorough recall of case studies and concepts used earlier Understands complexity of Q Kim Adams

33. Summary of Mark scheme • So when your examiner is thinking DRACQ and awarding up to 70 marks, have you maximised your chances for success? • Would you give your Definitions/ introduction and conclusion 10 marks each? • Have you identified the complexity in the focus- Geography rarely involves black and white decisions- where’s the element of gray?! • Have you shown both range and depth in your Research for 15 marks? • Have you really tried to fit the data to the title and get the highest Application/ analysis marks? • How close to 10 will you be on Quality of Written Communication? Kim Adams

34. How did this student fare with the mark scheme? A very cogent, competent response. Kim Adams

35. 8 Characteristics of weak and strong exam work Kim Adams

36. Characteristics of strong exam work Kim Adams

37. 9 Common Problems in exam-…Solutions! Problem

38. 10 So, Student Success? • S= use all your SKILLS as a geographer- synthesis! • U = Understand what is required • C= act on command words • C= select relevant case studies and concepts • E =Exam Question: choose the one you have prepared for even if others look suddenly more interesting • S=keep to strict time scale when researching and IN the exam itself • S= make sure you know the mark scheme and how the examiner will be marking your work.

39. Unit 4 FAQs • When is it examined ?– Exam in Jan or June • How long is the exam?- 1 hr 30 min • What type of Question is asked?- One long essay/report to showcase and synthesise research results • What is it marked out of ?- 70 worth 40% of A2 and 20% of total A level marks • What is the Pre release focus?- A steer to the actual exam title given 4 working weeks before exam to focus your revision. • Can I wait until the pre release and do my work then-NO! You will find the 4 Enquiry Qs studied over a long period are essential for the final question in direct and indirect ways • What are the enquiry questions? -There are 4 parts to any option chosen, all must be studied and the exam Q will often expect coverage of more than one enquiry question • How many Qs to choose from?-Only one in your chosen option • Can I take my notes in?- No • Do I have to do the Q on the option I have studied at college/school?- Yes • Time is very short to write a long report , will I need to do a plan in the exam? -Yes, there will be a separate page for a plan in your examination booklet. Plans are invaluable in selecting correct information, rejecting other information not directly relevant, in keeping your trend of argument on track and in structuring your final product • Should I quote where some of the information originates from?- Yes, you can mention how you selected data and then refer to authors/sources either in the main body, as simple footnotes or an end mini bibliography. Avoid references to just Wikipedia and Google and school/college intranet! • Should I use just the information given in class by my teacher?- No, you are required to show independent geographical research. Showcase any initiative you have taken, eg emails, fieldwork….. • Can I write a simple essay? NO you will not maximise your marks, a REPORT is required!