Interpreting ‘Geographical Media’ using TPQEEL

Model Response: Hampton Beach, Hampton, Melbourne*”’Geographical Media’=

the methods that geographical data is presented: maps, graphs, tables, videos”

T.P.Q.E.E.LTPQEEL Linking

Explanation

Exception

Quantification

Topic

Pattern

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Linking Sentence: This ‘sentence’ links back to, and allows you to summarize your interpretation of the Geographic Media being viewed.

Explanation of the Geographic Media: What is the importance of the Geographic Media compiled and presented to you?

Exception(s) to the rule: There are often instances (it is to be expected) where some ‘thing’ doesn’t fit the overall ‘pattern’ – identify it!

Quantification of the ‘Geographic Media’: The addition of ‘numbers’. Specific numerical detail(s) and definition(s) to the ‘pattern(s)’ observed.

Topic Sentence: A ‘sentence’ that states the main idea and/or reason for the existence of the specific Geographic Media.

The General Pattern: At first view of a piece of Geographic Media, what stands out; what makes an impression?

Note & Remember

By reading your TPQEEL, other people should be able to understand the data you are describing without needing to see the original Geographical Media i.e. map, graph, table.

Geographers gather DATA (unorganized information) to help them analyse and understand the world around us. The ‘DATA IS ORGANIZED’ (into information) and is represented by various and appropriate ‘GEOGRAPHICAL MEDIA’: graphs, maps, tables.

The VISUAL REPRESENTATION of data/information, serves two (2) purposes:• You can begin to PROCESS (understand) the data/information by categorizing and

classifying it so that it is easier to understand.• The NEW REPRESENTATION can allow a clearer ANALYSIS of what the data/information is

relaying.

You are now able to GENERALIZE and see the ‘most important’ features of the data/information.

This makes it easier to COMPARE and CONTRAST different aspects of the data/information and to draw CONCLUSIONS from these observations.

COMPARETo see the similarity (between/amongst)

CONTRASTTo see the difference (between/amongst)

‘Our Geographic Media’

TAKE NOTES!Describe it!

‘Our Geographic Media’

What do you see?LOOK at the Geographic Media.OBSERVE its data.

• BOLTSS? • What is ‘the data’ ‘informing us’ of? • What is ‘Climate Change’? • What is ‘Mortality’? • What do the colours mean?

Is the TOPIC:

‘Climate Change?’

‘Our Geographic Media’

What do you see?1: PATTERNSMake a PREDICTION about the GEOGRAPHIC MEDIA’s main idea or meaning.

• Look at the TITLE. • Look at the LEGEND/KEY. • Look at the CONTENT. • IDENTITY any immediate PATTERNS.

2: IMPORTANT DATA/INFORMATION• What does the TITLE tell us? • What does the LEGEND/KEY tell us? • What do the NUMBERS tell us? • Highest/lowest? • Largest/smallest? • Is there anything similar/ different/

irregular?

3: INTERPRETATION• Consider what you already know about the topic. • What does this data/information tell you in relation to what you already know? • Why is this data/information important? • How do you interpret the data/information in relation to what you already know? • What conclusion can you make?

4: PLAN your response in accordance with: T.P.Q.E.E.LThis can be done in DOT POINTS or a BRAINSTORM.

TOPIC – PATTERN – QUANTIFICATION – EXCEPTION – EXPLANATION - LINKING

Topic SentenceA ‘Topic Sentence’ is sometimes referred to as a ‘Focus Sentence’.

A ‘Topic Sentence’ is usually the first sentence in a paragraph.A ‘Topic Sentence’ essentially tells the reader what the rest of the paragraph is about.

All ‘sentences’ following the ‘Topic Sentence’ have to give more information about the ‘Topic Sentence’; state the FACTS it presents or describe it.

Every ‘Topic Sentence’ will have a ‘Controlling Idea’.The ‘Controlling Idea’ shows the direction the paragraph will take.

Examples:Topic Sentence: To be an effective Geographer requires certain characteristics.

• The Topic: ‘To be an effective Geographer’• The Controlling Idea: ‘requires certain characteristics’

Topic Sentence: There are many possible contributing factors to global warming.

• The Topic: ‘Contributing factors to global warming’

• The Controlling Idea: ‘many possible reasons’

Topic Sentence: There are many reasons why pollution in Port Phillip Bay is at its worst.

• The Topic: ‘Pollution in Port Phillip Bay is at its worse’

• The Controlling Idea: ‘many reasons’

Topic Sentence: A ‘sentence’ that states the main idea and/or reason for the existence of the specific Geographic Media.

PatternLook at your ‘Geographic Media’.Overall, WHAT do you notice?

ON A MAPIt may be the predominant shade tone.

ON A GRAPHIt is likely to be the shape of the line, the height, colour, design of a particular bar.

IN A TABLEIt is likely to be the significantly higher or lower numbers in a category.

It is this GENERAL PATTERN that you are describing initially.

The colour ‘green’ is predominant on the map.What information is the colour ‘green’ relaying?

• What relationship(s) do the other colours have to the colour green?

• The colour ‘red’ is the least present. What similarities has ‘red’ with ‘green’? What differences has ‘red’ with ‘green’?

The General Pattern: At first view of a piece of Geographic Media, what stands out; what makes an impression?

QuantificationQuantifying the data = using numbers to explain

the data

You have observed the GENERAL PATTERN of the Geographical Media.

The colour ‘green’ is predominant on the map.

Now interpret the GENERAL PATTERN with quantifying data i.e. ‘numerical’ qualifiers.

Quantification of the ‘Geographic Media’: The addition of ‘numbers’. Specific numerical detail(s) and definition(s) to the ‘pattern(s)’ observed.

Exception

What seems to be DIFFERENT from the GENERAL PATTERN?

What doesn’t seem to FIT?Why doesn’t it FIT?

An EXCEPTION is something that is ‘excluded’ (not included) from a ‘general statement/ observation’ as it doesn’t seem to follow the rule.

Stating the EXCEPTION(S) allows you and others to ask more specific questions and draw conclusions later.

Be specific about the EXCEPTION.Describe where it STARTS and where it ENDS.

If there really is NO SINGLE piece of data that stands out, then simply write/say:‘There is no exception to this trend.’

Be sure, be careful, because more often than not there is an anomaly/irregularity about the DATA.

Exception(s) to the rule: There are often instances (it is to be expected) where some ‘thing’ doesn’t fit the overall ‘pattern’ –

identify it!

Explanation

Why is the DATA/INFORMATION important?What does the DATA/INFORMATION tell us via the GEOGRAPHICAL MEDIA?

If there was an ORIGINAL QUESTION or TASK….How does the DATA/INFORMATION answer the ORIGINAL QUESTIONS or TASK?

EXPLAIN- what you are being asked –

ANSWER- the ‘Why’ reason(s) or ‘How’ reason(s) –

(there might me ONE reason or SEVERAL reasons; answer each individually and clearly)

CONCLUDE- Having presented the ‘Why(s)/How(s)’ state your

o Opinion,o General observation

Explanation of the Geographic Media: What is the importance of the Geographic Media compiled and presented to you?

Linking Sentence

This should summarise your interpretation/suggestion of the DATA/INFORMATIONand

LINK it to the ORIGINAL QUESTION / GEOGRAPHICAL MEDIA / QUERY.

Linking Sentence: This ‘sentence’ links back to, and allows you to summarize your interpretation of the Geographic Media

being viewed.

Geographical Terminology PQE – Pattern,

Quantification, ExceptionGeographical Terminology that you can use when describing a PATTERN:increase, decrease, gradual, rapid, trend, inverse, minor, major, steady, fluctuate, plateau, even, uneven, dense, sparse, concentrated and like.

ALWAYS:Refer to the TITLE of the Geographic Media that you are describing.

Geographical Terminology that you can use when QUANTIFYING:On graphs/tables:

use the units of measurement: degrees, Celsius, metres, dollars, euro, percentages, etcOn a Map:

hemispheres, continents, regions, directions, bodies of water, names of countries, etc

Geographical Terminology that you can use when stating an EXCEPTION:• Be specific about the exception.• Use data/information from the graph/map/table to precisely describe the

anomaly/irregularity.

ALWAYS:Refer to the TITLE of the Geographic Media that you are describing.

Example:

Hampton BeachThe next few slides, using HAMPTON BEACH as an example, will outline the process for interpreting data using the T.P.Q.E.E.L. Structure, with a model question.

Hampton BeachUsing Source 1: Seasonal

longshore drift at Hampton Beach, Port Phillip Bay, evaluate the impact of man-made coastal management strategies on the natural processes at Hampton Beach.

Source 1:

TOPIC SENTENCETopic Sentence:

A ‘sentence’ that states the main idea and/or reason for the existence of the specific Geographic Media.

Source 1:

Model Topic SentenceSource 1: ‘Seasonal longshore drift at Hampton Beach, Port Phillip Bay’, demonstrates the impact of man-made coastal management strategies on the natural process of seasonal longshore drift at Hampton Beach. During Summer the direction is North-West and in Winter, South-East.

PATTERNThe General Pattern:

At first view of a piece of Geographic Media, what stands out; what makes an impression?

Source 1:

Model ‘Pattern’ ResponseOverall, this map highlights that the seasonal direction of the

prevailing wind determines the direction of the longshore drift and therefore the direction of sand build up along the coast.

The Summer build up is indicated by the ‘purple’ arrows and the Winter build up is indicated by the ‘green’ arrows.

Example sentence starters:• The overall pattern of X could be described as uneven/even;• This graph shows/demonstrates/highlights/exemplifies/

illustrates/supports the idea that….

QUANTIFICATIONQuantification of the ‘Geographic Media’:

The addition of ‘numbers’. Specific numerical detail(s) and definition(s) to the ‘pattern(s)’ observed.

Source 1:

Model ‘Quantification’ ResponseSource 1, demonstrates how the Marina breakwater interrupts

this natural process. As shown in Source 1 by the ‘purple’ arrow, the wind directs the swash towards the beach in a north-westerly direction causing longshore drift to transport sand north along the beach in Summer. However, in Winter, the wind direction is altered; the sand is transported and built up in the southeast of the beach.

The ‘green’ arrow at ‘Sandringham Harbour’ illustrates that some of the southern build up of sand that occurs in Winter is trapped in the Harbour and is not able to move north in Summer. This is made clear by the greater width of the beach in the south of the coast compared to the north. According to this map (Source 1), the south beach is approximately 100m wider than the north beach.

EXCEPTIONException(s) to the rule:

There are often instances (it is to be expected) where some ‘thing’ doesn’t fit the overall ‘pattern’ – identify it!

Source 1:

Model ‘Exception’ ResponseHowever, it should be noted that some sand is not trapped and is

able to follow the natural process of moving north in Summer. This suggests that the strength of the longshore drift in Summer is able to overcome the man-made barrier of the Marina breakwater.

EXPLANATIONExplanation of the Geographic Media:

What is the importance of the Geographic Media compiled and presented to you?

Source 1:

Model ‘Explanation’ ResponseA possible reason for this build of sand in the south of Hampton

Beach is the Marina breakwater. While all sand is transported south in Winter by longshore drift, some sand is trapped in the Harbour and is not moved north by the changed prevailing wind in Summer. However, some sand is transported north in the Summer. This suggests that the strength of the longshore drift in Summer is able to overcome the man-made barrier of the Marina breakwater.

Example sentence starters:• These results suggest that/this can be explained by;• A possible reason/some possible reasons for this are…

LINKING SENTENCELinking Sentence:

This ‘sentence’ links back to, and allows you to summarize your interpretation of the Geographic Media being viewed.

Source 1:

Model ‘Linking’ ResponseWhile the seasonal direction of the prevailing wind and therefore

longshore drift, affects the direction of the build up of sand along Hampton Beach, man-made coastal management strategies such as the breakwater also have a great impact on these natural processes.

What is a 'Topic Sentence'?Poster: Climate Change Hurts: Fabrica

Copy and paste into URL (Data Analysis: Word Sheet):vanweringh9.wikispaces.com/file/view/Data+analysisPQE.doc

Webography & Resources

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