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Student’s Name:

SENIOR GEOGRAPHY PROJECTDUE:

2020

Everything You Need To Know To Get It Done

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SENIOR GEOGRAPHY PROJECTAn Introduction

The Senior Geography Project, or SGP, is a compulsory part of your Preliminary Course (Year 11) Geography studies. The SGP allows you to choose and investigate a topic that is of interest to you. Through your investigation and reporting you will learn and apply essential and practical geographical skills such as time management, communication, research skills, primary and secondary data collection skills and analysis of data. These skills will also be very important and useful in your working career.

This booklet has been designed as a reference point to answer many of your SGP questions and as a tool to help you progress smoothly through the different stages of your SGP. There will be some class time available to discuss your SGP and check progress, however, this is limited. The majority of the SGP will be performed by you in your own time. To make the most of available class time spent on the SGP you will need to work on your SGP in your own time regularly and bring into class and questions or comments you have on the process.

This booklet also contains a number of workshops which have been designed to help you get through each stage of your SGP. These workshops will be carried out during class time and can be used as the starting point for each stage of your SGP.

ContentStudents learn to:undertake a senior geography project (SGP) by

• selecting and researching a geographical issue which relates to the Preliminary course using active inquiry methodologies

• carrying out the investigation, which may be based in a variety of locations including the environs of the school, college or campus, as a member of a group.

investigate geographically by

• formulating a plan and asking geographical questions for active inquiry such as– what is the extent of the investigation?– when does the research need to be finished?– how much time should be allocated to the research each week/month?

• identifying a research focus for the investigation• organising a plan of investigation• gathering and processing relevant primary and secondary data• critically reviewing the plan, the process and the findings of the investigation.

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When is my SGP due?

● There are 4 parts to your SGP (parts 1 and 2 are combined).● Each part is due on a different date.● You must submit all parts to successfully complete the project.

Part Due

1. Outline of SGP focus area T1 W6

2. Research Calendar T1 W63. Report on primary and secondary T1 W10

data collection4. Draft SGP T3 W3

5. Final SGP T3 W6

A marking criteria for each part of your SGP can be found at the end of this booklet. Each part of the assessment is to be submitted on the day it is due. The only exception to this is the Final product which will be due in at 9.10 am on the due date.

What happens if I can’t meet the deadline?

Meeting deadlines is an important part of life. When you finish school you will face deadlines for bill payments and tax returns as well as at work. Meeting deadlines at school helps you learn to manage your time. You are expected to manage your time and workloads and meet the due dates set for your SGP. Most students do. In fact, creating and sticking to a timetable is an important part of your SGP.

Occasionally there are exceptional circumstances that prevent you from completing your work on time. This DOES NOT include workloads, printer or computer problems or work, social and sport commitments.

If you are sick and cannot complete your work, special consideration may be given to you. Other circumstances that prevent you from completing your work will also be considered. If this is to happen you must provide information BEFORE the due date. Time extensions will only be granted to students in extreme curcumstances.You must discuss any difficulties you are having with your teacher at least 48 hours before the due date of your work. If you must apply for an extension, you will need to fill in an ‘Application for extension’ form which can be obtained from your teacher or HSIE coordinator.

If you hand in the final SGP task late you will receive a zero mark. You are still required to complete the item.All of your hard work and effort will be wasted if this happens.

HINT This will not help!

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SENIOR GEOGRAPHY PROJECT

Board of Studies Criteria

The NSW Board of Studies wants students to achieve the following in their SGP:

P7 formulates a plan for active geographical inquiry

P8 selects, organises and analyses relevant geographical information from a variety of sourcesP9 uses maps, graphs, statistics, photographs and fieldwork to conduct geographical inquiriesP10 applies mathematical ideas and techniques to analyse geographical dataP11 applies geographical understanding and methods ethically and effectively to a research project.

P12 communicates geographical information, ideas and issues using appropriate written and / or oral, cartographic and graphic forms

Source: Board of Studies NSW, Geography Stage 6 Syllabus 1999, p. 24

The Board of Studies outcomes have been built into your SGP marking criteria. The information on the following pages will explain precisely what you need to include in each part of your SGP so that you can meet both the Board of Studies outcomes and your SGP marking criteria. There are separate criteria for each part of your SGP. Make sure you become familiar with what is required for each part. Check off your assignment against marking criteria BEFORE you submit it.

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The Outline Explained Due: T1 W6

The purpose of the outline is to communicate information on what you are planning to research. As it is an outline it does not need to provide a large amount of detail, however, it must show that you have given consideration to a number of factors such as site access, relevance to the geography course and data collection. Before submitting your outline, you will have selected a location for your study. You should also know precisely what you intend to study (aim), and what kind of information your study is trying to reveal (result or conclusion). Information on how you are planning to collect information for your study also needs to be included.

When communicating your study aim, consider using the following terms:

● To investigate ● To discover● To identify ● To analyse● To consider ● To explain● To research ● To report

Other terms that may be useful when communicating your aims include:

● the impacts● the causes

● the results● the changes

● to compare

Examples using these expressions include:

● The aim of my report will be to analyse the impact of excess waste flowing into Back Lake.

● The aim of my report will be to identify the sources of excess waste flowing into Back Lake.

● The objective of this report is to research remedies available to help minimize the impact of excess waste flowing into Back Lake.

Think about how each of the above aims is different from the other. The wording you use must be thought out carefully so that it reflects exactly what the study will focus on.

The expected result of your study should be known prior to your investigations beginning. You are not expected to carry out scientific research to discover the causes or impacts of the issue you have identified! You will, however, be expected to investigate a variety of different sources of information. These include your own observations and information you have previously learnt in geography and other subjects.

Make sure that your aim and reported result match. If it is your aim to report on an impact, make sure that that is what is reported. It is perfectly legitimate to also report on causes or cures but you must ensure you report a result that is relevant to your aim.

Some examples of communicating results for the aims shown above are listed here:

● Investigations into this topic are expected to reveal that the quality of the water in Back Lake has been drastically reduced over the past 20 years.

● The study is expected to show that excess waste in Back Lake is caused by runoff from the Merimbula Tip.

● My report will provide information on community projects which are aimed at educating local residents about the impacts on Back Lake of their use of the Merimbula Tip.

Use the following points and the marking criteria to guide you in the information you need to provide in your outline:

● Around 2 pages in length neatly typed and presented

● Appropriate headings - Aim of Study, Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, Expected Results, Access to the site. References I intend to use, Illustrations maps and Photographs, Relevance to the Syllabus and Other Relevant Information.

● A description of the location of your study. Where is it? How big is your site? Describe the environment. lat and long.

● Aim of your study Refer to the text on previous page

● Expected result of your study What do I expect the results of my study to show.

● Sources you plan to use – primary Interview, Survey, Questionairre, Draw map, Draw a transect,

● Sources you plan to use – secondary Websites, Journals, Textbooks, News reports,

● An explanation of how you intend to access the site if required Will you drive their, get lift, walk, , ride, kayak, sail

● List of any references you intend to use List titles, urls, Organisation names

● A list of Illustrations, maps or photographs of the site you plan to use (include if possible) Google maps, photos of the site,

● Outline of reason(s) you have chosen this topic Personal reasons for choosing the topic

● A statement explaining the relevance of your study to the Year 11 Geography Syllabus outcomes Link this statement to the Outcomes.

● Any other information you consider relevant to your SGP.

What is the Research Calendar ? Due: T1 W6

The research calendar is an important part of your SGP. Not only does it contribute to the overall mark, it also gives you valuable practice at working out a plan of action and guides you through the SGP process. It will give you an advance plan of all the tasks you need to complete.

Once you have constructed and shared your Calendar you should constantly check that you are meeting the deadlines you have set yourself. If you are not meeting deadlines, you should investigate why and address any problems that arise from your investigation. It may be that you have to make adjustments to your Calendar. Be aware, you cannot adjust the due dates for your SGP!

When creating your Calendar, be realistic. Everyone likes to take some time off occasionally and there are many other things you have to do. Try and factor in the time you spend at work, playing sport and attending family commitments. Don’t forget that you have other subjects and other assignments and homework to. And most of all, don’t forget to leave yourself a little time to do those things you really enjoy.

We recommend that you use the Google Calendar. Use the following points and the marking criteria to guide you in the information you need to provide in your research timetable:

● List the tasks you will need to work on to successfully complete all parts of your SGP.

● A reasonable estimate of the time you need to spend on each task should be evident in the time you allocate to tasks on your calendar.

● Your weekly allocation of time for each of the following components:o When you will study;o Time spent on your SGP;o Personal time.

o Time you will be absent. eg for a holiday

● A date that you will be beginning each task.

● A complete by date for each task. This should be at least a few days before the due date and you should have set a reminder on your calendar.

● Realistic time frames.

● Include a task for each part of your SGP and the appropriate due date. This should help guide you on what has to happen before each due date.

●

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What is the Primary and Secondary Data Collection Report ? Due: T1 W10

The report on primary data collection needs to show what primary data sources you are using. You will need to explain what information you are seeking from these sources and how you have, or will be, collecting your data. The methods used to obtain data are also very important. For example, there are ethical considerations to take into account when surveys are conducted and legal considerations to bear in mind when gaining access to and / or photographing certain sites. By presenting this information you will also be showing your teacher how well you are collecting your information and the balance of your sources.

Your primary data collection report must show the following information:

● An introductory paragraph explaining what primary sources are.● The primary data sources you will be using. (You do not need to include completed copies of your sources)

● A short statement explaining how each primary data source will be used in your project and why it is relevant to your project. For example:

“The aerial photograph of Parramatta Lake shows the density of urban development in its catchment. This will be included to emphasis the impact waste is having on hydrosphere. ”

● That you will be using a variety of primary data sources.● That you have thought about any ethical or legal considerations.● A copy or rough draft of any surveys or letters you intend to use.● 1 to 2 pages typed or handwritten and neatly presented.● A list of references.

Your secondary data collection report must show the following information:

● An introductory paragraph explaining what secondary sources are.● A list of the secondary data sources you will be using. (You do not need to include

copies of your sources)A short description of how each secondary data source will be used in your project and why it is relevant to your study.

● That you have thought about any ethical or legal considerations.● 1 to 2 pages typed or handwritten and neatly presented.● A bibliography (refer to the attached document for guidelines).

Submitting the Draft SGP Due: T3 W3

Completing the draft SGP should give you a very good idea of how well your plans and work to date have come together. When completing the draft SGP you will be able to analyse if there is any missing information or problems with you report. For example, you may realise that the result you are reporting is not sufficiently

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supported by the primary and secondary data you have collected. You may also discover at this stage that you need more photographs or another site visit or even that you have mislaid some information. Don’t panic! That is why there is a draft. If you cannot obtain the required information by the due date make sure that you clearly note in your draft report that there is additional material that will be included in the final copy. If necessary provide this information on a separate page. Give a brief description of what this additional material will be and any problems you may be having obtaining it.

Remember when writing your draft that, you must demonstrate how you achieved your results in your report. It is not enough for you to know the result and report it. You must show how you obtained a result and where you got the information from. If your actual result does not match your original intended one that is OK. Just make sure you discuss why your original result was not reached and discuss what information you have used to reach your new conclusion.

Your draft SGP should be as much like the final product as you can make it. Do not leave bits out to save time or because they will be in your final report. Your teacher will provide feedback and let you know if you need to include further information or make other changes before submitting your final SGP.

You must include or incorporate the following in your draft SGP:

● Neat presentation

● Be circa 2,000 words (excluding appendices)

● Appropriate and meaningful maps, graphs, statistics and photographs

● Discussion of all graphics including their purpose and relevance

● Description of the fieldwork you have performed

● Use of a variety of sources

● Statement outlining research methods What primary data did i use? Why did i use this type of data collection? How useful was it? What would I do differently?

● Statement outlining research findings

● Concluding discussion of findings

● Results confirmed by source data and logically presented. For example, if your report aim is to show the cause of pollution in Parramatta Lake you should present any evidence you have collected from fieldwork or data sources to show that Parramatta Lake suffers from pollution and the sources of pollution. Do not assume that the reader of your report is familiar with your study. You must carefully explain all information and support your claims with facts.

● Report presentation including title page, contents page including lists of tables and figures, references and acknowledgements.

HINT Leave your index and list of tables and figures until last so that your reportformat (and page numbers) are finalised.

Refining the Final Copy of your SGP Due: T3 W6

Congratulations on making it this far! At this stage, the more oranised you have been, the less you will have to complete for this section. The hard work has all been done. Basically you must now refine your draft report by working on the presentation, including any missed items, and

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studying your teacher’s comments to see if any changes need to be made. Do not be caught out be the due date, particularly if you have many changes to make to your SGP. Time is short, make the most of it.

After examining your report and becoming very familiar with the layout you should be able to see things that might need modification yourself. Unless there is something really urgent or time consuming you need to do, take a break from your SGP for a week before finally revising it.

MARKING CRITERIA

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIAPart 1: Outline

Name:T1 W6

Date Due: Date Received:

Assessment ExcellentVery

Good FairNot Not

Good Complete Included

Outline of research aim 5 4 3 2 1 0

Planning and Layout 5 4 3 2 1 0

Site identification 5 4 3 2 1 0

Outline of data sources 5 4 3 2 1 0

Site illustrations, maps, photographs 5 4 3 2 1 0

Reasons for topic choice 5 4 3 2 1 0

Relevance to Year 11 Geography 5 4 3 2 1 0

Presentation, spelling and references 5 4 3 2 1 0

Total Mark:......................................../ 40Teacher Comments:

Excellent: All required items have been included. Work indicates excellent effort, preparation and thought. All items are extremely well presented.

Very Good: Required items have been included.presented very well. Work indicates commendable effort, preparation and thought. Items are

Good: Most required items have been included. Work indicates good effort, preparation and thought. Items are well presented.

Fair: Some of the required items have been included. Work indicates some effort, preparation and thought. Items are reasonably well presented.

Not Complete: Few of the required items have been included. Work indicates little or no effort, preparation and thought. Items are poorly presented.

Not Included: Item has not been included. Work indicates no effort, preparation or thought. Items are very poorly presented and / or missing.

MARKING CRITERIA

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIAPart 2: Research Timetable

Name:T1 W6



Good FairNot Not


Thorough and thoughtful task list 5 4 3 2 1 0

Realistic time frames for tasks 5 4 3 2 1 0

Weekly time allocations 5 4 3 2 1 0

Due Dates 5 4 3 2 1 0

Homework and Other commitments 5 4 3 2 1 0

Time accounted for interviews etc. 5 4 3 2 1 0

Use of Calendar 5 4 3 2 1 0

Submitted by deadline 5 4 3 2 1 0








MARKING CRITERIA

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIAPart 3: Report on Primary and Secondary Data Collect

Name:T1 W10



Good FairNot Not


Introduction showing an understanding of5 4 3 2 1 0primary data sources

List of sources to be used 5 4 3 2 1 0

Description of source relevance 5 4 3 2 1 0

Variety of sources selected 5 4 3 2 1 0

Ethical / legal considerations made 5 4 3 2 1 0

Draft copies of any surveys / letters 5 4 3 2 1 0

Presentation, spelling and references 5 4 3 2 1 0








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MARKING CRITERIA

Name:T3 W3

ASSESSMENT CRITERIAPart 4: Draft SGP Report



Good FairNot Not


Formal report presentation including table of5 4 3 2 1 0contents, list of tables etc.

Within word limit 5 4 3 2 1 0

Inclusion of appropriate maps, graphs, statistics 5 4 3 2 1 0& photographsDiscussion of maps, graphs, statistics and

5 4 3 2 1 0photographs

Description of fieldwork 5 4 3 2 1 0

Statement of research methods 5 4 3 2 1 0

Discussion of research findings 5 4 3 2 1 0

Logical and relevant argument and discussion5 4 3 2 1 0backed out with data

Copies of any surveys / letters 5 4 3 2 1 0

Presentation, spelling & references 5 4 3 2 1 0








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MARKING CRITERIA

Name:T3 W6

ASSESSMENT CRITERIAPart 5: Final SGP Report


Assessment Excellent Very Good Good Fair Not

CompleteNot

Included

Formal report presentation including table of contents, list of tables etc. 5 4 3 2 1 0

Within word limit 5 4 3 2 1 0Inclusion of appropriate maps, graphs, statistics & photographs 5 4 3 2 1 0

Discussion of maps, graphs, statistics and photographs 5 4 3 2 1 0

Description of fieldwork 5 4 3 2 1 0Statement of research methods 5 4 3 2 1 0Discussion of research findings 5 4 3 2 1 0Logical and relevant argument and discussion backed out with data 5 4 3 2 1 0

Copies of any surveys / letters 5 4 3 2 1 0Incorporation of additional material, modifications, formatting as suggested by teacher after marking of draft SGP

5 4 3 2 1 0

Presentation, spelling & references 5 4 3 2 1 0


Excellent: All required items have been included. extremely well presented.

Very Good: Required items have been included.presented very well.

Work indicates excellent effort, preparation and thought. All items are

Work indicates commendable effort, preparation and thought. Items are





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Referencing and BibliographyUse the following as a guide to assist you with referencing to acknowledge either a direct quote or the use of supporting evidence within the text and the full details given at the end of the piece of writing.

Referencing shows:▫ Where the ideas have come from▫ Ideas and opinions of others▫ Source of facts▫ Source of quotes

It is important that before submitting your work, you are familiar with the correct method of acknowledging source materials. This skill can be learned by reading page 15 of your text book, ‘Senior Geography 1’. Follow the guidelines set out on this page if you are in any doubt.

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