sixthform induction booklet(1)

7/28/2019 Sixthform Induction Booklet(1)

1/10

The Kings School Grantham

Geography Department

AS LEVEL GEOGRAPHY

An Introduction to AS level Geography

Induction Week Booklet

Summer 2011


2/10

Geography is not just a subject but is part of our ever day

lives.It is not only an important and fascinating subject but it also develops a wide

range of skills that support other subjects and are valued by employers.These skills include for example: data presentation, data analysis, literacy,

numeracy, independence and teamwork (through fieldwork and controlled

assessment), problem solving and evaluation.Success at A level Geography.

How to be successful at A-level Geography:

Step 1: Organisation of your notes and hand-outs

You will need to buy a sturdy arch lever file and a set of plastic wallets.

All the hand outs you receive from both your Geography teachers should be

dated and labelled as to which part of the A level they are relevant to.

The folders will be inspected on a regular basis.

Step 2: Further readingIt is important that you make additional notes to those made in class by doing

further reading using both your set textbook and also additional books from

the library.

Step 3: Carrying out additional research

It is crucial that you research the topics that you are studying by using the

internet. Your Geography teacher will give you some suggested sites to look at

and make notes from.

Step 4: Meeting Deadlines

It is essential that you hand homework in on time. Failure to hand homework

in on time will result in your Geography teacher contacting home.

Step 5: Attendance

It is essential that you have good attendance to lessons. If you miss any lessons

you should make sure that you catch up on any notes that are missed.


3/10

How to get the most from Geography lessons

Geography lessons should be an enjoyable experience and below are a few

points which explain how to get the most out of lessons.

Remember: Lessons provide you with a valuable insight into the subject

besides just reading the textbook. They can provide new information and help

to clarify your understanding.

Preparing for lessons

Know your course: Find out how your lessons relate to the unit you are

completing and the course as a whole. Look in your unit handbook, exam

board website or wider research for more information or ask your tutor.

Reading before a lesson: Complete any work set by a teacher or find out if

there is any recommended reading you can do in preparation. Preparatory

reading will make it easier for you to engage with the lesson content. When

the lessons are linked in a series, you should also review your notes from the

previous lesson.

Taking notes: Make sure your notes are complete but try to avoid taking too

many detailed notes or just copying straight from your textbook. A densetranscript will be difficult to work with at a later stage. The following

techniques will help you make structured, useful notes.

Using structure in your notes: Use headings to order information. Highlight

examples and illustrations.

Using your own words: Putting each point in your own words will help you

understand and recall the lecture content.

Using fewer words: Reduce the number of words you use in taking notes:

detailed notes are of little use in remembering facts and ideas.

Use keywords to represent points or ideas briefly.

Add brief details of any examples or evidence that support a point.

Using hand-outs: Teachers use hand-outs to help you follow the lesson and to

highlight important information. You can maximise the benefits of hand-outs

by adding your own comments.

Highlight keywords.

Add colour to categorise information.

Add notes in the margin.


4/10

Organising your notes: A4 paper stored in a ring binder with dividers is the

most practical system for organising notes. Begin each lesson with a clear

heading, date etc Number the pages clearly so they can be easily kept in order

later on.

Following up lessons: Don't be afraid to ask your Geography teacher for

clarification either in the lesson or afterwards. Review your notes as soon as

possible after a lesson. Make the most of your review by:

highlighting points which seem particularly important or central;

adding any details which you can remember from the lesson;

adding questions to highlight areas you don't understand or need

further information on.

Overcoming problems

Failing concentration: You are much less likely to find your concentration

straying when you use an active approach to note taking. Putting points into

your own words, using space, colour and image, will make note taking a busy

but interesting activity.

Being left behind: You may find that the information is being delivered too fast

for you to write down. If points pass you by, then leave a space and compareyour notes with another student's. Doing some background reading for the

lesson will help you to keep up as the information will not be entirely

unfamiliar to you.

Exam Board: AQA Specification A

Geography at AS-Level

At AS, all candidates will study core human and physical geography. In each area of study candidates will consider the values and attitudes of

decision makers, consider their own values and attitudes to the issues

being studied and support their learning of ideas through the study of

specific case studies. Candidates will also develop a variety of geographical skills, which will

broaden and deepen existing knowledge and be employed with a greater

degree of independence.


5/10

People and PlacesYour GCE Geography course gives you a strong foundation for understanding

the two main themes of the subject: human geography and physical

geography. Between them, theyre what makes our planet tick. Human

geography deals with how people and the environment interact and the way

we both exist. It also looks at how people and groups move and live in the

world around us. For example, youll learn about stuff you see in the papers

and on the news every day, including issues of sustainability. Physical

geography on the other hand, is all about the scientific aspects of our world,

with an emphasis on how we can manage them.

Get in touch with the EarthThe end result ofstudying human and physical geography is that youll have a

better understanding of how mankind and the Earth work together. And its

not all theory either. Youll get the opportunity to visit places of geographic

interest and roll up your sleeves with some fieldwork.

Whats in store?In the classroom during the first year (AS) youll get a solid grounding in

Geography. Human and physical geography are studied with two compulsory

subjects - such as flood management and population change - along with

optional subjects which are of particular interest to you. Those optional

subjects include food, energy or health issues. There will also be geographic

investigative work and fieldwork.

In the second year youll step up to topics like tectonics, climate change, world

cities and the development of societies. Therell be more fieldwork too, with

the freedom to choose your own area of research or to use ready-made study


6/10

GCE GEOGRAPHY (2030)

AS outline

At AS, all candidates will study core human and physical geography. In each

area of study candidates will consider the values and attitudes of decision

makers, consider their own values and attitudes to the issues being studied

and support their learning of ideas through the study of specific case studies.

Candidates will also develop a variety of geographical skills, which will broaden

and deepen existing knowledge and be employed with a greater degree of

independence.

The AS specification has 2 units:

Unit 1: Physical and Human Geography

Topic list

Rivers, floods and management

Cold environments, coastal environments and hot desert environments

and their margins

Global population change

Food supply issues, energy issues and health issues.

Assessment

Externally assessed

Written Paper: 2 hours

Weighting: 70% of total AS / 35% A Level marks

Structured short and extended questions.

Unit 2: Applied Geography

Topic list

Basic, investigative, ICT, graphical, cartographical and statistical skills

Research skills and the assessment of AS fieldwork

Assessment

Externally assessed

Written Paper: 1 hour

Weighting: 30% of total AS / 15% A Level marks


7/10

GCE Geography (2030)

A2 outline

At A2, candidates will continue to study a combination of human and physicalgeography. Candidates are required to choose whether to undertake

preparatory investigative work in the field in order to be able to produce a

fieldwork investigation, or undertake an issue evaluation exercise to extend

the content within the specialised context of issue evaluation.

The A2 specification has 2 units:

Unit 3: Contemporary Geographical Issues

Topic list

Plate tectonics and associated hazards

Weather and climate and associated hazards

Challenges facing ecosystems

World cities evolution or revolution?

Development and globalisation

Contemporary conflicts and challenges.

Assessment

Externally assessed

Written Paper: 2 hours 30 minutes

Weighting: 30% of total A Level marks

Structured short and extended questions and an essay.

Unit 4A: Geography Fieldwork Investigation

Assessment

Written Paper: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weighting: 20% of total A Level marks

Structured short and extended questions based on candidates' own fieldwork

investigation.

OR


8/10

Unit 4B: Geographical Issue Evaluation

Assessment

Written Paper: 1 hour 30 minutesWeighting: 20% of total A Level marks

Structured short and extended questions based on an advance information

leaflet issued by AQA.

Geography Fieldwork: Where Geography comes to life!

The year 12 students do three individual days of fieldwork. One

related to physical Geography, one related to Human Geography and

one to write up the fieldwork days. Usually the physical fieldwork relates to rivers. Usually the Human fieldwork relates to an urban fieldwork study. The fieldwork relates to the Geographical skills exam.

RESOURCES FOR NEW SPECIFICATION AS AND A2.

Below are resources that could be accessed to help in the creation of resources

for the teaching of the new specification. There are gaps. Often these topics

are adequately covered in the general textbooks.

General Text Books/Articles

Author Title Publisher ISBN

Smith, J & Knill, R Geography AS Student BookNelson Thornes 978 0

7487 82581

Smith, J & Knill, R Geography A2 Student BookNelson Thornes 978 0

7487 82598

Geography AS Online Electronic Resources

Geography A2 Online Electronic Resources

Barker, A, Redfern, D & Skinner, MAQA AS GeographyPhilip Allan

Updates 978 0 340 946114

Barker, A, Redfern, D & Skinner, MAQA AS Geography Teacher Guide

(Pack) Philip Allan Updates 978 0 340 946107

Barker, A, Redfern, D & Skinner, M Unit 1 Student Unit Guide Philip AllanUpdates 978 0 340 948026

The Geographical ReviewPhilip Allan Updates Philips University Atlas

Philips 0 540 07696 1

Geofile: Nelson Thornes


9/10

Redfern, D & Skinner, MAdvanced GeographyPhilip Allan Updates

Skinner M, Redfern D & Farmer G The Complete A-Z Geography

HandbookHodder & Stoughton 0 340 65489 9

Redfern, D & Skinner, M Coursework and Practical Techniques Philip

Allan 0 86003 750 9 Nagle, GAdvanced GeographyOxford University Press 0 19 913407 3

Nagle, G & Spencer, KAdvanced Geography Through Diagrams Oxford

Revision Guides, Oxford University Press

Nagle, G & Spencer, K. Geographical Enquiries: Skills and Techniques for

GeographyNelson Thornes 9780 74875318 5

Guinness, P & Nagle, GAdvanced Geography :Concepts and cases

Hodder & Stoughton 9780 3407 25085

Nichols, A More Thinking Through Chris Kington 1 899857 43 5

Cook, I, Hordern, B, McGahan, H & Ritson, P Geography In Focus

Causeway Press 9 781 873929 919

Prosser, R, Raw, M & Bishop, V. Landmark AS GeographyCollins

Educational 9780007151165

Witherick, M Environment and People Stanley Thornes 0 74872 120 7

Briggs, D, Smithson, P, Addison, K & Atkinson, K Fundamentals of the

Physical Environment, 2nd

ed Routledge 0 41523 294 5

Waugh, D, Geography, An Integrated Approach Nelson Thornes 0 17444706 X

Ross, S, Morgan, J & Heelas, R Essential AS GeographyStanley Thornes 0

74875 175 0

Ross, S, Essential Mapwork Skills Nelson Thornes 0 7487 6461 5

Clark, A N Dictionary of GeographyPenguin 0 1405 1388 4

Bowen, A & Pallister, JAS Level Geography: For AQA Specification A

Heinneman 0 4353 5283 0

Bowen, AAdvanced Geography for AQA Specification A Heinneman

043535 282 2

Cooper, SAS Geography AQA (A): Core Concepts in Human Geography:

Unit 2,module 2 Philip Allan Updates 1 84489 028 7

Cooper, SAS Geography AQA (A):Core Concepts in Physical Geography

Unit 1Philip Allan Updates 1 84489 027 9

General Websites

Student action on world poverty: www.peopleandplanet.org.uk

United Nations: www.un.org

The Environment Agency: www.environment-agency.gov.uk


10/10

The Met Office: www.metoffice.com

Search Engine: www.refdesk.com (Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric

Environment (2006) Weather)

Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Enironment:

www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/english.html

Oxfam: www.oxfam.org.uk

CIA: www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook

Internet Geography: www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: www.defra.gov.uk

Food and Agricultural Organisation: www.fao.org/

S-Cool Revision Site: www.s-cool.co.uk/

GeoResources: www.georesources.co.uk

Revision Notes: www.revision-notes.co.uk

Barcelona Field Studies Centre: www.geographyfieldwork.com

Hodder Education: www.hoddereducation.co.uk (Geocases Series 2)

Where will success take me?Anywhere on Earth! If you specialise in geography at higher education (or use

your Geography A Level as a stepping stone to study geology at university) you

could find yourself doing things like charting oil wells or exploring rockformations throughout the world. And because geography is about the

interaction between people and our planet, this fascinating subject is valid for

a number of different career paths, like advertising, environmental

management, law or social services.

sixthform induction booklet(1)

Documents