1. Reading and understanding the question.
Ø Take your time to read the question properly.
Ø Read it several times if you have to.
Ø BUG the question (see below)
Ø Box the command word. Make sure you know what the command words mean (see below)! Read through past papers and make a list of the command terms that come up, then learn what they mean.
Ø Underline the key terms.
Ø Glance at the number of marks – this will tell you how much input is required and roughly how long you can spend on the question (around 1 mark per minute!)
2. Planning your answer.
Ø Make a short plan for essays - this will really help your essay have good structure.
Ø Your plan should indicate the main point for each main body paragraph and the order of your main body paragraphs.
Ø It should also include any case study examples.
3. Answering the question - structure.
Ø You absolutely have to use paragraphs - if you don’t, you can’t get higher than a C grade.
Ø All essays should have the following general structure:
Introduction - the aim of an introduction is to define any key terms in the essay question and to introduce the main arguments and the question. If it is a case study specific question, this case study can be introduced/background info about the case study can also be given in the introduction.
Main body - your main body paragraphs should follow the PEEL or PEACE structure.
Point
Evidence
Explain
Link (back to the question)
Conclusion - your conclusion should summarise your main points in each main body paragraph + explicitly answer the question overall + a final out of the box type judgement at the end if possible. The conclusion is what brings everything together, overall.
Ø Shorter essay questions should have a conclusion, but an introduction may not be necessary.
4. Answering the question - language
Ø You should always use academic language throughout your essay or answer.
Ø You should be using as many Geography terms as possible.
Ø Clear and concise, to the point sentences are key.
Ø Always be specific - state who ‘they’ are or what ‘it’ is.
Ø Detailed/in depth evaluation/explanation and case study information is key. Use case studies and examples (evidence) to back up your points and explanations.
Ø Sentences should not be too long - don’t be afraid to break them down.
Ø You need to watch your SPAG at all times.
Ø You should have legible handwriting, not too small and also not too big.
5. Checking your work
Ø If you have time left at the end of an exam, always check over your answers. Trust me, you will find SPAG errors at the very least.
Sample answer evaluate paragraph:
Evaluate the extent to which conflicts might occur between water users within a country.
THREE GORGES DAM PARAGRAPH
POINT
Water has, of course, many uses and as water becomes more scarce a commodity, conflicts can indeed occur between the users of the water in a country. In China, the Three Gorges Dam highlights this.
EVIDENCE
The Three Gorges Dam is a remarkable building project. It produces huge amounts of HEP, prevents flooding of the people downstream in the Hubei Province and the very creation of the dam increases the viability of water transfer schemes to the Northern Plain, an area suffering from water scarcity.
EXPLAIN (CONFLICT)
However, the very creation of the dam displaced 1.4 million people, created a huge loss of farmland and polluted the water in the reservoir through toxic pollution due to the drowned factories.
EVALUATE (LINK)
A project of this size would always create conflicts and with so many people displaced by the building, this was no different. With the cheap and abundant electricity provided and the increased ability to transfer water to areas of water scarcity, it could be argued that many more people benefitted than lost out through this project. However, the scale of benefitting from cheaper water costs against losing your home and livelihood has to be weighed up. As populations continue to rise in places such as China these conflicts may continue to come to light.
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