Modern Geography emphasises the integration of Physical and Human Geography within issues such as natural hazards, the globalisation of economic activity, the increasing pressure on resources resulting from population growth and urban land-use conflicts. It is concerned with a rapidly changing world and every student will have the opportunity to discuss controversial contemporary issues. Popular topics include inner city deprivation, managing tectonic hazards throughout the world with an emphasis on recent disaster events, the opportunities and challenges presented by hot desert environments, managing energy resources and sustainability.
We will be following the OCR Geography specification. This contains the following units:
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LEVEL &
UNIT
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CONTENT
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QUESTION STYLE
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AS
UNIT 1
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Managing Physical Environments
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Both short answer and essay style questions
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Worth 50% of total AS Level (or 25% of A2)
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This unit focuses on three contrasting environments; glaciated areas, river hydrology and coastal environments. Pupils develop an understanding of how these dynamic environments change over time and place, along with an appreciation for how human activities can influence and alter physical systems.
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AS
UNIT 2
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Managing Change in Human Environments
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Both short answer and essay style questions
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Worth 50% of total AS Level (or 25% of A2)
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This unit focuses on three key aspects of human geography; managing urban change, managing rural change and the energy issue. Pupils consider topical issues such as urban deprivation, conflicts within rural areas andthe problems associated with the exploitation of energy resources.
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A2
UNIT 3
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Global Issues
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Both short answer and essay style questions
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Worth 30% of A2 Level
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This unit focuses on developing an understanding of the diverse and dynamic factors responsible for global issues. Pupils learn to synthesise knowledge from both human and physical geography and will study the impact and management of Earth hazards, the increasing pressure on resources as a result of population growth and the globalisation of economic activity.
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A2
UNIT 4
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Geographical Skills
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Both short and long answer questions
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Worth 20% of A2 Level
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This unit focuses on developing the skills needed to enable each pupil to undertake their own piece of fieldwork based on a topic of their choice. Pupils should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fieldwork techniques relating to both AS and A2 Level topics.A varierty of human and physical fieldwork activities will help to prepare pupils for this paper.
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Geography is concerned with the real world past, present and future. It may be studied together with Sciences (eg Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Biology), arts subjects (eg History, English or Modern Languages), or social sciences (eg Business Studies or Economics). It allows the Science specialist to develop important literacy skills, and the Arts specialist to develop skills in numeracy and graphical work.
Whilst a GCSE in Geography is not a pre-requisite for the A-level course, it is certainly helpful. The physical topics, in particular, demand a knowledge of terminology and processes that builds on GCSE understanding. However, in recent years, some pupils without a GCSE in Geography have gone on to successfully study the subject at Advanced Level.
Members of the Geography Sixth Form are normally expected to hand in two pieces of written work per week, one to each of the two members of staff teaching their set. Fieldwork is an integral aspect of both AS and A2 Level Geography. Students are expected to join all fieldwork exercises, including a trip to the Olympic development in London in the Lower Sixth, and to attend a residential field study course in both years of the course. The Lower Sixth residential course is normally held in the latter half of the Lent term, while the Upper Sixth course is held in the middle of the Michaelmas term.
All A Level Geographers automatically become members of the Geographical Society and are invited to film evenings, lectures, local trips and university visits. Many join school expeditions abroad. In recent years the Geography Department has organised overseas trips to South West USA, China and Costa Rica and this year we will be spending ten days in Thailand studying the impact of tourism amongst the northern hilltribes, globalisation in Beijing and tsunami protection along the south-western coastline.