Geography Edexcel, A2 Unit 4: Geographical Research

I know exactly what you mean about the focus. Initially, I thought my framework would be based on scale (from local to national to international), because the pre-release material said to use a 'range' of initiatives. But, I'm unsure as to whether I should instead base my framework on effectiveness, so maybe use a range of examples, some of which have been effective and some of which haven't been particularly effective.

What case studies have you decided on so far? I'm planning on doing some detailed research soon.



Why is it you're struggling with the 'varying effectiveness' bit?

Of the top of my head, the case studies that I'm thinking of using are the EU CAP scheme, Fairtrade, GM crops etc.? What case studies have you decided on so far?

OPTION 2: Cold Environments – Landscapes and Change

•Explore the range and nature of geomorphological processes operating in glacial environments.

•Research a range of distinctive glacial landforms found in contrasting glacial environments.

Is anyone doing this? It seems rather simple... perhaps too simple.

Anyone doing Pollution and Health risks?

Yup I am

I am yes!
I'm excited because I agree, it does seem rather simple, and I really enjoy this side of glaciology too!
What case studies are you thinking of using?

How you thinking of attempting it? Any case studies in mind? I've been looking at the 2010 paper and its got something really similar

I'm a little confused at whether we need relict case studies or not! I Think I might anyways to show bredth. But 'contrasting glacial environments' implies only current.. so not sure.

I'm not sure what case studies yet - what about you?

I was trying to figure out what sort of questions they might ask but it's actually quite broad. I think i'll ask my teacher about it.

My teacher was saying we should include them. She said we can structure the report either by size, eg ice sheets vs alpine areas (alps) vs odd mountains (kilimanjaro perhaps) or active vs relict. I'm not sure though.
Case studies wise I'm most definitely using Antarctica, I have great info on that, and possibly the Alps too. Lake District probably too, and that's a relict area so I'll include it. I'm also going to include odd areas where landforms are present eg Ireland and New Zealand.

Regarding questions I have a few from my teacher:
- Discuss how different glacial landforms and landscapes can tell us about past processes.
-'Fluvioglacial deposits create more distinctive landforms than glacial deposits'. Discuss.
-'Glacial landforms are more distinct in upland areas than lowland areas'. Discuss.
-'Glaciers mainly erode. Ice sheets mainly deposit'. How far do you agree with this statement?
She said these were all posted on some teachers forum so it must be many teachers just guessing.
Check out the Jan '10 paper though, its a very similar question, pre-release, everything

Yeah I was going to do it by process, because obviously that's a huge chunk of the essay; defining and describing the geomorphological processes before debating their distinctiveness or whatever the question is asking (i.e. the analysis and then evaluation bits). I've only done one mock question and that was on periglacial processes so I realised I don't actually have much on glacial landscapes yet XD I suppose I'll have to research some places. It said in the mark scheme for Jan 2010 to 'accept periglacial and fluvioglacial processes associated with glaciers' - so I guess the same applies here.

Thanks for the advice I think I might go with Northern Canada and a couple of other places.

what are your initiatives ?

Are you talking about june 2010? Because my teacher said that too.
I'm thinking about doing malaria and looking at it from different scales and also Cuba's national health system. I still need to think of more though, what about you? Have your teachers come up with possible questions?

Yeah that's the one!.. Hmm yeah I was thinking of having 4 case studies altogether, HIV/AIDS, skin cancer, measles and obesity. That way i cover both pollution and disease. The Cuba healthcare is a good way to start, maybe comparing it up against it's north american neighbours like US? Teachers haven't come up with any questions, we're attempting the June 2010 one.. and then just looking through any aspect of management. What about you?

Why is it you're struggling with the 'varying effectiveness' bit?

Of the top of my head, the case studies that I'm thinking of using are the EU CAP scheme, Fairtrade, GM crops etc.? What case studies have you decided on so far?

I've got it sorted now! I just misinterpreted it. How many strategies are you using? I'm doing 5: organic farming, GM crops, debt relief, low to intermediate technologies and food policy. Obviously I'll be using case studies for each. I'm literally just deciding now.

Oh measles is a good idea especially as it's recent. Yeah we've been told to try june 2010 too and we're just compiling a table of our case studies at the moment. My teachers are struggling to think of possible questions, it doesn't seem as obvious as some other past papers have been. We've also had a problem with interpreting 'different management strategies' because countries with different diseases are always going to have different strategies :/
...So what I think I'm going to do is take a case study like HIV etc. in two different locations, contrast the management strategies and explain the factor that has caused them to be different. That's the structure that I have in my head at the moment but I don't know I'm still confused. Is yours similar to that?

When you say measles, do you mean like the outbreak in the UK at the moment, or is the case study global... We haven't actually learnt anything about measles so I could sound stupid here haha,

Anyone doing Pollution and Health risks?

Hi people doing Life on the margins,
Does anyone know if Fair Trade counts as a strategy? as initiatives such as kuapa kokoo can increase incomes/ equality and thus food security
I'm thinking of doing HYV'S (green rev), Fair trade, GM crops, maybe aquaculture, organic farming is a good idea
Under GM crops are you focusing on a specific countries where they have been used?
If anyone has any tips on structuring/ writing method for the report would be much appreciated,I'm retaking

thanks