Edexcel Geography Unit 4 Pre-release

So the Unit 4 pre release material came out today, for the Jan 2012 exam. I take it that this is the first thread on the exam, and I just wanted to discuss resources/essay plans/ideas with anyone who is doing the paper on Cultural Diversity.
Incase you didn't get the steer today, this is what is stated:

Explore how far cultures need to change and adapt when threatened by a range of environmental, socio-economic and political pressures.
Research a range of human cultures showing different rates of change, degrees of cultural evolution and survival.

This has scared me slightly, as all of the past exams have been based on globalisation, and there is no mention of the concept here!
I'm self teaching myself the unit, so I'd love to discuss ideas with anyone who is doing the exam.

Thanks!

I know what you mean that is kind of weird, the whole over time thing but apart from that the pre-release seems to be pretty decent. Just it all seems very real and looming now. I read someone on another thread said this about case studies 'thinking bout using Japan, Asia 2004, Haiti, North-ridge, Hawaii and maybe Yellow Stone, purely because of 'over time' part'. Not too sure what to think about it at the moment as will only have a lesson on Wednesday. If you find anything on the over time part I would really appreciate it.

Argh! This is my worst nightmare, I really wanted a question on globalisation too.

Hey don't know if you got my message. What case studies are you thinking of using? I'm seriously freaking out over this!

Hey don't know if you got my message. What case studies are you thinking of using? I'm seriously freaking out over this!

Agreed! It is just the over time bit that has thrown me. My teachers were talking about using Krakatoa (VEI 6 - eruption in 1883) although I am unsure about this because there is little economic data (which I know suggests something) but it would be difficult to make comparisons of the changes over time. Also most of the impacts were environmental (global cooling ect...). Apparently my teachers have emailed the exam board to see if they can get it narrowed down a little so I will let you know the response we get I don't have a lesson til Thursday.

did you get a reply form the exam board? i dont know what case studies to use to over time bit suggests to use old and new but i dont know how old is too old!

Teachers never said..the case studies we are focussing on atm are Sendai EQ/Tsunami, Haiti 2010, Nyriangongo 2002, IOT 2004 and Kilaeau...we have briefly looked at Great Kanto and Krakatoa for the over time bit and I think we are going to use the Parks Model with the impacts labelled. How about you? I will be on here more next week, have a week or so of solid geography revision next week so will have found out more by then

Our teacher has kind of left us to do our own thing which isn't ideal but I was thinking:

Earthquakes - Kanto, Kobe, Haiti
Volcanoes - Mt St Helens, Nevado Del Ruiz, Eyjafjallajokull (maybe krakatoa not sure!)
Tsunamis - Japan 2011, and Indian ocean 2004,
For tsunamis i was also thinking about the Okushiri one as that was 18 years ago so got the over time aspect

but yeah thats quite alot of case studies ive got so not sure which ones to get rid of!
Ive not heard of the Nyriangongo 2002 eruption before but will definitely look into that one, thanks!

Guys i'm worried about this 'over time' issue for the tectonic activity and hazards option.

The specification states:

What students need to learn: "Trends in frequency and impact over time."

Suggested teaching and learning: "Developing an awareness of the varying patterns of impact over
time, both long and short term (eg Park Model).

It doesn't mention time in relation to old and recent hazards. However, do you think there's still a possibility that the question is in relation to old and recent hazards, DESPITE the fact that path of learning is not mentioned in the specification. If so, are you revising both interpretations of time?