Geography SBA Guidelines

Read the following

CSec syllabus pages 22-37

Caribbean Environment pages 275 -282

CSec Geography pages 32-67

N.B. According to Csec the SBA or Field Study, is a clear account of a

manageable geographical enquiry undertaken in the field.
Please remember the following

There is a 1500 word limit (which is approx 12-15 pages)

The study is based on primary data (i.e. data collected by the students).

The major parts of the School Based Assessment are

1. The folder with a cover
2. The title page
3. A Strategy sheet
4. A table of contents
5. The aim of the study
6. The methodology
7. Two location maps
8. The data presentation which includes the diagrams and the written
account
9. The conclusion

10.

The Bibliography

11.

The Appendix

There will be three drafts for the School Based Assessment

1. The first draft will be due on September 7th, 2011
2. The second draft will be mid November 2011
3. The final draft will be due in the first week of January 2012

Guidelines for completing the SBA

Marjorie Henry, Contributor
At the end of the last lesson, I promised that for today's lesson, I would begin the
discussion of question 7, the last question under Section C (human systems) of the
June 2007 examination paper. I will, however, deviate from this and choose instead
to share a few reminders and guidelines on completing your school-based
assessment (SBA). Of course, you know that this is to be done by all students sitting
the geography examinations at the general proficiency level. The SBA is due for
submission just about now. This field study report represents 20 per cent of your
total marks. Since it is done outside the examination setting, every effort should be
made to obtain most of those 40 marks. This can be realised if you follow the
guidelines outlined for you in your syllabus.
The profiles for the SBA are the same as for the essay questions. These are practical
skills - profile 1; knowledge and comprehension - profile 2 and the use of knowledge
- profile 3. The difference, however, lies in the distribution of the marks for each
profile. If the requirements for profiles 1 and 2 are met and done well, 50 per cent of
the marks can be realised without any difficulty.
Length of report
Your report should not be more than 1500 words in length. You are penalised if you
exceed this word limit by more than 150 words. Because of this, it is advisable to do,
first of all, a draft of the report before your final submission. Having done this, you
can check on the length and modify accordingly. Some information you included may
be unnecessary or irrelevant to the topic. Omit this. You may need to rephrase some
sentences to reduce the number of words used. I am certain that you all know how
to do a precise count from your English A classes. Transfer that knowledge to the
writing of your report.
You have a choice between writing your field study report and typing it. I would
encourage you to have it typed, especially if your writing is not legible. Do not give
the examiner the extra work of trying to decipher what you have written.
On another matter, at least three different types of illustrations must be included in
the presentation of data. Whether they are maps, graphs, tables, diagrams or charts,
they must be accurately and neatly done. A different set of data is to be presented in
each illustration. Most important, the illustration must be integrated in your study. It
is woefully inadequate to simply state 'see diagram 1'. Say something about what is
shown in that diagram.
Location maps
Your location maps are very important and must be accurately drawn and properly
labeled. At least two maps are required, one showing the section of the island where
the actual study area is found and one showing its location in relation to other
features, for example, main roads, main rivers and settlements within the
parish/region/district. Here is a check list of what should be shown on your location
maps.
(i) Highlighted areas of study

(ii) Border
(iii) Legend
(iv) North Arrow
(v) Printed labels
(vi) Scale
Maps should not be photocopied.
A word now on writing the conclusion of your report. Nothing new should be
included. Here are some guidelines for this:
(i) It should be a summary of the main points that have been made.
(ii) It should be related to the aim(s) of the study.
(iii) It can restate the general issue - aim(s) of the study.
Remember also the bibliography. You should have made reference to at least three
different sources. In doing the bibliography, text books should be listed in
alphabetical order by the author's surname, followed by the title, publisher, place of
publication and date. The title is underlined. Here is an example:
Wilson, M., The Caribbean Environment for CXC Geography, Oxford University Press,
Oxford, 2005
If you sourced information from the internet, you should state the name of the
website and the date.
The pages of your report must be numbered. This is needed to complete the table of
contents. Make every effort to organise your information well, presenting it in a
logical order. Develop the points, do not just list them. Use the jargon of the subject
and pay special attention to your grammar. A report well done will undoubtedly be
awarded high marks. Aim for this.
Marjorie Henry is an
independent contributor.

Music teacher, Dean Powell (centre), browses

through an assignment handed in by Damion
Williams (left), as another student, Shanelle
Thomas, looks on during school activities at
Cumberland High School, on Tuesday, February
12.
- Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer