Coursework

This page contains resources and links to help you complete your GCSE coursework.

Part 1 – Introduction

Place is important in geography so make sure you locate your investigation effectively. Always think: “If someone who does not live in Leicester looked at my investigation would they be able to work out exactly where it is?“. Location can be described, but by using additional maps it makes it much clearer and can get you presentation marks!

The following websites can be used to obtain general location maps

Google maps – This will help you to locate the study area effectively. You can’t save images or copy and paste directly from this site so you will need the old “PrtSc” trickery. See an example of what our study area looks like using Google maps.

Windows live local - If you zoom in close enough you can obtain a birds eye view by hitting the “b” on your keyboard. You can’t save images or copy and paste directly from this site either. Here is an example of what our study area looks like in live local

Multimap

Ordnance Survey – Get a map service

Writing the introduction

The introduction is one of the best places to show the examiner applied understanding. In this part of the coursework you need to show that you understand the theory behind our investigation. Some websites of use might be…

 BBC bitesize revision website

Scottish BBC Geography revision website

The first time you put pen to paper it will not be perfect! Don’t expect to be able to write your introduction in one go. Do expect to make changes and improvements as we move through the investigation.

Part 2 – Writing the methodology

First thing to do for your methodology section is to show the examiner what you are going to do and where your going to do it. We will create a methodology map using Google maps to do this. Click here to see an example of a methodology map.

In order to create your own methodology map click this link to see the step by step guide to using Google maps.

Part 3 – Presenting and describing your data

Short course

(1) Environmental quality survey – There are two guides to help you present this data.

Click here for part 1

Click here for part 2

You can also download some rather nice maps of the study area.

Click here for a study area map in colour

Click here for a study area map in black and white

For a selection of Westcotes photographs click this link

(2) Residential building survey – Click here to download a guide to writing an interpretation of your residential building survey

(3) Services survey – Click here to download a guide to writing an interpretation of your services survey

Full Course

(4) Questionnaire – Click here for your guide to interpreting radar graphs

(5) Traffic count - presenting-your-traffic-count-data.ppt this powerpoint has the slide we used in class that shows the number of vehicles counted at each location to help you complete your proportional map at home.

(6) Secondary data – Click here for your guide to presenting and interpreting your secondary data

Part 4 – Writing your data interpretation

(1) The Summary analysis

(2) The Conclusion

Part 5 – Writing the evaluation