6GEO3 Unit 3 Contested Planet Overview and Skills Slide 2 What
is this presentation about? This presentation gives you an overview
of Unit 3, Contested Planet It outlines the content and structure
of the Unit The three synoptic themes of the Unit are explored
these are players, actions and futures. Some key advice is given
for each of the two parts of the examination (Sections A and B)
Contested Planet Energy Security Water Conflicts Biodiversity Under
Threat Superpower Geographies Bridging the Development Gap
Technological Fix? Slide 3 1.Content and structure 2.Synoptic
themes 3.Section A of the exam 4.Section B of the exam CONTENTS
Click on the information icon to jump to that section. Click on the
home button to return to this contents page Slide 4 1. Content and
structure AS Level Unit 1 Global Challenges 60% CORE Unit 2
Geographical Investigations 40% OPTIONS A2 Level Unit 3 Contested
Planet 60% CORE UNIT 4 Geographical Research 40% OPTIONS Unit 3
forms the Core of A2 Geography As with AS level, the weighting of
the units is skewed towards the Core unit. There are no Options in
Unit 3, all of the content in the specification should be covered.
Slide 5 The 6 topics of Contested Planet The 6 topics in Contested
Planet combine into a linked sequence. This firstly explores
resources, then the differences between rich and poor. Finally a
range of solutions to global problems and inequalities are examined
in Technological Fix. This last topic is summative and would
benefit from being taught last. Resources 1. Energy Security 2.
Water Conflict 3. Biodiversity under Threat Wealth and Power
4.Superpower Geographies 5.Bridging the Development gap Solutions
6. The Technological Fix? Slide 6 Examination Structure The Unit 3
exam has two sections, A and B Section A has an element of choice
for candidates ( 2 questions from 5) Section B is compulsory for
all candidates Students must manage the balance of time spent on
Sections A and B The 5 section A questions are based on 5 or the 6
topics in the specification The sixth topic forms the basis of the
Synoptic Pre-Release resource booklet 2 hour exam 90 marks Section
A: Complete 2 questions from a choice of 5; questions are worth 25
marks (10 mark part a and 15 mark part b) 80 minutes Section B: 3
Linked sub questions (6a, 6b, 6c) with a combined total of 40
marks, forming an Issues Analysis. 70 minutes Slide 7 Section B
Synoptic topic The topic for Section B is selected at random The
topic chosen cannot repeat within a single year e.g. Water
Conflicts in January and June of one year However, a topic could
re-appear in the following year The two diagrams illustrate the
relationship between Sections A and B for two different exam
sittings Section A Q1 Water Conflicts Q2 Energy Security Q3
Biodiversity under Threat Q4 Bridging the Development Gap Q5
Technological Fix? Section B Q6a-c Superpower Geographies Section A
Q1 Water Conflicts Q2 Energy Security Q3 Biodiversity under Threat
Q4 Superpower Geographies Q5 Technological Fix? Section B Q6a-c
Bridging the Development Gap Slide 8 Teaching and Learning Only
teaching 3 or 4 of the six Contested Planet topics will restrict
student choice in Section A of the exam Only teaching 3 or 4 topics
will reduce synoptic opportunities in Section B Technological fix?
examines a range of contrasting solutions to global and local
issues related to energy, water, food supply and environmental
issues many of these approaches are integrated into the Water
Conflicts, Energy Security and Bridging the Development Gap topics
making Technological Fix? a summative overview of the Unit. There
are strong links between Unit 1 at AS Level and Unit 3 at A 2 level
which should be drawn out to assist students with the Section B
issues analysis (see diagram for example) Climate Change at AS
level Biodiversity reduction due to climate stress Water stress
made worse by increasing aridity Fossil fuel use contributing to
climate change Superpowers and emerging powers as the main
greenhouse gas emitters Geoengineering fixes as a solution to
global warming Slide 9 2. Synoptic themes Three synoptic themes run
through the Unit 3 specification These themes are referred to
directly in the specification It is important to consider examples
and case studies in the context of these themes The themes will
appear as the focus for some questions in both Section A and
Section B Unit 3 Synoptic Themes PlayersActionsFutures Slide 10
Players Players focuses on the organisations, groups and
individuals who have a role to play within an issue Players might
be thought of as decision makers or stakeholders Players may hold
very different views on an issue, because they have different
opinions and values It is important students understand these
different positions and perspectives CONSERVATIONISTS an area of
biodiversity to be protected from human activity INDIVIDUALS an
area to be enjoyed and explored; expectation that facilities and
amenities will be available LOGGERS an area of timber resources
that could be exploited TOURISM INDUSTRY an area for making
profits, but also requiring conservation to maintain visitor
numbers WATER INDUSTRY an important source of freshwater to supply
homes and industry Slide 11 Actions Actions focuses on both the
scale and standpoint of actions There is a hierarchy of actions at
different scales There is often debate over which scale of
management is best for a particular issue Often an issue is managed
at several scales Chosen actions are influenced by players
standpoints, especially political and economic beliefs Global
agreements and international action National policy and management
Local governance and individual actions
Neo-liberalSocialistGrassroots Focus on commercial solutions and
less government influence Focus on national planning and targets,
often top-down Focus on bottom-up and sustainable, small scale
initiatives International, market-led National, government led
Local, community led Slide 12 Futures Futures focuses on the
direction the contested planet should take Three future scenarios
are recognised: Business as usual Sustainable Radical The first
implies humans continue to behave in similar ways to the past i.e.
high consumption and pollution Sustainable futures suggests
stabilising consumption and human environmental impacts Radical
implies concerted action to reverse environmental degradation Each
of the three futures have very different consequences and are
supported by different players Each approach has very different
costs and benefits Slide 13 3. Section A of the exam The five
Section A questions are each worth 25 marks Each question is split
into a 10 mark part a, based on a Figure (resource) and a 15 mark
part b. Candidates should choose two questions Spend no more than
40 minutes on each Section A question Answers should be written in
the dedicated space provided in the answer booklet Candidates
should be very strict with timings, and keep an eye on the exam
room clock Slide 14 Resources Section A resources will be a mixture
of graphs, maps, diagrams and other illustrative material such as
cartoons Some text may be present and this should always be
carefully read Figures are provided as data stimulus, and
candidates will not be asked to describe Answers should focus on
explanation and reasoning Interpretation of Figures is a skills
candidates should practice. Carefully read Figure titles, as well
as scales, axes and keys if present Look for patterns, trends and
relationships and seek to explain these Read any text, or notes,
carefully Slide 15 Command words Command words at A2 level will be
different to those at AS level; some examples are shown below In
Section A in Unit 3 the a parts will often use explain or suggest
reasons whereas the b parts will often focus on the higher level
skills of assess and evaluate Assess, Evaluate, Discuss A2 Level
e.g. Section A part b questions and Section B Explain, suggest
reasons AS Level and A2 level e.g. Unit 3 Section A part a
questions and Section B Describe, Contrast AS Level Slide 16
Examples and case studies Students must use examples to illustrate
their argument and discussion when ever they can even when not
directly asked to do so in the question. This is especially
important when questions use phrases such as costs and benefits or
advantages and disadvantages. Avoid relying on one major case study
as this often produces descriptive and unbalanced responses a range
of smaller examples illustrating several different aspects of the
question is preferable RANGE more than one example BALANCE avoid
being one- sided DETAIL example specific facts and figures
STRUCTURE logical and organised writing EVALUATIVE moving towards
an overview / brief conclusion Slide 17 Mark schemes All A2 work is
Levels marked; there is no point marking Levels mark schemes have a
step-like structure, which successive levels requiring higher
skills and greater precision: Assessment Some examplesRange of
examples Some examplesBalancedBalanced costs and benefits
Descriptive comments Some structureStructuredCarefully structured
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4 Slide 18 4. Section B of the exam
Section B is a synoptic issues analysis It is based on pre-release
resources in the form of a 5-6 page booklet Usually the resources
will be based on a region such as Europe, the Middle East or North
America They will focus on ONE of the topics from Unit 3 e.g. Water
Conflicts of Superpower Geographies The resources are written to
LINK to other topics; there will be both obvious and more subtle
linkages. What is in the pre-release? Text Key words / terms
Figures maps, tables, graphs etc Views of players Websites for
further research Options / choices may be included Slide 19 The
pre-release phase During the pre- release phase the aim is to
become so familiar with the resource booklet that it does not have
to be read in the exam Spending time in the exam reading and
searching for information will waste time Working with the pre-
release Make a glossary of key terms and research any new ideas and
themes Analyse the Views and be prepared to quote them Look for
evidence of players, actions and futures Do some selective research
using the websites (and your own) Look for synoptic links to other
Unit 3 and Unit 1 topics, and global themes such as Climate Change
or the Dev. Gap Think about comparisons to parallel examples Slide
20 Questions There will be 3 questions, forming a linked sequence
(6a, 6b, 6c) Total marks are 40; the tariff for each question will
be in the 10- 18 range. Refer to Figures and Views directly e.g.
Fig 2 shows that Use examples and ideas from your whole course,
where relevant The first question will tend to set the scene or
make you focus on a key issue Other questions will require you to
assess or evaluate Slide 21 Being synoptic In order to reach the
top levels of the Mark Scheme in Section B, synopticity is required
Essentially this means going beyond only relying on the resources
printed in the Resource Booklet This can be achieved in several
different ways: Facts, figures and ideas from the suggested
websites, or your own sources such as Geography Review or many
other sources; remember to state your source Wider research
Comparing the situation(s) in the Resource Booklet to others you
know of, briefly, to draw out similarities and differences, or
suggest how the situation might be managed. Parallel
examplesSynoptic Links Making links to the three synoptic themes of
players, actions and futures, as well as global themes such as
climate change, the development gap, sustainability etc. Context
themes Making links to other topics in Unit 3, or other AS / A2
Units; this might involve bringing in models, theories or examples
from elsewhere in your course Slide 22 Final points on Section B
Make sure at least 70 minutes are set aside to complete Section B
Write to the mark allocation; a question worth 10 marks does not
require an answer 3 sides long; a 16 mark question will need more
than of one side. Diagrams and tables are acceptable as part of an
answer; complicated tables and scoring systems are not anticipated
and will tend to take too long to complete Highlight key and
command words; for longer questions a very brief plan may help
structure answers
