How you can approach an 8m essay
Note: You should NOT merely memorise everything here because 1) it is a mere
guide and not what you all like to call a “model” answer 2) understanding and
practice is the only way to write a good essay 3) not all the information you need is
inside, you have to value-add with your own knowledge
There are a few types of essays that can come out:
1. Discussion on impacts in which case you have to assess whether a certain
situation results in more negative impacts or positive impacts and make a
judgement
2. Discussion on the measures taken to tackle the problems brought about by
a certain situation which thus requires you to describe each measure, its
effectiveness and its limitations
An essay in geography will always be two-sided in nature.
In this week’s class test, since it covers Weather and Climate as well as Natural
Vegetation, the essay could possibly be on the…
1. Positive and negative impacts of Weather and Climate (a question that you
have already attempted in your mock test’s mini 5m essay)
2. Reasons to conserve and reasons not to conserve the rainforests
3. Positive and negative impacts of deforestation
4. Measures to solve the problem of deforestation
Many of you have yet to realise that #4 is the MOST COMMON type of question for
an 8m essay!!! It is definitely IMPORTANT, please don’t neglect it. 
Also, many others are confused between #2 and #3. #2 sounds as if they require you
to give the benefits of the rainforest (why benefits? Since there are benefits, we have
to conserve them, see the link?) and the reasons why people clear them (things like
getting land space to carry out various activities, etc.) On the other hand, #3 just
seems to want the consequences. However, if you think about it, content for #2 and
#3 do overlap!
Let me give you an example:
One of the “positive/good” points for #2: One of the reasons why we should conserve
our rainforests is due to them being habitats for flora and fauna.
Similarly for #3, one of the “negative/not good” points: Deforestation can negatively
impact our environment by causing large-scale loss of flora and fauna because they
are habitats for numerous plant and animal species.
SEE! The same content can be used after manipulating it to suit the question 
The opposite is also true:
One of the “negative/not good” points for #2: Yet, to some, failing to conserve our
rainforest may not be disastrous because it can create land space for the
government to house the growing population in houses.
One of the “positive/good” points for #3 that shares the same idea: Deforestation
may bring advantages such as the availability of more land space to house the
growing population in houses.
Do you see the pattern now? 
Now that we have clarified this, let’s move on to how you should approach an 8m
essay for the various questions we have listed above.
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Since #1 and #3 are both questions on impacts, we can explain them in
unison:
Let’s say the question something like this:
“Deforestation only results in negative consequences to a country.” How far
do you agree with this statement? Discuss with reference to detailed
examples.
Introduction
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Define key words: Deforestation is the permanent clearing and destruction of
forests by human activities for purposes such as creating land for agriculture
settlement, transport and industry.
State your stand: I agree with this statement to a certain degree
Briefly explain your stand (if you want, you can list the points you are
going to go through in your essay): as although deforestation can bring
about numerous problems to the people and environment, for instance, the
loss of habitat to indigenous people and soil erosion, there are benefits that
come along with clearing the forests as well such as the availability of more
land for housing and agriculture.
Body paragraphs
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Number of points: Since for a 5m mini essay you had to write at least 3
points (2 for supporting your stand, whatever your stand may be, and 1
balance point), for an 8m essay, it is only natural that it should demand at
least 4 points.
Time management: You should take about 5 minutes to complete each
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paragraph
Use of case studies: The question requires you to use detailed examples, so
please DO SO.
Structure: You need your PEEL structure and you can write in either a 3-1
format or 2-2 format. We will accept the 3-1 structure for now since all of you
are still inexperienced in the writing of good conclusions that can weigh
effectively. But this does NOT mean that your conclusions can just be weak
one-liners. All of you have to try weighing your points.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: You have to memorise, memorise, MEMORISE. We
cannot emphasise this enough. Honestly, in a geography essay, all you have
to do is vomit all the information you have memorised out and don’t stop
writing till you do! The notes we have provided have given you very good
elaborations and examples. So, please do not over summarise your
textbooks’/notes’ elaboration and examples because it is very wholesome and
will help you!!! Getting rid of any one point in an attempt to write more points/
save time may sabotage your elaboration and cause you to have “gaps” and
logical leaps! We love quality over quantity (but your quantity cannot be too
little as well). The fact that you must accept is that you have to write a lot
without sacrificing content. Hence, you have to learn to write very fast.
Also, your Point should naturally be, straight to the point: One problem
brought about by deforestation is that of soil erosion. (Short, sweet and
straight to the point)
Conclusion
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Conclusion should not be too long, probably about 3-4 sentences will
do.
Use concluding transitional words: In all, All in all, In conclusion, Hence,
Therefore, Thus, In conclusion, etc.
Round up/short summary: Deforestation can bring about both negative and
positive impacts as despite the loss of habitats for indigenous people and soil
erosion which harms both people and environment, it does, admittedly, help to
provide more land area to house the growing population and to grow more
crops to feed this growing number of people and demand. (Can you see how
your points that you elaborated on in your essay is reinforced here again?)
Weighing of your points: It is in my opinion that deforestation provides
more positive consequences than negative ones as the problems can be
mitigated using measures. In the face of the growing population, it might be
necessary and important to clear the forests so as to get land to house and
support them. It is hard to source for land outside the forested areas
especially if the country is less economically developed and cannot engage in
the expensive project of land reclamation. Furthermore, the indigenous people
can possibly be convinced to resettle to other plots of the forest and soil
erosion can be managed with engineering methods. (Note: This is way
too long, so please cut it down to maybe 1-2 sentences. It is just to give
you some idea on what weighing could be like. The ones is bold are
probably more important)
Let us now analyse the method to doing a #4 type of question. There are two types
here as well.
1. Given the question: Discuss the effectiveness of the measures taken
to mitigate the hazards brought about by deforestation using detailed
examples.
Introduction
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Define key words:
o Deforestation is the permanent clearing and destruction of forests by
human activities for purposes such as creating land for agriculture
settlement, transport and industry.
o The hazards associated with it include soil erosion, loss of habitats for
flora and fauna, loss of plants with medical value amongst others.
Introduce the measures you will be covering in your essay + stand: In
order to tackle these problems, affected countries have engaged in several
policies such as reforestation, controlled logging, conservation and controlling
forest fires but they are only effective to a certain extent. (This is your
balanced stand)
Each Body Paragraph
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Short, sweet and straightforward Point: One of the measures taken to solve
the problems brought about by deforestation is that of reforestation.
Elaboration:
o Detailed
o MUST include the description of the measures
Examples: Bring in your case studies at this point
HERE, ADD IN YOUR LIMITATIONS TO THE MEASURE
o Do not link back first
o This will be your attempt at BALANCING in the essay
o You should write this is in a new paragraph so that the paragraph does
not seem too long and draggy and hence boring to the examiner!
Link + JUDGEMENT:
o Since (your limitation such as maybe the rate of deforestation outpaces
the rate of reforestation), this measure may not be very effective.
Conclusion
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Use concluding transitional words: In all, All in all, In conclusion, Hence,
Therefore, Thus, In conclusion, etc.
Round up/short summary: the methods of … can be used to manage the
hazards of deforestation. However, they are only successful to a certain
extent as shown above.
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Decide which measure is most likely to be effective for different
situations + how we can resolve the limitations
o (Let’s take the example of conservation. The limitation is that illegal
logging can still take place because there is a lack of manpower to
monitor the area)
o It could go something along these lines: Yet, despite conservation
being limited in effectiveness, it is possibly the most effective method
since it prevents destruction at the very get go. The problem of the lack
of manpower can be mitigated through the use of incentives which can
be offered to the locals to get them to help.
2. Given the question: “Controlled logging is most successful in tackling
the problems associated with deforestation.” To what extent would you
agree with this statement? Discuss this with reference to specific
examples.
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The only thing setting this question and #1 apart is that they
have already provided you with a solution out of the 4 you have
learnt
So, your first body paragraph HAS TO ADDRESS this given
measure, the three following paragraphs would then be your
other measures in any order you please
In your introduction, you must mention the given measure in
relation to the rest as well. What does this mean? Here:
Controlled logging may be effective in mitigating the negative
effects of deforestation but there are other measures such as …
as well. They are, however, all limited in success.
In fact, if you want to, you can state clearly whether you agree
or disagree that controlled logging is the most effective like so: I
agree that controlled logging is the most successful approach,
however, it does have its limitations and there are other
measures like … that are successful as well.
In your conclusion, you then have to re-emphasise your “stand”
with proper reasoning