INTERNATIONAL BACALLAUREATE - HL/SL
GEOGRAPHY (for first examinations in 2011)
OPTIONAL THEMES & GLOBAL INTERACTIONS
CGW4UB
Semester 1, 2012/2013
Teacher: Mrs. Hendren
Room 218
Voicemail: 705 324-3585
Extension 36030
Email: j.hendren@tldsb.on.ca Website: http://mail.tldsb.on.ca/~Julie.Hendren
Geography is a dynamic subject that is firmly grounded in the real world and focuses on the
interactions between individuals, society and the physical environment in both time and space. It
seeks to identify trends and patterns in these interactions and examines the processes behind them.
It also investigates the way that people adapt and respond to change and evaluates management
strategies associated with such change. Geography describes and helps to explain the similarities and
differences between spaces and places. These may be defined on a variety of scales and from a range
of perspectives.
Geography is distinctive in that it occupies the middle ground between social sciences and
natural sciences. During this part of the course, we will be completing two portions of the IB
Geography syllabus: Part 2 -three optional themes (hazards and disasters, geography of food and
health, and extreme environments) and HL Extension - global interactions (measuring global
interactions, changing space – the shrinking world, economic interactions and flows, environmental
change, sociocultural exchanges, political outcomes and global interactions at the local level).
TOPICS & EVALUATION
Units of Study
Hazards and disasters (risk assessment and response)
Geography of food and health
Extreme environments
HL Extension Topics: (1) Measuring global interactions; (2)
Changing space – the shrinking world; (3) Economic interactions
and flows; (4) Environmental change; (5) Socio-cultural exchanges;
(6) Political outcomes; and (7) Global interaction at the local level.
Final Examination: January 2013
Evaluation Criteria
Assignments and presentations (including
Internal Assessment –IA)
Tests
Final Exam
Value
25%
25%
50%
Predicted Grades and Report Card Grades
IB Predicted grades will be determined as a weighted average of testing, practice exams and internal
assessments. When a predicted grade has been assigned, a report card percentage range will be
determined using the IBSO Table of Equivalents. This table was designed by Ontario universities and
is widely used by Ontario IB schools. (See IBSO Table of Equivalents on Weldon’s website.) The
precise percentage will be determined by the teacher according to the student’s record of
achievement.
Transcript Final Grade
*The predicted grade percentage equivalent as assigned by the teacher stands until July 6 th.
*A percentage mark may be changed on a student’s final transcript if the IB result differs from the
predicted grade.
o If the final grade is lower than predicted, the percentage will be lowered to the
highest percentage in the appropriate range.
o If the final grade is higher than predicted, the percentage will be raised to the
middle of the appropriate range.
May Exam: Necessary to complete credit
As you begin or end the final semester of the IB Geography course, you do so knowing that the final
exam will occur in May of 2013 or 2014 (May 14 & 15, 2013). Every student in the school enrolled in an
IB course that is the last in a series of courses for the subject must write the final IB exam to
complete the credit. Students may not enrol in a terminal IB 4U credit without agreeing to write the
final exam in May. Any student enrolled in such a course who expresses an intention not to write the
final exam will be dropped from the course.
Loss of credit
Your final percentage in IB Geography is based on a “Predicted Grade” that you are expected to
achieve when you write the May IB exam. You must write this exam which is worth 50% of your final
IB grade, in order to earn the Ontario credit. If you do not to write the final exam or produce a final
show, your absence would not be considered legitimate and would earn an exam mark “0”, thus
forfeiting the Ontario credit.
Attendance
Learning takes place EACH and EVERY day of class. Apart from tests, there are many individual
activities, group work, discussions and tasks that can only benefit those present. Therefore any
absence for whatever reason, can and will hurt you (this is extremely important in a semestered
school). It is YOUR responsibility to minimize this. Catch up immediately on ALL your work missed.
Better still, BE THERE!! Students who are late will not be accepted into class without a late slip or
note from the office.
Notebooks
Notebooks should be a brief explanation of what we have been doing in class. They are your
PRIMARY resource for tests, exams and even assignments. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure
you keep a neat and well-organized and up-to-date set of notes.
Textbook
For this course Geography: Course Companion (Nagle and Cooke) is used. The replacement value for
this book is $50 so DO NOT LOSE THIS BOOK!
Behaviour
Each and every person should be at I.E. Weldon to learn and improve themselves. Any behaviour,
which is injurious to the learning environment in or out of the classroom, is, of course unacceptable.
The Student Handbook clearly establishes guidelines for you to follow. READ IT!!
Homework
Homework is an important part of any course. It will be assigned on a regular basis. Homework often
provides the link between the various ideas that are being discussed in class. It MUST be completed
to the best of your ability and must be ready at the beginning of the next day, unless otherwise
indicated. It should be presented in a neat, orderly fashion. It is usually wise to leave a little room at
the end of the homework for additions during classroom discussion.
Sometimes events happen that make it impossible to complete your homework on time. In order to
avoid difficulties and embarrassment, you should make a special effort to see the teacher at a private
time before your class time to discuss the situation (sports and extra-curricular activities are not
included).
Assignment and Test Policies
Students are expected to meet all deadlines set out by the subject teacher. Students missing
deadlines will face a progressive scale of intervention to ensure all work is completed. This scale can
range from mandatory remedial sessions to a formal suspension for neglect of duty.
Copied work is considered PLAGIARISM or CHEATING and is assigned a mark of “0”.
Missed Test/Assignment Policy
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Missed test due to extra-curricular activity: full opportunity for a different test will be given
provided the teacher is informed of the absence TWO DAYS in advance.
Missed test/assignment due to absence or family emergency: full opportunity for a rewrite, or an
alternate form of evaluation may be given. Parental/school documentation must be provided to
the teacher before the commitment (if possible) for this policy to take effect.
Tests in this course will be created similar to IB Geography questions. The scale for Ontario
grades will be provided for you.
Missed test/assignment due to skip or unexplained absence/late: a mark of “0” will be assigned.
Reporting
Student achievement will be reported in all courses at the following times:

Mark Update Week – Oct 15-19

Parents’ Night – October 25 (4:30 to 7:00 pm)
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Interim Report Card Issued – November 22
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Mark Update Week – December 17-21
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Final Report Card Issued – second week of February 2013