IB GEOGRAPHY
Internal assessment
AIM:
The aim of the fieldwork is to investigate how the dynamics and profile of a river change as stream order increases and if
this conforms to the Bradshaw model.
HYPOTHESIS:
In order to investigate the river you have to select which hypothesis you are going to test.
A hypothesis is a statement that you conclude is either true or false at the end of the investigation.
The hypothesis that we will all examine is...
The rivers profile changes as stream order changes
What other hypothesis can you suggest?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Questions to consider...

What data do we need to collect to be able to accept or reject the hypothesis?

How do we collect this data? What equipment do we use? What kind of sampling should we do?

How could we map the river to see how it’s morphology changes as we move downstream?

How might we explain the changes that occur downstream?

What attempts are there to manage this river system?
The Sillees River
The Sillees River flows from its source, near Lough Achork in Lough Navar Forest, to its mouth, where it joins the River
Erne south of Enniskillen. It flows for ~56 km (~35 miles) through mostly coniferous forests and agricultural land before
reaching Enniskillen, although the river itself avoids the urbanised areas of the town. The drainage basin has an area of
166.3 km2 which extends out to the Knockmore cliffs to the west, the Cliffs of Magho to the north and Cullen Hill to the
east. The average yearly rainfall in the drainage basin is 1405 mm.
2|Pa ge
Carboniferous rock such as Sandstone and Shale (about 350 million years old) is the parent rock beneath the river. These
hard rocks produce the steep hillsides surrounding the river which were created mainly by the action of glacial movement
during the last ice age. Other glacial features such as drumlins can be found along the river. The hard rock also gives rise
to large sediments, which help mix and aerate the water resulting in a high diversity of river organisms.
The river flows through four loughs along its course, the largest being Ross Lough. These Loughs act as storage areas for
large amounts of water and their ability to rise and fall with the river helps reduce the risk of flash flooding lower down the
river’s course, for example in Enniskillen.
WRITING UP THE REPORT
To effectively tackle the questions, your report has got to have a clear structure with distinct chapter headings.
Your entire project needs to be written in the third person. You should not use ‘I’ or ‘We’. ‘At the first Site the quadrant
was used to estimate the vegetation cover’.
Students should produce one written report of their investigation. The report must not exceed 2,500 words...for information
on what does not go in the 2500 words see appendix a
It is important that your project is well-organised, below is a guideline that will help…
1.COVER PAGE:
This needs the title of the investigation, candidate name / number and maybe an image
2.INDEX:
once the project is complete compile an index, include the appendices. This is part of the formal requirements.
3. FIELDWORK QUESTION AND GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT:
This is the introduction to the project; it needs to contain several sub-sections. By the end of the introduction you need to
have explained…
...what the aim fieldwork question is the hypothesis formulated to examine it.
...the theory behind the hypothesis, i.e. what do you expect to happen based on your textbook information (here you explain
the Bradshaw Model and any other key terms/ideas)
...the geographic context explaining why and where the fieldwork is being carried out. You will need to include hand drawn
maps (perhaps annotated) to locate the sites along the river and other spatial, physical and background information.
...the area of the syllabus the study relates. (i.e. freshwater theme)
Number of marks available: 3/30
Max words...300
4.METHODS OF INVESTIGATION:
You have performed a range of different tasks and using several different pieces of equipment.
For each hypothesis describe and justify the technique that you used to collect the information. The description may include
sampling techniques, time, location and circumstances of information collection where relevant
Use diagrams / labelled photographs / sketches to help describe the methods.
Number of marks available: 3/30
3|Pa ge
Max words...300
5. QUALITY AND TREATMENT OF INFORMATION COLLECTED AND WRITTEN ANALYSIS (INTEGRATED):
In this section you have to present your results using...







statistical tests (including confidence limits),
graphs,
diagrams,
maps,
annotated photographs
matrices and
field sketches.
Graphs/tables/maps/sketches must be presented with clear labels, a title and referred to in the description.
For each form of presentation you produce, describe what it is showing.
Look for relationships between different forms of data and think of ways that the relationship can be presented.
For the statistical analysis you perform, just include the results in the main body of the project. Any extended calculations
can be included in the appendices. Where appropriate test the significance of the result.
In the written analysis, show your knowledge and understanding of the fieldwork investigation by interpreting and
explaining the information you have collected in relation to the fieldwork question.
Analyse the results, from your graphs / statistical tests try to find patterns/trends and then give reasons for them. Return to
the theory behind the relationships and decide whether your results match what should happen.
Indicate any anomalies and make an attempt to explain them.
Within your write up, make certain that you use data and make reference to your maps/graphs/statistical results/tables that
you have produced.
Number of marks available: 5+10/30
Max words...1350
6. CONCLUSION
In the conclusion summarise what you have found in your investigation, there should be a clear, concise statement
answering the fieldwork question.
Number of marks available: 2/30
Max words...200
7. EVALUATION:
In this section review your investigative methodology, including methods of collecting primary information and consider
any factors that may have affected the validity of the data,
Suggest specific and plausible ways in which the study might have been improved and could be extended in the future.
Number of marks available: 3/30
4|Pa ge
Max words...300
8. FORMAL REQUIREMENTS:






The fieldwork written report must meet the following five formal requirements of organization and presentation.
The work is within the 2,500 word limit.
Overall presentation is neat and well structured.
Pages are numbered.
References used for background information follow standard conventions. (Guidance on referencing is given
below.)
All illustrative material is numbered, is fully integrated into the body of the report and is not relegated to an
appendix.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
All sources of secondary information must be referenced.
Footnotes maybe used to reference material and, provided that these are brief, up to 15 words as noted below will not be
included in the word count.
Include all the books you used. The bibliography should be set out as per the example below (Harvard System).
Pennycook, Alastair (1996). Borrowing Other's Words: Text, Ownership, Memory and Plagiarism. TESOL Quarterly,
30:2, 201-230
You must also declare all of the websites that you have used. The IB specification states that you must quote:
the title,
web address (URL)
date that you used it (so keep a record)
FINAL NOTES:
-
Take care with your spelling/grammar/punctuation
Word process the project.
It must be handed in already bound. I will not accept any projects that are loose in a folder.
TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION OF THIS WORK:
FIRST DRAFT:
FINAL HAND-IN:
5|Pa ge
Appendix A – Marks summary:
Appendix B – what isn’t included in the word limit:
• Title page
• Acknowledgments
• Contents page
• Titles and subtitles
• References
• Footnotes—up to a maximum of 15 words each
• Map legends and/or keys
• Labels—of 10 words or less
• Tables—of statistical or numerical data, or categories, classes or group names
• Calculations
• Appendices—containing only raw data and/or calculations
All the main text is included in the word count, including the research question, analysis, conclusion and evaluation, as well
as all annotations over 10 words and any footnotes over 15 words.
Where work is over the limit, moderators are advised to stop reading and students are likely to lose marks not only under
criterion G, but possibly also under other criteria, such as E and F.
6|Pa ge
Appendix C – marking criteria:
7|Pa ge
8|Pa ge
9|Pa ge
10 | P a g e
11 | P a g e
CONTENT CHECKLIST...do not hand a draft / final project in without all the following being ticked!!!
SECTION A
Hypothesis is clearly stated
You have explained the
There is a hand drawn labelled map locating Mullagmore
You have explained why the study was done at Mullahmore
SECTION B
Each method of data collection is explained and justified.
You have explained the data that was collected using each method. You have made reference to the data tables
in the appendix
You have explained the type of sampling that was used.
You have included diagrams of the methods used.
You have included labelled photographs.
Each diagram / photo has a ‘figure’ number / letter
SECTION C:
There is a scale map to show zonation along the transect
There is an annotated cross-section drawn to scale
You have included at least 2 type of graph (bar / cumulative / kite / pie)
There is a statistical test (Simpsons / Spearmans rank)
Each diagram / photo / graph has a ‘figure’ number / letter
The results of each graph / stats test are described
SECTION D:
For your each of your data presentations you have tried to EXPLAIN the results...linking to what the theory
should be.
Any anomalies have been identified and an attempt made to explain them.
You have made references to maps / photographs / graphs
SECTION E:
Go back to the hypothesis and summerise what you have found out.
Evaluate methods of data collection / processing...what would you do differently another time?
Suggest what you would do to extend this investigation.
12 | P a g e