What is Geography?
Geography is a about understanding the world and how humans interact with it. The subject is multidisciplinary in that some times scientific methods are used while sometimes historical or social science methods and theories are drawn on to understand the world.
A central part of Geography is drawing on both primary and secondary research to answer questions about the world.
Students should make frequent reference to this website, their text book and a syllabus to ensure they can succeed. All work in the Senior Geography course is determined by the Stage 6 Geography Syllabus.
A central part of Geography is drawing on both primary and secondary research to answer questions about the world.
Students should make frequent reference to this website, their text book and a syllabus to ensure they can succeed. All work in the Senior Geography course is determined by the Stage 6 Geography Syllabus.
Writing in the Senior School
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Students in senior school must concentrate on delivering the maximum amount of information possible.
It is important the students learn to use a PEEL Paragraph structure to give their writing cohesion. Addressing command verbs is a vital element of writing that students must develop throughout the Preliminary and HSC course.. |
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The Global Scale
Secondary research
When trying to understand human or physical geography at the global scale, secondary research is very useful for the geographer due to the impossibility of primary research. .
When trying to understand human or physical geography at the global scale, secondary research is very useful for the geographer due to the impossibility of primary research. .
Global Landforms
The patterns of continents, oceans and mountains across the globe plays an enormous role in determining weather and climate at the local scale.
The patterns of continents, oceans and mountains across the globe plays an enormous role in determining weather and climate at the local scale.
Biomes
The combinations of climate, available water and soil type has produced distinct patterns of biomes across the globe. Frequently, the biomes found at a given place are closely related to the latitude.
The combinations of climate, available water and soil type has produced distinct patterns of biomes across the globe. Frequently, the biomes found at a given place are closely related to the latitude.
Understanding regions
Regional groupings of nation-states allow geographers to identify countries that share many similar characteristics when the continental scale is too large and the national scale is too small. Nation-states within a region might share a religion such as those in South East Asia or have similar levels of human development.
Regional groupings of nation-states allow geographers to identify countries that share many similar characteristics when the continental scale is too large and the national scale is too small. Nation-states within a region might share a religion such as those in South East Asia or have similar levels of human development.
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Human Development
One of the most common measures of economic success has been Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is still widely used. However, a broader concept of human development is important. Development has been referred to as the improvements in people's choices, capabilities and freedoms; and we should be concerned about the distribution of these improvements, not just the simple average for a society (Barden, O. (2012) CGD). The terms Developed Nation (or MEDC) and Developing Nation (or LEDC) are used commonly to simplify development status. Due to the large variation in development seen within most countries, however, it is quite clear that labels such as "Global South"or "Third World" are no longer particularly useful or accurate. Furthermore, they can be rather derogatory to the citizens of nations with lower levels of human development. |
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Political Systems
Although, Human Development is important in determining people's available choices and capabilities, the political system under which they live may have a greater impact on their personal freedoms. Ultimately, people's freedom might well be as valuable to them as choice.
The five most common political systems include: Democracy, Republic, Monarchy, Communism and Dictatorship (2011). These systems can all exist with varying degrees of authoritarian or totalitarian elements.
The historic divide between capitalist states and communist states know as the cold war ended in the 1990s. However, the political legacies still live on in many regions.
Although, Human Development is important in determining people's available choices and capabilities, the political system under which they live may have a greater impact on their personal freedoms. Ultimately, people's freedom might well be as valuable to them as choice.
The five most common political systems include: Democracy, Republic, Monarchy, Communism and Dictatorship (2011). These systems can all exist with varying degrees of authoritarian or totalitarian elements.
The historic divide between capitalist states and communist states know as the cold war ended in the 1990s. However, the political legacies still live on in many regions.
The Local Scale
Place, Space and Interconnections
Geography at the local scale is highly variable. Places are affected by their topography, the built environment, local weather patterns and interconnections with other places.
Topography refers to the shape of the land. Topographic patterns such as altitude, gradient and aspect all play a large role in determining the biophysical attributes found at a place. Topography is best analysed with the aid of topographic maps.
Similarly, the weather at a place is also strongly determined by the local topography. Altitude will affect not only temperature, but also the winds and rainfall. Frequently, climates can be affected aspect, vegetation or human features to produce very small scale or microclimates. Regional weather can be analysed using a synoptic chart, however, microclimates require field work measurements.
Geography at the local scale is highly variable. Places are affected by their topography, the built environment, local weather patterns and interconnections with other places.
Topography refers to the shape of the land. Topographic patterns such as altitude, gradient and aspect all play a large role in determining the biophysical attributes found at a place. Topography is best analysed with the aid of topographic maps.
Similarly, the weather at a place is also strongly determined by the local topography. Altitude will affect not only temperature, but also the winds and rainfall. Frequently, climates can be affected aspect, vegetation or human features to produce very small scale or microclimates. Regional weather can be analysed using a synoptic chart, however, microclimates require field work measurements.
Primary research
At the local scale, Geographers are able to use a range of fieldwork methods to gather data about a place. Data that has been collected by the researcher is referred to as primary research.
Primary data may be either quantitative (able to be counted) or qualitative (unable to be counted). Quantitative data is easier to collect on a larger scale and is useful in making comparisons and producing statistical evidence. Quantitative data is more useful in exploring why people do things, however, it can be very difficult in gathering on a larger scale.
Information about people or human Geography is usually collected using interviews, observations and questionnaires.
Information about physical Geography or places is usually collected using field measurements. These include, but are not limited to measurements of temperature, wind speed, light intensity, feature counts . Geographers also produce maps and transects to study places.
At the local scale, Geographers are able to use a range of fieldwork methods to gather data about a place. Data that has been collected by the researcher is referred to as primary research.
Primary data may be either quantitative (able to be counted) or qualitative (unable to be counted). Quantitative data is easier to collect on a larger scale and is useful in making comparisons and producing statistical evidence. Quantitative data is more useful in exploring why people do things, however, it can be very difficult in gathering on a larger scale.
Information about people or human Geography is usually collected using interviews, observations and questionnaires.
Information about physical Geography or places is usually collected using field measurements. These include, but are not limited to measurements of temperature, wind speed, light intensity, feature counts . Geographers also produce maps and transects to study places.
Microclimates