GEOG 1 Essays (15 marks) Exam date Rivers Coasts Population Health Specimen Describe and explain the development of meanders. With reference to one or more case study of coastal management, discuss whether the benefits outweigh the costs. With reference to a named country, evaluate attempts to manage population change. Name of country: Discuss how the United Kingdom’s changing population structure is likely to affect employment in the health and care services over the next 25 years or so. June 09 Describe and explain the formation of landforms resulting from rejuvenation. With specific reference to a case study of coastal erosion, assess the relative importance of its physical and socio-economic consequences. Outline and comment on the economic and political consequences of population change Describe and suggest reasons for regional variations in morbidity in the UK. Jan 10 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hard engineering as a flood management strategy Explain the causes of sea level change and the formation of resultant coastal landforms. For any two of the following types of area, summarise the contrasts between them and explain the implications of these contrasts for social welfare: inner city suburban rural–urban fringe rural settlement. Chosen areas: Discuss the impact of obesity on people’s health and the strategies adopted to care for people with obesity June 10 Compare and comment on the economic and social effects of flooding in two contrasting areas of the world. Discuss issues relating to a coastal area where soft engineering management strategies have been adopted. Comment on the impact of different population structures on the balance between population and resources. With reference to a local case study, assess the relative importance of age, gender and wealth for the provision of health care. Jan 11 Channel characteristics such as cross profile, wetted perimeter, hydraulic radius, roughness and efficiency change downstream. Describe and explain how channel characteristics change downstream. Using a case study, assess the causes and consequences of coastal flooding. “For better and for worse?” Discuss how population change can affect the character of rural and urban areas. Discuss issues associated with pharmaceutical transnational corporations regarding research, production and distribution of drugs. Jun 11 ‘Soft engineering is a better river flood management strategy than hard engineering.’ Discuss this view. Hard engineering has been used to protect some coasts. With reference to a case study, explain how hard engineering can protect the coast and comment on its effectiveness. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the demographic transition model. Discuss the impacts of one disease. communicable
population. Jun 11 Discuss the impacts of one non-communicable disease. The response will depend on the non-communicable disease selected. This is likely to be coronary heart disease (CHD) or type 2 diabetes, but any non disease is permissible – such as strokes, cancer. The content will vary, depending on the disease chosen. The mark scheme is written using CHD – but there are generic points that indicate universal application. Consequences are likely to relate to impact on health, economic development and lifestyle as prescribed in the specification. Thus, the impact on life expectancy, quality of life, and the reduced ability to live a ‘normal’ life as walking becomes difficult etc. Reference may be made to impact on families and their lives – as carers for example with reference to lifestyle. There may be reference to linked risks – such as obesity, smoking. Economic consequences are likely to be to the fore. People may be unable to work and the cost of treatment and its impact on other budgets such as education, infrastructure may be discussed. There may be discussion of costs linked to trying to reduce the risks regarding education, advertising campaigns regarding healthy lifestyles or policies to reduce the incidence such as banning smoking in public places Describes impacts – may drift into cause. Ideas generic with limited reference to specific disease. Limited support. Points may be random. Begins to develop points with regard to impacts. Support is present – clear reference to selected disease – likely to focus on economic consequences. There are aspects of debate/discussion with some review of relative importance of aspects of impacts Clear, purposeful analysis of impacts, Response is precise, elaborated with detailed reference to selected disease – a broader view of impacts is present, although focus will remain economic. Clear/explicit discussion/debate with recognition of relative importance of difficult types of consequences.