Geography

S.B.A. Guidelines

2020
S. Mathison
 Choosing a Topic
 Topic MUST be included in the syllabus
 Topic should be in the form of a question.
 Example : What are the causes and effects of traffic
congestion along Barnett Street, Montego Bay, Jamaica .
 Example
 Topic : Natural Systems
 What are the causes and effects of Coral reef degradation
along the coast from Pier One to Doctors Cave Beach,
Montego Bay, Jamaica .

OR
 (What / How) are the erosional and depositional features
formed along the coast from Pier One to Doctors Cave
Beach in Montego Bay St. James, Jamaica
 Examples
 Topic: Human Systems
 What are the problems faced by a peasant farmer in New
Bay, Anchovy, St. James, Jamaica

OR
 What are the characteristics of a typical peasant farm in
New Bay, Anchovy, St. James , Jamaica .
 There is a particular order in which the report must be
done for presentation. This is as follows:

1. Title page

2. Strategy sheet ( to be issued )

3. Table of contents

4. Introduction

5. Aim of study

6. Location of field study ( maps)

7. Method of data collection (description how/ when/ where data was collected)

8. Presentation and Analysis of Data ( combination of written account + graphs/pics/ diagrams

9. Conclusion- (summary of your findings)

10. Bibliography

11. Appendix
 Cover Page
 Title (in the form of a question)
 Name of Candidate :
 Candidate Number:
 School : Cornwall College
 Year of Examination: 2021
 Territory ; Jamaica
 Centre number :100023
 Teacher: Mr. R. Morris
Example
What are the features formed along the coast from
…..to ….., Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica
 Table of Content (1 mark)
 Should be properly sequenced with the correct page number
(1) mark
 No page # or more than ONE inconsistencies (0)mark
 Example
 Table of Contents
 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
 Aim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
 Location of Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
 Map of Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
 Map of St. James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
 Map of Study site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
 Method of Data Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
 Presentation and Analysis of data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
 Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …16
 Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
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 Introduction
 Give your reader an overview of where you are studying .
 State whether the area is rural or urban
 State the economic activity in the area
 State the population density/ dense or sparse
 State if the area is offshore /along the coast / hilly OR flat/
 Finally state your reason for choosing the topic .
 Introduction (2)- Example
 The study area is located within the Marine Park Reserves,
approximately 1.8 km offshore from Pier One to Margaritaville,
Montego Bay, Jamaica . The area is a part of the famously crystal
clear blue water however it is lined with damaged fringing reefs.
It is an urban area washed by low energy constructive waves.
The section of water at Pier One is highly polluted and therefore
no recreational activity takes place there . The two major gullies (
North and South Gully )in the city empty in this section of the
harbor.
 The researcher found the topic interesting and as a result
embarked on an investigation of how the features located in the
study area were formed .
 Aim of the Study (2 marks)
 Should be in a complete sentence. Example - The aim of the
study is….
 DO NOT LIST
 The aim should indicate how you plan to collect and present
the data.
 Key words include: Identify and describe OR
 Identify and explain
 Identify allows or shows how the data will be collected and
describes shows how the data will be presented
Aim of study
 Location of Study (4)
 At least two maps
 A country / parish map showing the position of the study
area in relation to one or two major reference points.
( example main town, bay, airport, hills, main roads)
 The site map showing the study area –scale 1:25000 or
1 :10 000 including roads, elevations, settlement and
other land uses.
 Maps must have title / scale/ north arrow/ key/ border ( 1
cm )
Map of Jamaica
Map of Jamaica
Map of Jamaica
Map of Jamaica
Map of Jamaica
Parish
Parish Map
Parish Map
Site map
Site Map
 Method of data collection (4
marks)
 A clear statement on HOW data were collected and an
example of the instrument used or a brief outline of how
observations were made and tests done. (2 marks

 A clear statement on HOW the data were collected. 1

MARK

 Little or no mention of HOW the data were collected, but an

example of the instrument used is included. 1 MARK
 Cont’d
 When ?
 Clear statement of when the data was collected, the date,
month and year: time if relevant.
 Where ?
 Clear statement on exact location
 Vague statements for when or where- (no marks)
Example
Example
 Presentation/ Analysis of data
(8 marks)
 This is a written account of the analysis of the data that was obtained
through field study.
 Present your findings in an essay form .Explain / describe clearly each
factor in a separate paragraph accompanied by an illustration .
 You must read the topic in at least two textbooks and research the
general topic online before you start the report .
 Very well organized, coherent, points well developed, well
sequenced and supported by comprehensive data (Excellent)
 Illustrations should be integrated
 Presentation of data
 Your graphs and photographs must be generated from your
field observation and not copied from secondary sources .
 Use micro soft excel to create your graphs .
 Ensure that all illustrations are properly LABELLED AND
REFERENCE MADE TO THEM IN THE REPORT
 YOU ARE EXPECTED TO USE AT LEAST THREE
DIFFERENT FORMS OF ILLUSTRATIONS EXAMPLE A
PIE CHART / A BAR GRAPH AND A PHOTOGRAPH. .
 Note
 All illustrations : photographs / graphs ( pie/ line or bar )
must be properly labelled .Example :

Use figure for all graphs or maps .

 Fig 1. Map of Jamaica showing study area .

 Fig 2 . Map of St. James showing parish of study .
Use photo for all photographs e.g.

 Photo 1 showing pollutants found in study area

 Photo 2 showing a sea cave along the study area .
 Presentation and Analysis of data
 The study area is located offshore from Pier One to Magaritaville , Montego
Bay St. James. , the researchers found that Tourist activities , Pollution,
Global Warming, Solid Waste and Natural disasters are the five primary
causes of Coral Reef degradation in our study area.
 The main economic activity in Montego Bay is tourism .It is highest income
earner for the city. This sector was however found to be one of the main
causes of the destruction along the study area. Tourist activities that causes
reef destruction along the site are snorkeling, diving, cruise ships and the
daily use of party boats off shore. The researchers observed the corals at
Margaritaville they looked brownish in colour and fragmented. According
to the Ranger this is due to snorkeling and tourists in the past breaking off
the corals for jewellery. . During the field trip the researchers saw a party
boat docked at Margaritaville this also contribute to the degradation of the
reefs in that area .The throwing of the anchors break reefs if they come into
contact with each other. All these factors can lead to a reduction in the
number of live corals.
 Integrate the illustrations
 You must make reference to any picture or graph used in the
study.
 Example … see fig 5 below showing……… or
 See photograph 3 below showing……….
 Use an arrow to zero in on the feature you want to show in
the photograph.
 YOU MUST USE A LEAST THREE TYPES OF
ILLUSTRATION not copied from secondary sources
How to present and integrate
illustrations
 Integration of Illustrations
(4marks)

 Well integrated - discussed and distributed (placed) in the

appropriate section of the presentation .
 These illustrations should be generated from field
observation and tested by candidates and not copied from
secondary sources (that is, they should be the candidates’
original work).
 Ensure that they are properly labelled and titled.
 Quality of Data and Illustrations
(4 marks)
 Accurate, appropriate and relevant
 Mainly Primary data ( from field Study)
 Conclusion ( 4 marks)
 Is related to the purpose of the study, and provides an
appropriate summary consistent with the data obtained .
 No new information should be included in the conclusion
 It may include recommendations .
Example
Cont’d
 Communication of
Information (4)

 No grammatical errors or flaws (2) and extensive use of

appropriate geographical terms (2)
 Bibliography (1 mark)
 Alphabetical order by author with title, publisher, place and
date with relevant and up-to-date references
 Example
 Guinness Paul et. al. Geography for CSEC published by
Nelson Thornes, UK. 2008
 Rahil Vohn New Caribbean Geography with Map Reading
published by Caribbean Educational Publishers , Trinidad
2001
 www.nelsonthornes.com/geograpy for csec
 Appendix
 Place a copy of your questionnaire here ( unanswered)
 Place a copy of your interview questions (unanswered )
 Place any additional photographs or lab test results relevant
to the study.
 Penalty for Exceeding Word
Limit
 (Where the word length exceeds 1000 words, 10% of the
candidate’s earned score is deducted.)

 YOUR SBA MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY …

kindly store your info on more than one device.
Any questions ?????