1. GCSE fieldwork for Controlled assessment – Fieldwork Focus
Title: How and why do natural features vary along the River Alyn?
Learning outcomes:
All students will-
• List and describe different features
• Observe and describe a range of river landforms
• Complete location maps for the “setting the scene” scene section.
• Describe the different methods used on the trip
• State a hypothesis that will be investigated
Most students will-
• Label photo’s and sketches with explanations of how landforms have
been created (referring to the processes at work)
• Describe and explain different data collection methods
• Create location maps for the “setting the scene” scene section.
• Comment on the different methods of presenting data and suggest
trends in the data
Some students will-
• Explain the reasons why different landforms are located in specific
places along the river
• Suggest limitations of the study and possible solutions
So……..
What features are we expecting to see? Which features are made by erosion?
What different methods of erosion and Which features are made by
deposition?
transportation can be observed?
How and why do natural
features vary along the
River Alyn?
Some questions for you
What is the landscape like at
What causes deposition? to consider and think
different points along the river
about
What causes erosion? What types of
erosion are there? How does the river channel change as you
move downstream? How does the material in
the river change as you move downstream?
Why do some areas have features caused
by erosion and other areas have features
caused by deposition?

2. Key Questions to answer:
1. How does the river channel change along its course?
2. What features of erosion are found along the River Alyn?
3. What has caused this erosion and led to these landforms?
4. What features of deposition are found along the River Alyn?
5. How does the material in the river change as you move downstream?
Writing your answer – 1200 words
Section 1: Setting the scene (200 words)
• What is the question you are trying to answer?
• What is your hypothesis (what do you expect the answer to the title to
be)
• Where is Colomendy? (Remember, when describing location you use
distance, direction, other nearby places that people may have heard
of).
• What relevant information can you provide about Colomendy and the
region (keep it brief, not a long history of the place)
Section 2: Method (in a table so not included in word count)
• Describe the fieldwork techniques that you will be using
(fieldsketching, pebble analysis, width and depth measurements,
velocity of water measurement)
• Explain why these techniques are useful (what will they show us?)
• Explain what problems there may be of these techniques (try to think
as many problems as you can about each technique)
Section 3: Data presentation and analysis (the most important bit) (800
words)
• Present your findings using annotated photographs, annotated
fieldsketches, cross sections of the river, pebble analysis graphs and so
on for each method used
• Describe the findings of your fieldwork
• Explain the findings (basically answer the key questions)
Section 4: Evaluation and conclusion (200 words)
• Go back to the original question and sum up what you have found out
– don’t say new things though
• Say what the strengths of your work are
• Say what the weaknesses of your work are
• Say how you would improve the work (again, this can be done in a
table with three columns – strengths, weaknesses and improvements –
remember, recognising weaknesses in your work is a good thing as it
shows you are thinking about what you are doing)

3. LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3
Question or Simple description, Sound description, Good description, A02
hypothesis in the context of considers wider considers range &
the enquiry context variety of contexts Applic
Evidence Simple description Adequate description Thorough description &
& explanation & explanation; stops explanation of
short
K&U
/12
Location & Done simply Done ok Done well
description of Limited use of Selects & uses a Effectively selects &
study area techniques variety of techniques uses a variety of
techniques
Methodology Suggests a limited Suggests a variety of Suggests an
number of techniques & appropriate variety of
techniques & technologies techniques &
technologies technologies
Data A limited selection A varied selection of A varied selection of
Collection of evidence appropriate accurate and
(results) is evidence (results) is appropriate evidence
presented, mainly presented, mainly (results) is presented,
A03
fieldwork fieldwork, but other using a wide range of
sources sources
Analysis
Data A few simple maps, A range of maps, An appropriate range of
representation graphs or diagrams graphs or diagrams maps, graphs or
&
diagrams
Analysis, The limited Evidence has been Evidence has been
Evaluation
Interpretation & evidence has been analysed/interpreted analysed/interpreted; a
Conclusion commented upon; a ; a plausible substantiated
simplistic conclusion conclusion has been conclusion has been
has been made made made
/24
Evaluation Attempted – odd Overall evaluation Critical evaluation;
basic comment made; some considers limitations of
suggestions for methodology/data;
improvements suggests how to put
these right & extend
the enquiry
SPAG Contains errors Mostly accurate; Almost no errors;
Hinders easily understood meaning communicated
communication, clearly
Written Writes too little/too Writes with some Writes precisely & to
style much; not focused precision; meets the point; word limit
word limit not exceeded
SCORE 0 - 12 13 - 24 25 - 36