Spot the contention/hidden
agenda/complexity of the question
Most essays are not a straightforward ‘write about…’
1. ‘The economic impacts of earthquakes are always greater than the social
impacts’ To what extent do you agree?’
2. ‘Assess the importance of governance in the successful management of
tectonic hazards’.
3. ‘To what extent do you agree that seismic events will always generate more
widespread and severe impacts than volcanic events?’
4. ‘Evaluate the importance of rebranding in the success of regeneration’.
5. ‘TNCs are the most significant factor in creating unequal flows of people and
money within global systems. How far do you agree with this statement?’
, Spot the contention/hidden
agenda/complexity of the question
Most essays are not a straightforward ‘write about’
1. ‘The economic impacts of earthquakes are always greater than the social impacts’ To what extent do you agree?’
Recognise the contention in this question – are they ‘always greater’?
2. ‘Assess the importance of governance in the successful management of tectonic hazards’.
Spot the hidden agenda. What other factors could be important?
3. ‘To what extent do you agree that seismic events will always generate more widespread and severe impacts than volcanic
events?’
Recognise the contention, and the scale and the range of impacts.
4. ‘Evaluate the importance of rebranding in the success of regeneration’.
Note two hidden agendas here: importance and success. What criteria can be used for both?
5. ‘TNCs are the most significant factor in creating unequal flows of people and money within global systems. How far do you
agree with this statement?’
Here we have complicated demands: most significant factor?; people and money; inequality.
,Welcome to
Geography
Masterclasses
AQA– 7037
Essay writing
Heather Clements-Wheeler
Head of Geography
Principal Examiner
, Learning objectives
To learn how to answer exam questions consciously
to maximise the number of marks achieved
By improving your By improving your By improving your
understanding understanding understanding
of assessment of command of answer
objectives terms structure
agenda/complexity of the question
Most essays are not a straightforward ‘write about…’
1. ‘The economic impacts of earthquakes are always greater than the social
impacts’ To what extent do you agree?’
2. ‘Assess the importance of governance in the successful management of
tectonic hazards’.
3. ‘To what extent do you agree that seismic events will always generate more
widespread and severe impacts than volcanic events?’
4. ‘Evaluate the importance of rebranding in the success of regeneration’.
5. ‘TNCs are the most significant factor in creating unequal flows of people and
money within global systems. How far do you agree with this statement?’
, Spot the contention/hidden
agenda/complexity of the question
Most essays are not a straightforward ‘write about’
1. ‘The economic impacts of earthquakes are always greater than the social impacts’ To what extent do you agree?’
Recognise the contention in this question – are they ‘always greater’?
2. ‘Assess the importance of governance in the successful management of tectonic hazards’.
Spot the hidden agenda. What other factors could be important?
3. ‘To what extent do you agree that seismic events will always generate more widespread and severe impacts than volcanic
events?’
Recognise the contention, and the scale and the range of impacts.
4. ‘Evaluate the importance of rebranding in the success of regeneration’.
Note two hidden agendas here: importance and success. What criteria can be used for both?
5. ‘TNCs are the most significant factor in creating unequal flows of people and money within global systems. How far do you
agree with this statement?’
Here we have complicated demands: most significant factor?; people and money; inequality.
,Welcome to
Geography
Masterclasses
AQA– 7037
Essay writing
Heather Clements-Wheeler
Head of Geography
Principal Examiner
, Learning objectives
To learn how to answer exam questions consciously
to maximise the number of marks achieved
By improving your By improving your By improving your
understanding understanding understanding
of assessment of command of answer
objectives terms structure
