Context (6 marks) Comments

Research question (RQ)

Focused research question - must be specific as possible
Relevant research question (must be an ESS issue)
coherent research question
The RQ will be clear if it mentions both the independent (what is changing)
and dependent (what is being measured including units) and location of the
study
Environmental issue (EI)
EI clearly identified - evidence of sources (referenced) have you done
proper research?
explain why the EI is happening
where is the EI happening? what is the local context
What are the consequences of the EI
remove common knowledge statements
Connections between the EI and the RQ
What are the connections?
How will your investigation help answer the RQ
What knowledge and understanding will be revealed from answering the RQ
Communication
Concise - nothing vague
proper clear references
depth of understanding
clear titles and headings

400 words
 Plan (6 marks) Comments
Method
Can someone else follow your method and get the same/similar results?
Does your method allow for sufficient relevent data to be collected? This means 5X5 in
labs, at least 30 survey responses (eg. if surveying gender attitudes 30 male, 30
female), at least 20 samples if doing random sampling at 2 locations or three transects,
Secondary data needs sufficent sampling but is dependent on the type of data you are
collecting
Sampling Strategy
fieldwork - justify why the different sites have been chosen - very important - give a
map if you can and clearly label locations of sampling then explain why these sites
were chosen
jutify why you have chosen a specific plant if surveying in fieldwork or manipulating
growth/germination in lab setting)
Why the range of the independent variable
justify why 5 repeats is done/ why x number of seeds per petri dish
what is the distance between the transects if used?
Is the control group (if applicable) clearly stated
Are you controlled variables accounted for? Are there variables you can't control and
will monitor instead?
Risk assessment
physical risk assessment - drowning, bacteia on hands, water diseases, falling,
slipping, getting cut on rocks
ethical risk assessment, careful about disturbing natural sites; careful disposal of waste
Surveys - should be written in a clear language with no jargon, should be in color that
is unbiased, should be careful to check for gender/race issues
Communication
Is your method clear and numbered?
 Results, analysis, conclusion (6 marks) comments
Results
Raw data is present and clearly labelled as such
Raw data is displayed correctly
Raw data tables are ruled, have headings with units and uncertainties if appropriate, all the
same number of decimal points
Data processing/Analysis
Processed data is clearly labelled as such
averages, standard deviation and further statistical analysis is completed
Titles on each table
Titles on each graph
Included a worked example of how to calculate one average
Included a worked example of how to calculate one standard deviation
Constructed the appropriate graph , could be a pie chart, scatter plot (correlation), line graph,
bar chart, have you chosen the right graph and associated statistic - e.g Pearson is a measure
of linear correlation should not be used if the graph is a curve
if you calcuated the standard deviation these should be present on the graph
is the graph half a page? check the title and heading of x and y axes, units are present, scale is
correct
calculated average do not include 0 readings if they are there - work out the average without
them
If there are anamolies that you are not including, have you identified them and removed them
from analysis?
Do the error bars (if used) overlap? If they do the data is unreliable - the conclusion is not
strongly supported
conclusion
Make sure your conclusion answers the research question
explained significance of average and standard deviation
Does your conclusion match the data you have presented?
Have you explained any trends or patterns in your data?
Communication
is the graph clear to read?
have you chosen the right graph and associated statistic - e.g Pearson is a measure of linear
correlation should not be used if the graph is a curve
 Discussion and evaluation (6 marks) comments
Discussion of results
must link back to the EI And RQ - how are the results relevant to the EI? How do
your results enlighten understanding of the imapcts of the environmental issue?
link your results to concur or contradicate another study
evaluation of the strength of the conclusion
Evaulation of method
strengths of method discussed
weaknesses of method discussed
improvements of one of the weaknesses you have discussed - these modifications to
the original method must therefore improve the method in terms of reliability,
accuracy and precision
areas of further study (relevant) discussed - not just more of the same - make sure
the further study is sharply focused and clear, nothing vague or has tenuous links; if
these further areas of study were implemented, what are the ramifications/insights it
would show?
Application/solutions 3 marks Comments
This should be very closely related to the RQ and results
you must justify why you have chosen the application/ - a
good hint is to try and find a case study of it in action
strengths of application - you must have at least 2 but better to
have three good strengths of the solution you have stated
weaknesses of application - at least 2 or 3 weaknesses
limitations of application/solution - not to be confused with
weaknesses
 Communication (in addition to specific communication in other sections) 3
marks Comments
Spelling checked
All sections titled (context, Planning, Results, Analysis, Conclusion, discussion of conclusion, evaluation of
methodology, application)
All graphs and tables clearly labelled
Worked examples shown
Maximum 2250 word count (not including appropriate tables. Do not include information in a table that should
be in a paragraph)
Word count clearly shown on first page along with clear research question, the following is not included in the
word count (Title page
● Acknowledgments
● Contents page
● Titles and subtitles
● Citations, references and bibliography
● Footnotes—up to a maximum of 15 words
● Photographs
● Map legends and/or keys
● Labels—of 10 words or fewer
● Tables—of statistical or numerical data, or categories, classes or group names
● Calculations)
Bibliography correct