Environmental Geographies: Key Themes

• Nature is a social construction

• Environmental problems defined and experienced at different scales

• Unequal exposure to environmental harm = Environmental injustice

• Climate change contributions & impacts unequally distributed

• Tensions/ trade-offs of sustainable development

GG1004: Exam Format:

Exam mark = 60% of GG 1004 Module mark

Choice of FOUR essay titles

Write an essay on one

Maximum of 1,000 words

Logistics:

• Should take 2-3 hours

• Exam paper released at 10am on GG1004 Moodle page

• Deadline is 2pm

• No extensions

• Late submission (even by a minute) = zero

• Make sure you use the answer sheet provided

• Complete information correctly & save file with the correct name

Topics:

• Social Geographies

• Political Geographies

• Environmental Geographies

• NO question from the Development Geographies section of the module → Covered by summative essay

EXAM ESSAY MARKING CRITERIA PAGE 56 OF STUDENT HANDBOOK

How to approach an exam essay:

Hubbard (2016) observes “… a circularity whereby affluence breeds affluence.” Examine this claim with specific reference to the social category of class

Intro:

• Class - definition

• Affluence

Tackle both parts of the question: The quote and the social category of class and how they link to each other → In this case, spatial patterns of affluence

Main Body/Points:

Paragraph 1: Gentrification

• Transformation of areas that were seen as less affluent, receive investment and affluent people move in and lead to an increase of price around everything leading to attracting more affluent people.

• Structure: Do not delve into a case study/example of the bat. Clearly outline your argument first hand. For example talking about the positive feedback loop gentrification can create THEN use a case study

Paragraph 2: Access to resources:

• Offsted ranking → Affects school rating → more people will want to move into the area → raising all prices → resources only available to the affluent

Paragraph 3: Questioning Affluence

• Affluence in connections and feelings of community → Gated communities are a sign of economic affluence, but may leave a lot to desire in wellbeing

• Affluence might be linked to wellbeing

Revision Tips:

1. Check you know WHEN you exam is

2. Give enough time to prep

3. Review all GG1004 notes for relevant lectures

4. Go back to recordings

5. DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING NOT UNDERSTOOD

Topic Breakdown:

Social Geographies:

• Lecture 2: Society and Space

• Lecture 3: Geography and class

• Lecture 4: Geography, race and ethnicity

• Lecture 5: Geography and Gender

Political Geographies:

• Lecture 6: World orders and

Bring all your notes on a topic together into summary notes:

• Might use lecture outline as a starting point

• Main themes

• Definitions

• Key quotes

• Key authors with arguments

• Layout in a way that is helpful for you

LOOK AT PAST PAPERS AND DO ESSAY PLANS FOR YOUR CHOSEN TOPICS

Questions to email:

• Citing and the difference between bibliography etc etc.