More on the presentation of data
By Marjorie Henry, Contributor

Students from Innswood High School at the St. Catherine Cooperative Credit Union School Quiz competition final at the St. Catherine Health Centre in Spanish Town. - Rudolph Brown Photo

IN THE last lesson, I shared with you aspects of the presentation of your field study report. The major points indicated were:

* The written account should have sub-sections with sub-headings;

* The illustrations chosen for the study should be integrated in the study and be placed as close as possible to where reference is made to them;

* The statement of conclusion should not introduce new ideas;

* The bibliography should have at least three sources of reference;

* There should be at least two location maps.

I will continue today by referring to the question I asked at the end of the lesson - Do you know how to complete your maps? Well, this is what is required of you. The map should have -

* A border
* A title
* A key (legend)
* A scale
* North arrow

* Conventional colours (for example, blue for drainage, red for main roads) shading and symbols.

Print on the map when labelling features. Use black ink, preferably, to label your maps. Do you want to gain the maximum five marks for your maps? To realise this your maps should be accurately drawn, properly labelled and neat.

Your study ends with an appendix. In this section, you are to have a sample of the questionnaire and/or interview schedule you may have used in order to obtain the data for your study. DO NOT include the answers to the questions. In fact, you would have already utilised that information in your written account. If your illustrations included line graph, bar graph and pie chart, which were generated on the computer, the data you used to produce them should also be included in the appendix.

There is a specific order to put your study together for presentation. Here is it:

* Title page
* Strategy sheet
* Table of contents
* Location maps
* Aim of the study
* Method of data collection
* Presentation of data
* Conclusion
* Bibliography
* Appendix

A note on the table of content - this should have basically, only those sections of the study for which marks are given. That is, all sections listed above with the exception of the title page and the strategy sheet. No marks are given to the appendix but it must be a part of the table of content.

The report should be properly held together and placed in a simple soft-backed folder of 'QUARTO' or 'A4' size.

Again, may I encourage you to do your work properly and neatly. You should have no problem in obtaining a passing grade if you follow the guidelines. You can gain 50 per cent of the marks if:

* The table of content is properly presented 2 marks
* The location maps are accurately and properly done 5 marks
* The aim of the study is clearly stated 3 marks
* There is a clear statement on data collection 5 marks
* A statement of conclusion well done 3 marks
* A bibliography properly done 3 marks

You would have scored 20 marks out of maximum 40 marks. The remaining 20 marks would be for the presentation of data. Do a good job. Aim for the highest marks.

* Marjorie Henry is Geography teacher at Glenmuir High School in Clarendon.