A CHECKLIST FOR YOUR P.I.S

  These are not hard and fast rules but for your general guidance.

  General Organisation

  • Does the Project begin with a title page, carrying the title of the project, your name, the school name, the date, and the number of words in the main text of the project?

  • Have you numbered the pages of the project?

  • Have you numbered each of the illustrations? (maps/diagrams/photos/sketches)?

  • If you have word processed your project, have you left a 3 cm, left hand margin?

  • Have you included a list of contents, giving the page number of each section and  subsection of the project?

  • Have you included a fist of illustrations, giving the page number of each illustration?

  • Does each main section begin on a new page?

  • Have you drawn maps by hand whenever possible, rather than relying on photocopied maps? (N.B. photocopied maps are acceptable if they show very complicated information, for example, a detailed road plan. But always think carefully about how detailed a map needs to be).

  The following questions relate to each of the main sections in your project:

  Introduction and Literature Review

  • Does this explain, briefly and precisely, the topic you have chosen to investigate and exactly what you were trying to find out?

  • Does this include a description of your chosen study area, to set the scene for your investigation?

  • Does this provide a detailed theoretical background to the geographical topic or issue under investigation and the literature which relates to this topic?

  • Have you explained why you chose to investigate this particular topic?

  • Have you included maps showing:

a) The position of your study area in relation to its surrounding region, e.g. Greater London as a whole? b) The local area in which your study area is found, e.g. Radlett, Edgware, Barnet, Kenton, etc.? c) The study area itself?

  • Have you included a small amount of statistical or historical information to support your description?

  • Does your description assume no previous background or local knowledge on the part of the reader of your project?

  Data Collection

  • Have you explained exactly how you carried out your fieldwork?

  • Have you explained exactly why you chose your particular method(s) of investigation? If you carried out a questionnaire, have you:-

a) included an example of your questionnaire? b) stated clearly the number of people interviewed? c) stated where the interviews took place? d) explained how you decided on the questions you included? e) explained the reasons for any modifications you made to your questionnaire?

  • Have you mentioned any difficulties you faced in carrying out your fieldwork, and how you attempted to deal with them?

  • Have you described any books, maps, statistical sources, people or organisations that you referred to for background information (secondary data)?

  • Have you included any correspondence that you had with people or organisations that helped you?

  Data Presentation

  • Have you used a good variety of presentation techniques?

  • Have you given each diagram or graph a title, key, scale, direction point, etc.?

  • Have you described the results of your investigation in both words and illustrations?

  • Are all maps and diagrams neatly and accurately drawn and shaded?

  • Are any large maps or diagrams folded to A4 size?

  • Are the illustrations inserted into the text close to the written section they refer to (for ease of reference)?

  • If you have included any photographs or sketches are they labelled to say exactly what they show and to point out any particular features in them?

  Data Analysis

  • If you have carried out any statistical tests, have you shown your working fully and clearly?

  • In the analysis of the information you have collected, have you attempted to give reasons for the pattern of results you have described?

  Conclusion

  • Does your project end with a brief summary of what has been achieved, and an assessment of the overall success of the project?

  • Have you considered ways in which your project could be extended if you have more time and resources?

  • Have you accepted/rejected your original ideas?

  • Would you have carried out your project in a different way if you had known more at the outset?

  • Have you included a bibliography (a list of books you referred to)?

  • Have you included a list of acknowledgements to people who have helped you?