HOW TO HAVE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION?

In HKCEE, 2 marks are given for effective communication for each structured exercise. Therefore students can almost get 6 marks for the 3 chosen questions.

The criteria are as follows:

1. Elaboration

e.g. Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong (Too simple)
=> Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong because there are lots of cars on the streets.

2. Explanation

        e.g. Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong because there are lots of cars on the streets.
        (How does large number of cars link with air pollution? No explanation is provided)
        => Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong because there are lots of cars on the streets.
        Cars emit lots of poisonous carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide which pollute the
        environment.

3. Data

        e.g. Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong. (How serious is air pollution? No data!)
        => Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong. Air pollution can be measured by Air
        Pollution Index (API). The highest air pollution index measured in Tung Chung in
        Dec, 1999 was 161.

4. Well-labeled diagram

        Well-labeled diagram can in fact summarize lots of written arguments already.

5. Example

        e.g. Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong. (Hong Kong is large. Which part of Hong
        Kong has serious air pollution)
        => Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong especially in Causeway Bay, Central.

6. Using keywords & geographical terms

        Remember you are writing a geography essay, not a composition, therefore some     geographical terms & keywords MUST be found in your essays.

        e.g. Air is dirty in Hong Kong because lots of black smoke and dust is given out from cars. It cannot go away because of the tall buildings in Hong Kong. (The arguments are correct but even a primary student can answer like this.)

        Geography students should use the terms that you have learnt to answer, for example:
Air Pollution is serious /The Air Pollution Index is high in Hong Kong (Air is dirty in Hong Kong). Cars emitted (give out) lots of poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and respirable suspended particulates (dust and smoke). Tall buildings result in calm wind condition and block the dissipation of these gases. As a result, most of the pollutants are trapped in the lower atmosphere.

7. Integration of concepts

        e.g. Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong because there are lots of cars on the streets.
        (Air pollution should not be the result of poisonous gases emitted from cars only.
        There should be other factors too. Students should link different factors together)
        => Air pollution is serious in Hong Kong because there are lots of cars on the streets.
        The poisonous gases emitted are trapped in the lower atmosphere because of tall buildings
        which block the release of gases and result in calm wind condition.