Geographical Writing and Communication

Three ways to develop geographical writing

Geographical writing helps a reader understand places, processes and evidence. Sometimes the task is to show what is happening. Sometimes it is to explain how or why it happens, or to examine how convincing an explanation is. These are different jobs, so adding more description does not automatically turn an answer into analysis.

Descriptive, analytical and critical writing can work together. You might first describe a pattern, then offer an explanation, and finally consider how strongly the evidence supports it. The question determines which of these deserves most attention.

Describe: make the pattern clear

Descriptive writing sets out characteristics. These might include the location of a feature, the distribution of something across an area, a change over time or differences between places. Select details that help the reader see the main pattern rather than listing every value.

Consider this fictional teaching example, not real fieldwork evidence. Students count visible litter items along two 100-metre park paths during one visit. Path A has 18 items and no bins; Path B has six items and three bins.

A precise description would be: ‘During the visit, Path A had more visible litter than Path B: 18 items compared with six along equal-length sections.’ This identifies the difference, supports it with figures and makes the basis of comparison clear. ‘Path A was worse’ would be vague because it does not say what was measured.

For a larger dataset, begin with the overall pattern, support it with selected values and mention important exceptions. For a map, use locations and directions to explain where features occur. Description should make the evidence understandable without inventing reasons for it.

Analyse: connect evidence to an explanation

Analytical writing goes beyond identifying a pattern. It examines relationships and explains how or why they might occur. A useful sequence is point → evidence → explanation, but this is a writing aid, not a compulsory paragraph formula.

In the fictional example, the path with bins also has fewer litter items. An analytical statement could be: ‘The lower litter count on Path B may be linked to its three bins. Bins provide somewhere for visitors to dispose of rubbish, so their availability could help explain the difference.’

The explanation adds a possible mechanism: how the presence of bins could affect litter. Simply writing ‘Path B has less litter because it has less rubbish’ would repeat the observation rather than explain it.

Notice the cautious wording. The observations show an association between bin provision and litter counts, but they do not establish that the bins caused the difference. Analysis should distinguish what was observed from what is being proposed as an explanation.

Write critically: test how convincing the evidence is

Critical writing means examining strengths and limitations, not just finding faults. Ask what the evidence supports, what else could explain it and how far a statement can reasonably be applied.

The fictional comparison has a useful strength: both sections are 100 metres long, so the counts are not simply comparing a long path with a short one. However, one visit provides only a snapshot. Different visitor numbers or recent cleaning could also help explain the difference. Counts from two paths alone cannot show whether the same relationship occurs throughout the park.

A critical statement could therefore be: ‘Comparing equal-length sections makes the counts more comparable, but a single visit cannot establish whether bin provision explains the difference. Recent cleaning or different visitor numbers could also have influenced the results.’

Each limitation is connected to its consequence. This is more informative than adding an unexplained comment such as ‘the investigation was unreliable’. Keep the criticism proportionate: limited evidence can still provide a useful observation, even when it cannot establish a cause.

Communicate clearly to your reader

Effective communication means helping the reader follow your meaning. Use accurate geographical vocabulary, identify the place or group you mean, and make links between sentences explicit. Words such as ‘whereas’ show a contrast; ‘because’ introduces a reason; ‘however’ signals a qualification.

The same evidence can be presented differently for different audiences. In a fieldwork report, you might write: ‘Visible litter counts were lower on the path with bins, although the single survey does not establish causation.’ For local park users, the same message could be: ‘We found less litter on the path with bins, but one visit cannot tell us whether the bins made the difference.’ The language changes, but the evidence and uncertainty do not.

Introduce technical terms when readers may not know them. In an exam answer, use relevant geographical terms precisely and keep the explanation focused on the question. In a presentation or report, clear headings and appropriately labelled graphs or maps can help organise information, but they should support—not replace—the explanation.

Let the task guide your writing

AQA uses describe for setting out characteristics and explain for setting out purposes or reasons. Compare requires similarities and differences. Discuss involves key points about different ideas or strengths and weaknesses, while assess and evaluate require judgement.

Before writing, identify the geographical focus, the command word and any required evidence. Then choose the detail and style that do that job. A clear answer is not necessarily a long one: it makes relevant points, supports them and shows the reader how they connect.

Choose the writing job

• Descriptive: what is there, where it occurs or how it changes. Identify patterns and support them with precise detail.
• Analytical: how or why. Connect evidence to an explanation; do not merely repeat the observation.
• Critical: how convincing. Examine strengths, limitations and alternative explanations, and explain their significance.

Communicate effectively

Use precise geographical vocabulary, clear comparisons and connected sentences. Adapt technical language to the audience without changing the evidence or hiding uncertainty.

Match the command

Describe: characteristics. Explain: purposes or reasons. Compare: similarities and differences. Discuss: different ideas or strengths and weaknesses. Assess/evaluate: judgement.

An association alone does not establish cause.