Pictorial Information (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

A field sketch is a hand-drawn picture of a place, usually outdoors, made to capture observations and data during fieldwork

It documents features of a landscape, both natural and built, through visuals and notes

Field sketches are qualitative data and help us remember specific locations, details, and observations made during a field study

A successful field sketch should include:

• The location or site number

• Have a title

• Show compass direction

• Key features at the site 

Strengths

• Things can be left out of the sketch if they are not relevant to the enquiry

• Helps recall key features

• Smaller, important areas can be more detailed

• Gives a broad overview of the features

Limitations

• The scale in the sketch may be inaccurate

• Important details may be missed

• The sketch may contain inaccuracies which affect the analysis, for example, more litter than there actually was at the site

Photographs are used throughout the exam to illustrate both human and physical features

This is about observational skills and understanding of what is being viewed

Things to look for in photographs include:

• Physical features: vegetation, climate, relief, drainage, distinct features (cliff, river, desert, landslide, etc.), rocky outcrops, etc. 

• Human features: groupings of buildings: offices, homes, factories, etc. Urban, rural or fringe settlements. Industry and transport; developed or developing areas and general condition of features: busy, quiet, modern, old, etc. 

• Relief: height and shape of ground surface, named features, overall appearance

• Agriculture: animal type and spread; vegetation type—grass, barren, sparse, etc. Land type: arable or pasture, ploughed or fallow, crops or harvested, etc. Types of farm buildings and machinery, along with their condition

• Settlements: rural or urban; features of buildings; types of buildings; use of settlements and buildings; spacing between or among buildings—linear, dispersed, nucleated, etc.

• Housing: size and storey: bungalow, large, multistorey, skyscraper, etc., number of windows, are there building plots or vacant sites on the urban fringe or new builds, etc.