AIMS FOR GREATNESS
KWAMASHU CENTRAL CLUSTER
GRADE: 12 DATE: April / May 2025
GEOGRAPHY
RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
MARKS: 100 MARKS
___________________________________________________________________
This question paper consists of 5 pages plus 1 page for questionnaires and 2
pages of marking rubric
INSTRUCTIONS:
a) A making rubric is attached to the Research.
b) Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in the
question paper.
c) Draw fully labelled diagrams where necessary.
d) Write neatly and legibly.
GUIDELINES ON ACTUAL CONDUCT OF THE RESEARECH
● Plan and carry out Research on a problem/issue that is being experienced in your
locality, region, province, country and continent.
● The problem/issue may have been reported in news bulletins on television/radio/
print/electronic/social media and that is either local to your area (community news) /
region, province or national.
GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH TASK KWAMASHU CLUSTER 2025
● Once you have gathered the required information through your research, you will
write a report in which you discuss your findings.
● When choosing a problem/issue to investigate, ensure that:
▪ It has a strong geographical link to Grade 12 content.
▪ It does not put you in risky/dangerous situations whilst carrying out
your investigation.
▪ Information gathered is from different sources and not copied
directly from the internet.
▪ Ensure that all resources, extracts, quotations are referenced
(declared/acknowledged) in your research.
▪ Adhere to the time frames given.
a) You are required to conduct Research and write a report in your own words.
Learners who merely ‘cut and paste’ articles and pictures or copy information
directly from the source will be penalized.
b) You will be given approximately four weeks to complete this task.
c) You may hand in a typed or handwritten report.
d) Failure to hand in the research task on the due date will result in you receiving a
penalised (reduced) mark for this task.
NOTES TO THE TEACHER:
a) As teachers must give the assessment rubric to the learners before they start
with the research task.
b) This task is due in term 2 and teachers must give the learners a clear
management plan with due dates and deadlines.
TOPIC:
The increasing poor quality of water in catchment areas of KwaMashu and the
surrounding areas due to natural and anthropogenic activities. (100)
Hypothesis: Poor waste management and resent flooding has led to poor water
quality in KwaMashu and the surrounding areas.
pg. 2
GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH TASK KWAMASHU CLUSTER 2025
PART ONE OF THE RESEARCH: WRITTEN WORK
A. Step 2: Mapping
• The learner must provide a map of the area in question.
• During this stage the learner has to create a buffer zone around the area
where the geographical problem exists.
• The map should have a clear legend/key and must be drawn to scale. The
scale must be indicated on the map.
• If the map used covers a wider area, buffer zones around the area of study
should be created.
• The map used should be the most recent map of the study area.
B. Step 3: Background information about an area of study.
• Learners need to explain where in South Africa the study area is located.
(This can be indicated on the map)
• Description of the study area in terms of its exact position (degrees,
minutes and seconds).
• Provide relevant information about the area, for example population of the
area or climate of the area.
• Provide media (newspaper/internet/magazine) sources.
C. Methods of data collection
(a) PRIMARY DATA SOURCES
• The use of questionnaires
• Interviews
• Observations
(b) SECONDARY DATA SOURCES
• Newspaper articles
• Government department statistics
• Books
• Internet
D. Discuss the importance of catchment areas on the following:
▪ Human
▪ Environmental and
▪ Economy
pg. 3
GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH TASK KWAMASHU CLUSTER 2025
E. Discuss the challenges/problems faced by the people of KwaMashu and the
surrounding areas due the damage of catchment areas.
F. Recommendations and solutions
If you were a municipality manager, discuss the strategies that you can put in
place to manage our catchment area.
• Learners should now make recommendations to solve the geographical
problem in question.
• Learners should be encouraged to present their original and realistic
opinions as far as they possibly can.
G. Conclusion: summary of your work
You need to make a decision to either you ACCEPT or REJECT the hypothesis
Learner to provide reasons for either ACCEPTING or REJECTING the
hypothesis.
H. Bibliography:
• A comprehensive bibliography should be included.
• List web sites in full.
• Annexures of questionnaires and interviews conducted should be
included.
PART TWO OF THE RESEARCH: ORAL RESEARCH TASK
The learner had to find out more about local people understand about catchment areas.
Finding the information this way is called oral research because you are to interview
about FOUR people. For your research to be successful look at the following
▪ Find out from each person what they know about catchment area, their
involvement in the mismanagement and how they are being affected by the
current situation.
▪ Questionnaire is provided below for interview ranging from easy to make the
person relax to more in-depth questions for more information.
▪ Your questionnaire should be attached at the back of your research task.
QUESTIONNAIRE
All answers you provide are based on your experience, perceptions and knowledge.
Please tick (√) or cross the appropriate box. Also provide detailed information where
necessary.
pg. 4
GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH TASK KWAMASHU CLUSTER 2025
(√) or cross the appropriate box
1. What kind of water do you use as the main source of drinking water?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Do you pay attention to local drinking water quality?
YES NO
3. Are you satisfied with your drinking water quality?
YES NO
4. Do you trust the safety of drinking water? If NO, provide details
YES NO
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. Do you have any problems with your tap water quality?
YES NO
If yes, provide details:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
6. When you do have problems with your drinking water (such as water quality
abnormal, pipeline damage, faucet water leakage, etc.), how do you solve these
problems?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
pg. 5
GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH TASK KWAMASHU CLUSTER 2025
MARKING RUBRIC FOR A RESEARCH TASK Grade 12
NAME OF LEARNER: ______________________________________________________GRADE: 12___
RESEARCH TOPIC: __________________________________________________________________________
MARK 2 4 6 8 10-12 Teacher Mark Moderator Mark
Step 2 Mapping Relevant map of Relevant map of Relevant research
Mapping Irrelevant map area included with research area area identified on a
included with no limited information included with map with an
information and no legend. appropriate legend appropriate legend,
and limited detail. appropriate labels
and use of scale.
MARK 2 4 6 8 Teacher Mark Moderator Mark
Step 1 Unable to give Some description of Relevant description Learner has fully
Background a description an area is provided of an area of described the study
Information or background with limited study with most of area and has provided
information of the background the background the appropriate
area being information given information provided. background
studied. information
MARK 2 4 6 8 Teacher Mark Moderator Mark
Step 3 Only one primary Primary and Primary and A variety of primary
Data collection or one secondary secondary sources secondary data and secondary data
. source of data is of data collected sources that sources collected,
used. which inadequately mostly enable an that accurately
informs research understanding of describe the
methodology. the research area hypothesis
studied.
MARK 2–6 8 – 14 16 - 22 24 - 30 30- 36 Teacher Mark Moderator Mark
Step 4 The learner The learner is able The learner is able to The learner is The learner is
Analysis and shows little to identify some identify and interpret able to identify able to identify
synthesis of data understanding of the problems the the problems and the problems
. of the topic and is from the sources sources in most interpret all the and interpret
but shows limited cases, but shows sources and is all the sources
pg. 6
GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH TASK KWAMASHU CLUSTER 2025
unable to understanding of limited ability to show able to show some and is able to
identify, interpretation and the effects. insight into the effects. provide clear
interpret or show effects insight into the
the effects from effects.
the sources
used.
MARK 2 4–6 8-10 12 Teacher Mark Moderator Mark
Step 5 The learner The learner could The learner is The learner provides
Recommendatio is unable to only provide some able to provide clear insight into all
ns provide relevant recommendations most of the relevant
and solutions recommendation and solutions to the recommendations recommendations
. s and solutions to problem and solutions to the and possible
the problem. problem. solutions to the
problem.
MARK 2 2-4 6 8 Teacher Mark Moderator Mark
Step 6 No conclusion Conclusion provided Conclusion Conclusion provided
Conclusion provided. but the learner does provided with an with an acceptance or
. not accept or reject acceptance or rejection of the
the hypothesis/ rejection of the hypothesis/problem
problem statement. hypothesis/problem statement and extra
statement information
MARK 0 2-4 6 8 Teacher Mark Moderator Mark
Step 7 No bibliography Bibliography Bibliography Bibliography
Bibliography provided. provided is provided is correct. provided is correct
incomplete and numbered
MARK 0 2–4 6 8 Teacher Mark Moderator Mark
Step 9 No cover page is Cover page is Cover page Cover page
Cover page provided. provided with contains with names, contains all the
details. names and subject subject and grade required details.
TOTAL 100
pg. 7
