Name_________________________________

AUSTRALIAN TRANSECT
Principal focus: Investigating Australias Physical Environment. The major geographical attributes of
Australia (Landform and climate
Outcomes:
!tudents "ill be able to#
$.%# identify& gather and evaluate geographical information
$.'# analyse& organi(e and synthesise geographical information
$.)# select and use appropriate "ritten& oral and graphic forms to communicate geographical information.
$.*# selects and applies appropriate geographical tools
$.$# demonstrates a sense of place about Australian environments
$.+# e,plain the geographical processes that form and transform Australian environments.
Aim of Task:
-ou "ill undergo the study of a transect that e,tends across Australia "hich illustrates the elevation of the
land& climatic (ones and the distribution of different geographical attributes that occur along its length.
What is a transect: A transect is a cross-section of part of the earths surface that gives a
summary of the features along this cross-section and can include landforms, climate,
settlement and other physical and human features.
.eographical attributes can include a variety of natural or human features such as vegetation& climate& soils&
topography (landform& and communities& built features& landmar/s& transport lin/s and boundaries
Task Details:
%. -our transect must e,tend for more than '011/m coast to coast and can run north to south& east to "est or
run diagonally across Australia.
'. !tudy your atlas and pic/ t"o points you "ish to connect. 2emember that the land you cross "ill ma/e
up the bul/ of your assessment so choose carefully.
). Pic/ ten points along your transect and discuss one of the geographical attributes belo" for each point.
-ou can only use an attribute once (!ee pp. )' 3 +% 4,ford Atlas (see Transect Table e,ample on ho" this
should be set out
eo!rap"ical Attri#utes
5 6limate (including three climate graphs for three communities located along the transect at
diverse locations
5 Ecosystems (7eserts& .rasslands& Tropical rainforests
5 Land use (Agriculture& Industrial& 8ining
5 9atural resources
5 !oils:.eology
5 Indigenous language groups and communities
5 Issues associated "ith living in ;rban areas
5 Environmental hot spots
5 <orld heritage sites
5 Endangered species
5 2ural population impacts
%
5 Impacts of Tourism.
5 Attributes of your o"n choosing (8;!T discuss "ith your teacher
*. -ou must create a transect for ) different attributes from the list above.
$. 6hoose three communities:settlements that are located along or in close pro,imity to your transect
and provide a brief overvie" of "hy they are located "here they are (=istory. Each community
must be clearly mar/ed on your transect. 7ra" a climate graph for each community. ()11 "ords for
section $
-ou "ill be issued a template on "hich to present your transect. This "ill include the follo"ing
elements#
a map of Australia on "hich to dra" your transect (Point A to Point >
a blan/ climate graph
A table to record data for at least %1 reference points

Presentation
<hen constructing your transect you must choose colours& shadings and lines that are
appropriate to the information being displayed. 7o not use fluoro highlighters. 9eatly and
clearly label relevant information.
It is highly recommended that "hen constructing your transect& you "or/ in pencil. ;se a
blac/ Artline '11 pen to complete your presentation "hen you are satisfied "ith your final
layout.
-ou must include a >ibliography (7iary pp.+%
'
8ar/ing .uidelines Tas/ % ? Australian Transect
Name_
Criteria E Elementar$
%&'
D De(elopin!
)&*
C Soun+
,%&,-
. /i!"
,0&,)
A E1cellent
,2&-%
E$.% identifies& gathers and
evaluates geographical
information
E$.' analyses& organises and
synthesis geographical
information
Information included in the overall
presentation provides elementary
evidence of research& analysis and
synthesis. @ery limited information
on selected geographical attributes
such as#
? climate
? landform regions
? native vegetation
? soils
? geology
? Indigenous language groups
? population density
Information included in the
presentation provides limited
evidence of research& analysis and
synthesis. !ome information on
selected geographical attributes such
as#? climate
? landform regions
? native vegetation
? soils
? geology
? Indigenous language groups
? population density
Information included in the
presentation provides sound
evidence of research& analysis
and synthesis that demonstrates
an adeAuate understanding of
selected geographical attributes
such as#? climate
? landform regions
? native vegetation
? soils
? geology
? Indigenous language groups
? population density
Information included in the
presentation provides thorough
evidence of research& analysis and
synthesis that demonstrates a high
understanding selected geographical
attributes such as#? climate
? landform regions
? native vegetation
? soils
? geology
? Indigenous language groups
? population density
Information included in the presentation
provides a very high level of evidence of
e,tensive research& analysis and
synthesis on all the geographic
attributes. Information is e,cellent and
demonstrates a detailed understanding of
the follo"ing geographical attributes#
? climate
? landform regions
? native vegetation
? soils
? geology
? Indigenous language groups
? population density
E$.$ e,plains the
geographical
processes
that form and
transform
environments along
the
transect
$.*
selects and applies
appropriate
geographica
l
tools
7escription and e,planation of the
physical and human geographic
attributes along the transect is
elementary. 4nly a fe" are e,plained
in a very limited and basic manner.
Application of all or most of the
follo"ing tools is elementary#
? e,trapolation of data
? scale (hori(on. and vert
? lat and long
? climate graphs
? vertical e,aggeration
7escription and e,planation of the
physical and human geographic
attributes along the transect is
limited. !ome are e,plained in a
manner that demonstrates an
understanding of the concepts and
issues that is still developing. Buite
a fe" concepts have not been
e,plained in enough detail.
Application of all or most of the
follo"ing tools is developing#
? e,trapolation of data
? scale (hori(on. and vert
? lat and long
? climate graphs
? vertical e,aggeration
7escription and e,planation of
the physical and human
geographic attributes along the
transect is adeAuate. 8any are
e,plained in a manner that
demonstrates a sound
understanding of the major
concepts and issues.
Application of all or most of the
follo"ing tools is sound#
? e,trapolation of data
? scale (hori(on. and vert
? lat and long
? climate graphs
? vertical e,aggeration
7escription and e,planation of the
physical and human geographic
attributes along the transect is
thorough. 8ost are e,plained in a
manner that demonstrates a high
level of understanding of the major
concepts and issues.
Application of all or most of the
follo"ing tools is high#
? e,trapolation of data
? scale (hori(on. and vert
? lat and long
? climate graphs
? vertical e,aggeration
7escription and e,planation of the
physical and human geographic
attributes along the transect is e,cellent.
9early all are e,plained in a manner that
demonstrates a very high level of
understanding of the major concepts and
issues
Application of all or most of the
follo"ing tools is e,cellent "ith very
minimal error and a very high degree of
accuracy
? e,trapolation of data
? scale (hori(on. and vert
? lat and long
? climate graphs
? vertical e,aggeration
E$.) selects and uses
appropriate "ritten& and
graphic forms to
communicate geographical
information
!election and use of images (maps&
photos& graphs& titles& te,t& shading
and colour to communicate
geographic attributes along the
transect is elementary. 9o
bibliography is included.
!election and use of& images (maps&
photos& graphs& titles& te,t& shading
and colour to communicate
geographic attributes along the
transect is limited. >ibliography
included but not correctly set.
!election and use of images
(maps& photos& graphs& titles&
te,t& shading and colour to
communicate geographic
attributes along the transect is
adeAuate. >ibliography included
but not correctly set.
!election and use images (maps&
photos& graphs& titles& te,t& shading
and colour to communicate
geographic attributes along the
transect is thorough. >ibliography is
correctly set out.
!election and use of images (maps&
photos& (maps& photos& graphs& titles&
te,t& shading and colour to communicate
geographic attributes along the transect
is e,cellent. >ibliography is correctly set
out.
)