RESEARCH PROJECT / GRADE 11 / TERM 1 - 2025

GRADE 11 RESEARCH 2025

RESEARCH TOPIC INVESTIGATION OF AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY,

QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF FRESH WATER
IN MY COMMUNITY

SUBJECT : GEOGRAPHY

CODE : GEOG

GRADE : 11

TERM : TWO

DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION : MARCH 2025

DATE OF COMPLETION : MAY 2025

CAPS WEIGHTING % : 10

TERM WEIGHTING % : 25

TOTAL 60
 RESEARCH / GRADE 11 / TERM 2 - 2025

Write a research and investigate the availability, accessibility, quality and sustainable
use of freshwater in your community.

RESEARCH TOPIC

Availability, Accessibility, Quality and Sustainable use of

Freshwater in my community.

The Structure and Layout of your Research may follow the guidelines Marks
below.
1.1. Cover page 1 A4 Page 5

1.2 Index 1 A4 Page 5

2. Introduction Length
• Provide the background to the topic. ½ A4 Page
Discuss the importance of freshwater in East London, its
role in daily life, and the current water challenges

• State the reason for researching the topic. 10

Explain why studying water availability, quality, and
sustainability is important in East London. Mention issues
such as water shortages, pollution, or climate change
effects.

3. Research Objectives
• State how in your research you aim to address current ½ A4 Page
water related issues in your community such as:
 Water availability: How reliable is the freshwater
supply?
 Accessibility: Do all communities in East London have
10
equal access to clean water?
 Water quality: Is the water safe for drinking (diseases)?
 Sustainable use: Are residents and businesses using
water responsibly?
 Attitude of people towards conservation of water
 Water supply infrastructure etc.
 RESEARCH / GRADE 11 / TERM 2 - 2025

4. Study Area (Background)

• Describe the location of the area of study.
• Describe East London’s location
(latitude/longitude: 32.97°S, 27.87°E).
• Mention Buffalo City Municipality and the local
wards affected.

Map of Area
• Provide a map showing the Buffalo and Nahoon
Rivers as major water sources.
• Insert the map of the study area.
• Do not draw the map by free hand. 1 Paragraph
A4 size Paper 10
• Use base map of the study area to trace from the
topographic map as base map and be inserted to
the A4 sheet paper.
• A map of the area under study can also be
downloaded and cropped from a satellite image.
• The Map should conform to the conventional colour
and shape of the map symbols.
• The map should contain all the map elements (Map
Scale, Map Title, Map Legend, Map Border, North
Arrow)

5. Data Collection
5.1 Primary and Secondary Data Collection
• State how primary data will be collected.
• State the sources of primary and secondary data
for your research.
• Indicate how sampling for primary data will be
done.
• Indicate the tools that will be used to record
responses from primary data.
• Indicate the method of data analysis and
interpretation to be used.

• Primary Data Sources may include interviews,

observations from the field, pictures taken by
camera etc. For this research task primary data
may include interviews about the distance from ½ A4 Page 10
source, number of litres used per day, what water
is used water usage in different neighbourhoods
(e.g., suburbs vs. townships). Take photos of
water sources, treatment plants, or water storage
facilities.

•5.2 Secondary data sources may include geography

textbooks, geography study guides, handouts,
newspaper articles, internet websites, satellite
images, topographic maps, orthophoto maps, atlas
maps etc. Actual data that may be collected as
cited above may include literature notes, graphs,
pictures or table information.
 RESEARCH / GRADE 11 / TERM 2 - 2025

• NB You should cite only the sources of data

that you have used in your research.

6. Discussion, Data analysis, Data Interpretation.

• Refer to data collected from primary and

secondary data sources.

• Discuss, describe, explain, analyse, interpret and

use illustrations and statistics to support your
arguments.

• E.g. bar graphs to illustrate distances travelled to

collect water, Tables to illustrate quantity of water
collected per day, or pie charts to illustrate
Percentage of water use (household, industrial,
agricultural).

• NB You should cite only the sources of data 2 Pages 20

that you have used in your research.

• Discussions should address the issues of:

• Availability: Is there enough water supply from
the rivers and rainfall?
• Accessibility: Do townships and informal
settlements receive the same water services as
wealthier areas?
• Quality: Are there reports of water contamination
or pollution from industries?
• Sustainability: Is water being conserved, or is
there wastage?
7. Findings and Recommendations
• Provide an evaluation of how your community rates
to your findings.
• Summarize key findings (e.g., water shortages in
some areas, pollution risks, infrastructure
problems).
• Provide recommendations on improving water access, 1 paragraph to 15
conservation, and quality. ½ A4 Page.
• Recommendations are based on your findings.
• They should provide the proposals as well as how
the community is expected to respond based on
the findings.
• Recommendations may link to your research
objectives.
 RESEARCH / GRADE 11 / TERM 2 - 2025

8. Conclusion (Accept / Reject) Hypothesis

• Refer to section 4 (Formulating Hypothesis). Summarise
the main points in your findings to determine whether
they agree / disagree with the hypothesis you have
formulated and decide if your hypothesis is accepted or
rejected. 5

 State whether your hypothesis was accepted or

rejected based on your findings.
 Summarize the most important points from your
research

9. Bibliography
5
• Write a bibliography using the Harvard method of 1 Page
referencing.

10. PRESENTATION
• Overall impression of project and steps followed. 5
 RESEARCH / GRADE 11 / TERM 2 - 2025

Marking Rubric
Name and Surname of Learner…………………………………………………
Activities Marks Information Required Length
Total Educator Moderator
Cover page 5 • Name & Surname 1 A4 page
• Grade and Class
• Educator’s Name
• Subject
• Research Topic:

Index 5 Numbers 1 A4 page

• Topics
• Sub-topics
• Page numbers

Introduction 10 • Discussion on availability, ½ A4 page

accessibility, quality and
sustainable use of freshwater in
your community.
• Reasons for conducting research

Research 10 • Indication of achievements that the ½ A4 page

Objectives researcher aims to see in the
community after the research has
been conducted.

Study Area • Description of the study area 2 A4 page

• Map showing study area
Mapping 10 • Catchment location of Nahoon,
Buffalo Rivers …
• Annual rainfall description
• Maps, Satellite images …
Data Collection 10 • Sources of Primary and ½ A4 Page
Secondary Data.
• e.g. What water used for

Discussions, 10 x 2 • Discussions on water in the 3 Pages

Analysis and = 20 community using data collected
Interpretation …

Findings and 15 • Evaluation of information from 1 Page

recommendations. discussions.
• Proposing recommendations
from findings.

Conclusion 5 • Summarise main point in the ½ Page

findings.
• Accept / Reject the hypothesis

Bibliography 5 • List of References 1 Page

Presentation 5 • Overall impression steps followed
Total 100 9 -10 A4
pages