To compare measures, pick two or three criteria and apply them to each measure in turn. The final sentence names the best fit for the context.
This lesson is part of weathering and mass movement. It applies the factors from reading a slope diagram for mass movement.
Which criteria should I use?
Start from what the case says matters. Common choices are how quickly the measure works, how much it costs, and what side effects it has for people or the environment.
State the criteria before comparing, so the marker can see your method.
Worked example: an invented hillside above a road
The case says: a steep bare hillside above a village road; heavy seasonal rain; the council has a limited budget; the road must stay open. Three measures are offered.
| Measure | Speed | Cost | Side effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface and underground drains | Quick | Medium | Low, needs maintenance so drains do not block |
| Concrete retaining wall | Quick | High | Changes the look of the slope, can fail if drainage is poor |
| Replanting with deep-rooted trees | Slow | Low | Supports wildlife, takes years to bind the soil |
Compare. Drains act quickly at a medium cost and deal with the main trigger, which is heavy rain. A wall is also quick but costs most and does not reduce water in the slope. Planting is cheapest but too slow to protect the road in the next wet season.
Judge. With a limited budget and a road that must stay open, drains are the best first measure. Planting should follow for long-term strength, because drains and roots work on different causes.
The mistake that costs marks
The slip is to describe each measure in a separate paragraph, then stop. The answer contains correct facts but never compares them, so the comparison mark is lost.
Use comparing words: more than, whereas, in contrast, quicker but costlier. Each one shows the marker that you are weighing the measures against each other.
Check yourself
The same hillside now has no budget limit, but the council wants the quickest possible result near a school. Which measure would you add to drains, and why?
Answer
Add a retaining wall at the base near the school. The limit on cost has gone, and the wall gives immediate physical support where people are at risk. Drains still remove water, and planting can follow for the long term.
What to study next
Test all four lessons with the weathering and mass movement practice set. Log any weak comparison sentences in the mistake log and paper-error review.
If you want a teacher to coach your comparing language, see online one-to-one Geography tuition.