Global Citizenship

• Which reason/benefit/consequences is most the important / significant?

  • Impact on the number of people or countries/businesses affected
  • Has the greatest impact - depth of impact locally, nationally, or globally … and short- or long-term impacts
  • Timescale for making a difference – short or long?
  • Cost – affordable to put in place?
  • Ethically or morally justified
  • Has multiple positive/negative consequences 
  • How widespread is the problem / or impact of the action taken
  • Availability of resources – can it be achieved locally with what is available?

   
• Explain why X is an important personal issue?


  Personal – linked to the issue in the question = impacts on you, how you feel … you can write about how it affects YOU and those around you. How it affects / impacts YOU now and / or in the future

  • Physical and mental health 
  • Wellbeing and self-esteem
  • Individual education and employment
  • Effects in family, people you know
  • Security and safety
• Explain why X is an important local issue?

  Local - linked to the issue in the question. You can write about:

  • Local employment
  • Local businesses/economy
  • Local environment
  • New local cultures/ideas
• Explain why X is an important national issue?


  If national - linked to the issue in the question. You can write about:

  • Disease spread and health
  • National identity and culture
  • National economy GDP and government tax income
  • National protests/political action if people’s needs are ignored
  • Employment levels = more or fewer jobs and flow on effect
  • Increased national government expenditure on … healthcare/education/pensions/facilities/infrastructure
• Explain why X is an important global issue?

  If global - linked to the issue in the question. You can write about:

  • Global environment (water and air flow between countries)
  • Fossil fuel emissions led to global warming/climate change
  • Using up scarce resources e.g. oil
  • Money donated to poorer countries
  • World trade earning foreign exchange and GDP (increase or decrease)
  • Greater empathy or awareness of other people’s culture or perspectives

   
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the argument supporting this claim? (rules)

  Rules when answering, to gain full marks:

  •  2 - 3 developed strengths AND 2 - 3 developed weaknesses 
  • Quote from the source with every point you make.
  • You must state why and explain your argument e.g., Statement … because … – use the source 
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the argument supporting this claim?


  Strengths (quote and explain)

  • Clear, well-structured language makes it easier to understand
  • Academic tone makes it less emotive and more convincing
  • Expertise or experience of the writer/organisation/ or trusted publisher with a reputation to uphold
  • Statistical evidence provided
  • Examples used to support argument
  • Cited or quoted experts e.g. UN
  • Offers a solution
  • Rhetorical question (engages reader)
  • Counterarguments given (balanced argument thereby reduces bias)
  • Other perspectives given

   
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the argument supporting this claim?


  Weakness (quotes and explain)

  • Lack of evidence or examples (lack of statistics, or cited sources)
  • Few counter-arguments (unbalanced)
  • Lacks detail about the solution or no evidence to support the claims made
  • Author unknown / no information to research the author further
  • Assertions/predictions/opinions (weakens the argument due to no evidence)
  • Emotive/biased/exaggerative tone (untrustworthy)
  • Vested interest e.g. politician, CEO of company, job depends on it
  • Only relevant to a few people or countries
• How could you test the claim? (rules)


  3 paragraphs:

  • Types of information
  • Sources of information
  • Methods used to test the claim

   

  In your answer, decide on at least 2 points for each paragraph that have examples in the source for each
• How could you test the claim?

  Types of information – mention 2- 3 of these and find examples within the Source:

  • Comparing statistics/information on the issue
  • Use Interview or questionnaire data from individuals about the issue
  • Data from local authority/government and organisations
  • Material like statistics, studies, media articles, images, video clips
  • Personal experiences or expert testimonies
  • Material from relevant organisations, governments, international NGOs and pressure/lobby groups, city authorities, charities involved with the issue

   
• How could you test the claim?


  Sources of information – mention 2 - 3 of these and find examples within the Source:

  • National and local government departments
  • Experts on the issue (e.g. environmentalists, scientists, advisers,…)
  • Research reports written on the issue
  • Media (newspapers, magazines, documentaries) and the internet
  • International organisations e.g. UN/WHO
  • Pressure and lobby groups; Charities and non-government organisations (NGOs)

   
• How could you test the claim?

  Methods used - mention 2 – 3 of these and find examples within the Source:

  • Review secondary sources/research/documents
  • Can it be cross-referenced with other documents/sources (claims are used in other documents)
  • Is it peer-reviewed if an academic article/source?
  • Interview relevant experts and people working in the field of ‘issue’ or affected (elderly, young, interest groups, etc)
  • Questionnaires, surveys, experiments
  • Internet search to find supporting evidence for claims being made

   
• Fact


  Definition - A statement that is true or correct and can be proven/verified by further research.

  Advantages - Based on reliable evidence from research or experience → gives confidence to the reader about the claim

  Disadvantages - May be too distorted/selective/insufficient/irrelevant/uncited to reach credible conclusion
• Opinion


  Definition - an individual's point of view or belief which is not always shared by others and is often not supported by evidence.

  Advantages - based on evidence from personal experience and enthusiastic and committed support from the author. This gives confidence to the reader about the claim.

  Disadvantages - asserted with little evidence and is based on personal experience which may not be the same as other people, decreasing credibility.
• Vested interest


  Definition - when the writer personally benefits from the decision or statement (e.g. politician or business-owner).

  Advantages - ased on evidence from personal experience and enthusiastic and committed support from the author. This gives confidence to the reader about the claim.

  Disadvantages -asserted with little evidence and is based on personal experience which may not be the same as others. The vested interest means that the evidence may be distorted to benefit the writer, so should not be used to support the opinion - it weakens the argument.
• Prediction


  Definition - A statement suggesting something is likely to happen in the future.

  Advantages - Prediction is based on evidence, trends, and circumstances, which increases interest from the reader as it is reliable.

  Disadvantages - Prediction is only a probability and may not happen, decreasing credibility.
• Value judgement


  Definition - a view or decision about what is right, wrong or important, based on a particular set of standards, principles, or values.

  Advantages - explains why the writer supports their views and is based on a common ground of ethics and morals. This makes it relatable and engaging for the reader.

  Disadvantages - is only a statement based on opinion without evidence, decreasing reliability.
• Bias


  Definition - a prejudice for or against something and not prepared to consider other points of view

  Advantages - can make for an emotive and convincing argument so that the author sounds confident and more believable.   

  Disadvantages - weakens the argument if the author does not support their opinion with evidence making it less convincing and makes it less trustworthy.
• Reasons why an argument may be considered biased


  • Little counterargument (not balanced) = lacks neutrality
  • Lack of evidence / lots of opinion / assertions with no statistics or cited sources to support the argument
  • Emotive or exaggerated tone
  • Vested interest in the issue either personally or family my benefit
  • Focused on personal experience of only one perspective given, their own!
• If the question is “Identify one fact / opinion / etc. from X’s statement.” 


  “One fact / opinion / etc. from X’s statement is (quote).”

  You do not need further explanation.
• If the question is “Identify one fact / opinion / etc. from X’s statement. Explain why it is a fact / opinion / etc.”


  “One fact / opinion / etc. from X’s statement is (quote). It is a fact / opinion / etc. because (definition of fact / opinion / etc.)
• If the question is “Explain how well this fact / opinion / etc. supports X’s argument.” 


  “This fact / opinion / etc.  supports X’s argument because (advantage of fact / opinion / etc.)”

  OR

  “This fact / opinion / etc.  does not support X’s argument because (disadvantage of fact / opinion / etc.)”
• Which argument is more convincing, X’s or Y’s? (rules)


   

  3 paragraphs you MUST have to write about each bullet point in the question.

  • Strength of reasoning and evidence of both statements (logic, structure, balance, claims)
  • Their use of language tone (emotive, exaggerated, precise), clarity
  • The different types of information used by both (range and depth of information used, relevance, sources used, date (how recent), types of information (fact, opinion, anecdote), testimony (from experience or an expert)
• Which argument is more convincing, X’s or Y’s? (rules)


  • State whose argument is more convincing 
  • Have 1 or 2 developed strengths and 1 or 2 developed weaknesses for each paragraph (bullet point above)
  • Refer to a quote with each point
  • Have brief, but clear conclusion of whose is more convincing = a supported judgement
• Which argument is more convincing, X’s or Y’s 


  Strength of reasoning points you can write about:

  • Logic of their claims
  • Structure of their argument
  • Balanced argument? (includes both perspectives)

   

  Use of language points you can write about:

  • Academic tone = credible, emotive/exaggerated tone = unreliable
  • Clarity

   

  Types of information points you can write about:

  • Date (outdated = irrelevant)
  • Different types of information (fact / opinion/ etc.)
  • Source of information (cited? expert?)
  • Expertise of writer
  • Relevance and depth of information and or Range of information
• "Which course of action do you recommend?" or "Do you agree with this statement?” (rules)


  • State your recommendation/agreement first
  • Have 6-8 developed points based on the ‘bullet points’ they recommend that you cover in your answer
  • You can create some of your own points - they do not all have to be from the sources
  • If you do use points from the sources, you must quote them
  • Include counterarguments/perspectives
  • Have a clear conclusion that evaluates all options/perspectives = supported judgement
• Things you can talk about if the question is “Which course of action do you recommend?” 

  • How many people affected
  • Different types of impacts (e.g. economical/mental) on different stakeholders
  • How long it might take to make a difference
  • Cost and access to resources
  • Difficulties in planning, coordinating, and executing
  • Potential conflicts of interest
  • Influence of groups on decision making (e.g. pressure group, business owners)
  • Likeliness to create change
  • Or anything else that is reasonable.
• Things you can talk about if the question is “Do you agree with this statement?” 

  • Health implications
  • Employment/career implications
  • Ethical or moral issues
  • Economic implications
  • Environmental implications 
  • How many people are affected
  • Potential conflicts of interest

  Or anything else that is reasonable.