Causes & Consequences
Define cause
the reason responsible for a situation or issue
Define issue
An important subject or problem for discussion.
Name two forms of evidence that researchers can use to investigate an issue. You can't write these: texts, newspaper articles, internet
Any two of the following: graphs, photographs, video clips, audio recordings, books, leaflets, or blogs.
Define a course of action
Something someone does to help resolve or make a positive difference to an issue.
A student does not get enough sleep and feels tired in class. Identify the cause and the consequence.
Cause — not getting enough sleep. Consequence — feeling tired in class.
What is the main difference between a perspective and an opinion?
A perspective is based on evidence and reasoning, while an opinion is what someone thinks and may not be supported by evidence.
Write a closed question.
For example: “Do you recycle plastic at home?”
Students create a leaflet encouraging people to take part in the Paralympics. What is the leaflet called in the context of a course of action?
An outcome.
Give one example of a personal cause that could contribute to a local problem in a community.
A person littering in the street can contribute to rubbish accumulating in the community.
A student studies plastic waste in their school cafeteria. Which level of perspective is most directly relevant: personal, local, national, or global?
Local perspective
Why is it usually easier to analyze answers to closed questions than answers to open-ended questions?
Closed answers are more limited and easier to count, compare, and present in graphs.
A school has a litter problem. Suggest one course of action that students could take to help address it.
For example: organize a school clean-up, place clearly labeled bins around the school, or run an anti-litter awareness campaign.
A factory releases large amounts of greenhouse gases. Explain one way this local activity could contribute to a global consequence.
Greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and climate change.
Two people discuss building a new shopping mall. One supports it because it creates jobs; the other opposes it because it may increase traffic. Explain why they have different perspectives on the same issue.
They focus on different effects and priorities, using different reasoning to evaluate the issue
A researcher asks students, “Why do you think some teenagers spend too much time on their phones?” What type of question is this, and how might the findings be presented?
An open question; findings would often be presented as a written summary of common explanations and themes.
Why should a course of action relate directly to the issue it aims to address?
Because the action needs to address the causes or effects of the issue and have a realistic chance of making a positive difference.
Traffic congestion is a problem in a city. Explain how one cause at a personal level and one cause at a local level could contribute to this problem. Then identify one possible consequence.
Personal cause — many people choose to drive alone. Local cause — unsatisfactory public transport. Consequence — longer travel times or increased air pollution.
Explain the difference between a national perspective and a global perspective on climate change.
A national perspective focuses on climate change in one country, while a global perspective considers its effects and responses worldwide
A student wants to investigate whether plastic waste is increasing in their community. Suggest two different forms of evidence they could collect and explain how each would help.
Answer: For example, photographs taken over several weeks could show visible changes, while written records of the amount of plastic collected could help measure changes over time.
Students want to reduce plastic waste in their school. Propose a realistic course of action, explain how they would implement it, and identify one possible outcome and how the action could make a positive difference.
Students could introduce reusable bottles and run an awareness campaign. They could seek school approval, prepare posters, and monitor plastic waste over a month. An outcome could be a campaign leaflet; the action could reduce single-use plastic waste.