WHAT’S THE MESSAGE?
You ask a friend whether they’re upset. They say “I’m fine” while rolling their eyes. What type of communication are they using with their eyes?
Non-verbal communication / body language.
“This is the most entertaining podcast in the world.” Is this a fact or an opinion?
An opinion: “most entertaining” is a personal judgement.
A newspaper asks whether homework should be banned but interviews only teachers. Which directly affected group’s perspective is missing?
Students.
“You won’t BELIEVE what this teacher did next!” What is the common name for a headline designed to make you click by creating curiosity?
Clickbait.
What term describes the trail of information you leave through your online activity, such as posts, comments and likes?
A digital footprint.
A school announces a timetable change only on Instagram. Some students never receive the information. What assumption caused the communication problem?
That all students use or check Instagram / have access to it.
A post has two million likes. Does this prove that its claim is accurate? Explain.
No. Popularity is not evidence of accuracy.
One report calls a crowd “determined campaigners”. Another calls the same crowd “troublemakers”. What do these word choices reveal?
Different attitudes / perspectives / bias towards the crowd.
A company pays a creator to recommend its headphones. What should the creator make clear to their audience?
That the recommendation is paid advertising / sponsored content.
Your friend sends you an embarrassing photograph of another student. Name ONE responsible action you can take.
Do not forward or post it; ask the sender to stop sharing it; check on the student; seek help from a trusted adult if bullying is involved.
A friend replies “Fine.” to your long message. You think they’re angry, but they were simply in a hurry. What is missing from a text message that could help you interpret their meaning? Name TWO things.
Any two: tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, context.
Someone shares a genuine photograph of a flooded street and claims it shows your town today. The photograph was actually taken abroad five years ago. What makes the post misleading?
The photograph is presented with false context: the wrong place and date.
A report about closing a public library interviews the mayor but no library users. Explain ONE way interviewing users could improve the report.
It could show how the closure affects people who rely on the library / include experiences or consequences the mayor did not discuss.
An advert says: “Everyone in your year already owns these trainers. Don’t be the only one left out.” What feeling or social pressure is it using?
Fear of missing out / pressure to fit in / peer pressure.
A school moves all homework online, but some students have no reliable internet or suitable device. What inequality does this reveal?
The digital divide / unequal access to digital technology and the internet.
A scientist explains the same discovery to university researchers and to eight-year-olds. Name TWO things they should adapt for the younger audience.
Any two: vocabulary, amount of detail, examples, visuals, explanation of background concepts.
A headline claims: “Most teenagers want school uniforms banned.” The writer only surveyed followers of an account called “End School Uniforms”. What is the main weakness in the evidence?
A biased / unrepresentative sample: those followers are more likely to oppose uniforms than teenagers generally.
A headline says: “Bus Drivers Cause Commuter Chaos.” Rewrite it in a more neutral way, keeping the information that a drivers’ strike has disrupted travel.
For example: “Bus Drivers’ Strike Disrupts Travel.” Accept alternatives that report the event without emotionally loaded blame.
An advert claims: “Our app doubles your chances of winning!” Your original chance was 1 in 1,000,000. What important information does the advert leave out?
The actual chance is still extremely small: 2 in 1,000,000, or 1 in 500,000. Exact numbers are optional if students explain the issue.
After you watch several videos supporting one opinion, a platform keeps recommending similar videos. Explain ONE way this could affect your understanding of the issue.
You may see fewer opposing perspectives / assume the opinion is more widely accepted than it is / have your existing beliefs reinforced.
A flood warning says: “A hydrological event may affect the area. Exercise appropriate caution.” Identify TWO problems that could make this message ineffective.
Any two: technical vocabulary; unclear location; unclear timing; no specific instructions about what people should do.
Five websites publish the same surprising claim. All five refer back to one anonymous post. Why is this weaker evidence than it first appears?
They are repeating one unverified source, rather than independently confirming the claim.
A student says: “To make a report fair, every claim should receive equal space—even claims with no evidence.” Explain why this approach could mislead readers.
It can make unsupported claims appear as credible as claims backed by strong evidence. Fair reporting should consider the quality of evidence.
A free news website earns money whenever visitors view its adverts. Explain how this business model might encourage sensational headlines.
Sensational headlines may attract more clicks and page views, which can increase advertising revenue.
A platform automatically removes every post containing a particular offensive word. Give ONE reason this rule could remove useful or harmless content too.
It may fail to recognise context, such as someone reporting abuse, discussing discrimination, quoting a historical source or condemning the word’s use.