Global Perspectives - Assessment Preparation

LO: To consider how we can prepare for the upcoming assessment

Summarise the skills you think are required to succeed as a global perspectives student

How does these differ from Science? Or English?

The Paper

  • Four non-fiction sources, often including graph data and tables

  • Four sections:

    • Q1 + 2: analysis and evaluation
    • Q3: source criticality
    • Q4: overview of all

  • Sources and questions will be about a single topic that affects the world in a number of ways - economically, socially, politically, environmentally, culturally.

  • Testing your skills of analysis and evaluation: considering the causes and consequences of the topic discussed

Q1A) Identify the trend in the number of people travelling by air between 1990 and 2020 shown in Source 1.

Source 1: Table

Year Air passengers (billions.)
1990 1.1
2000 1.8
2010 2.6
2020 3.8

Q1B) Identify two causes for the change in the number of international passengers.

Source 2: Magazine Extract

International travel is rapidly changing and with this there will be consequences – economic, social and cultural. For example, technological change has enabled larger and more fuel-efficient ships to be built. As a result, the transportation of people by ship has increased. Improvements in technology are also taking place in other forms of international transport.
At the same time, people in many parts of the world are becoming richer and enjoying higher levels of education. In addition to this the media and the internet have increased awareness of other cultures and different environments. For example television documentaries about world wildlife are shown in many countries.
All of these reasons mean that people are more interested in international travel and holidays than in the past.

Q1C) Which cause of the change in the number of international passengers do you think is the most important? Explain why.

Consider what you've looked at in source A and source B!

A good answer will include...

Clearly reasoned explanation explicitly linked to a cause with one developed point or three relevant but undeveloped points.

A bad answer will include...

Limited explanation. Explanation is not linked to a cause explicitly.

Continuing the paper

LO: To build strategies to tackle the GP paper

'Air travel is a bad thing for the planet.' Write three bullets disagreeing with this statement.

Re-read the sources from yesterday

Q1D) Explain one global and one local consequence of the change in the number of people travelling by air.

Local impact could include....

  • ?

Global impact could include....

  • ?

Try to think in terms of environmental, economic, cultural, social and political factors

Source 3 - website promoting tourism

International travel has benefits

International travel has many benefits, including trade and tourism. We should celebrate the opportunities that international trade and tourism bring to everyone.
Trade between nations is increasing. The United Nations provides many statistics that prove this point. It now costs less to travel long distances than in the past. This brings new wealth and prosperity by providing employment to many people. Governments also have more income from taxes to spend on health and education.
Tourism is wonderful. We can have holidays in different countries and learn about other cultures. This encourages tolerance and respect for other perspectives and ways of life. I have seen this in my work as a manager in the tourist industry.

2a) How well does the author use evidence to support the claim that ‘international travel has many benefits’?

START by writing down the evidence they use, and THEN judge the strength/weakness of the evidence accordingly.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Some evidence is effective because... Other evidence is less effective because...

Analysing Evidence

LO: to consider how we criticise and evaluate sources in the exam

What makes a source trustworthy?

  • Popularity?
  • Provenance?
  • Format?

Write down a general rule for evaluating reliability.

Do you agree with this statement?

"Real journalism is publishing something that somebody else does not want published. The rest is just advertising."

George Orwell

2a) How well does the author use evidence to support the claim that ‘international travel has many benefits’?

START by writing down the evidence they use, and THEN judge the strength/weakness of the evidence accordingly.

  • Where does the info come from? What citations?
  • Are there any solid numbers?
  • Are there facts/statistics, or is it anecdotes and description?
  • Could the source be biased?
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Some evidence is effective because... Other evidence is less effective because...

International travel has benefits (from a pro-tourism website)

International travel has many benefits, including trade and tourism. We should celebrate the opportunities that international trade and tourism bring to everyone.
Trade between nations is increasing. The United Nations provides many statistics that prove this point. It now costs less to travel long distances than in the past. This brings new wealth and prosperity by providing employment to many people. Governments also have more income from taxes to spend on health and education.
Tourism is wonderful. We can have holidays in different countries and learn about other cultures. This encourages tolerance and respect for other perspectives and ways of life. I have seen this in my work as a manager in the tourist industry.

  • Where does the info come from? What citations?
  • Are there any solid numbers?
  • Are there facts/statistics, or is it anecdotes and description?
  • Could the source be biased?

"It now costs less to travel long distances than in the past."

2b) How could you test this claim? You may consider the types of information, sources of evidence or methods you might use

Qualitative and Quantitative

Q3 - Opinions and Angles

LO: To consider how we can analyse biases and evaluate efficacy of arguments

Which of these is a more compelling argument, and why?

A) I say should ban pineapple on pizza because it is revolting and horrible.

B) High levels of sugar and acidity in food can be damaging to health; therefore we should ban pineapple on pizza.

C) More than 400 million pizzas are eaten every week; pineapple toppings are not sustainable and should be banned.

Reading Source 4

  1. What prediction is made in the text?
  2. Why might Donna be biased?
  3. Identify one opinion in Miguel's statement, and explain why this is an opinion (and not a fact!)

Evaluating Arguments

LO: to tackle the penultimate question of the paper.

Why might a source be biased? List as many reasons as you can think of.

Do you agree with the below statement? Why, why not?

Only trust the media who are obvious about who they're biased towards.

Q4-d) Which argument is more convincing, Miguel’s or Donna’s?
Your answer should consider both arguments, and you should support your point of view with their words.
You should also consider:

  • the strength of their reasoning and evidence
  • their use of language
  • different types of information.
Miguel Donna
Strengths... Strengths...
Evidence... Evidence...

Miguel

  • Personal opinions shared, using a personal and relatable tone
  • Does not appear to be selling or working with any other organisations (unlike Donna!)
  • Discusses both advantages and disadvantages, suggesting balanced point of view
  • Use of emotive language shows a personal connection, which can be more compelling
  • References the experiences of others (his mother)

Donna

  • Pictorial/photographic evidence is used, illustrating the points she makes about damage to the site
  • Links her points to other examples of similar tourist sites damaged by tourists
  • References her expertise and credentials as someone working in this area
  • Discusses stakeholders (e.g. local residents)
  • Limited to no emotive vocabulary - largely rational and evidence-based

Question 4: making recommendations

LO: Considering how to tackle the final, longest question of the paper

What recommendation did you make in last term's project about limiting tourist access to a historic site? Why?

What alternative recommendations could be made?

Who should be the ones to make decisions about heritage sites? Local communities, National governments, or International Organisations? Why?

The Question

Study Sources 1–4.
A government report concludes that a historical site is being destroyed by tourists. The following actions are being considered to protect the site for the future:

  • restrict the number of tourists visiting the site
  • increase the cost of transport and entry to the site
  • close the site completely and create a protected area.

Which one of these actions would you recommend to the government, and why? In your answer you should:

  • state your recommendation
  • give reasons to support your choice
  • use the material in the Sources and/or any of your own ideas
  • consider different arguments and perspectives.

What the exam-board wants

Level 5 (20–24 marks) Very good response
Clear, well supported reasoning about the recommended course of action. Different arguments and perspectives are clearly considered.
The response contains a wide range of clearly reasoned points and/or evidence to support the views expressed, with four (or more) developed points, and some undeveloped points.
The response is very well-structured.

What to consider:

  • Remember: local ▶️ national ▶️ global
  • Scale of the problem, and time it could take to fix
  • Range of potential consequences
  • Impact on individuals ▶️ groups ▶️ communities
  • Economics:
    • employment
    • trade
  • Cultural and social changes
  • What barriers/resistances there might be
  • Potential conflicts of interest/power bases
  • Cost of resources and environmental impact

With the person next to you, start drafting up a response

Exam post-mortem

LO: To consider what lessons we can take away from the Mock

With your partner, discuss how you prepared for the assessment. Note down your ideas.

What would you have done differently?

We will be doing results and feedback tomorrow and Wednesday - today, we reflect

The Topic - Cybercrime

What did you know already?

Did it help?

What Went Well

Even Better If

Feedback on Mocks

LO: To consider how we can improve on the mock exams

Re-read the sources and take some quick notes

Sources 📰 (scroll down)

If you had to select an additional source for the exam, where would you take it from?

Q2A) What are the strengths and weakness of the argument

  • You are not meant to discuss the substance of the argument

  • Do not talk about the topic

  • You are supposed to weigh up how reliable/trustworthy the argument is!

Strengths Weaknesses
Clear structure Assertions without evidence
Tone and language Unnamed/uncited experts
Range of evidence One-sided
Citing experts Personal biases

Q3D) Convincing arguments

Strength of reasoning:

  • Logic
  • Structure
  • Balance
  • Claims

Sources of bias

  • Local interest
  • Economic
  • Personal values
  • Experience

Evidence:

  • Range of information and depth
    Relevance
  • Sufficiency – sample
  • Source – media; internet
  • Date – how recent
  • Different types of information – fact, opinion, value, anecdote
  • Testimony – from experience and expert

Use of language:

  • Tone – emotive, exaggerated, precise
  • Clarity

What is a value judgement?

A value judgement is a view or decision about what is right, wrong or important, based a particular set of standards, principles, or values.

The following examples are found in Source 4.

  • it is wrong that the government and big business should be the only ones
    responsible for reducing internet risks.
  • It is important for schools to offer information and training about the
    internet