Category: Outlines

Using a telephone is the best way of communicating. To what extent do you agree?

Discover the benefits and drawbacks of using a telephone for communication.

  • examine the benefits of using the telephone to communicate
  • evaluate the comparative advantages of other communication methods
  • make a judgement, based on considering the evidence and argument put forward.
  • communicating on the telephone or in-person encourages oral skills, fluency, and self-confidence
  • calls taking place in real-time with instant reaction and response
  • using text messages when travelling, therefore avoiding disturbing other people with conversation
  • enhanced phone technology allowing video messages and a range of other effective methods of communication
  • verbal communication offering less opportunity for being misunderstood
  • face-to-face contact allowing parties to experience emotional reactions
  • how shy and introverted people can communicate more readily than they would in live conversation
  • in-person communication is more personal and effective as humans are social beings.

Governments should be responsible for funding a nation’s performing arts. Discuss.

• explore why a governments should be responsible to fund its nation’s performing arts
• explore the reasons why other sources should fund a nation’s performing arts
• make a judgement, based on the consideration of the evidence and argument put forward that governments should be responsible for funding.
• providing well-equipped venues for performances that would otherwise be unavailable
• ensuring that appropriate funds are allocated to different ventures
• funding would enable performances to go on tour to other areas
• such measures being a source of national pride, encouraging the continuance of national culture
• the high cost of some performances might deflect funding from other important areas
• government funding might make attendance within reach of the less
wealthy
• niche performances can still go ahead even if audience numbers are lower
• a prestigious project could attract other investment and visitors to the country.

To what extent are timed examinations a fair means of assessment?

• consider the extent to which timed examinations are fair
• evaluate the effectiveness of other methods of assessment
• make a judgement, based on the consideration of the evidence and argument put forward.
• timed examinations only assess a portion of the taught content of a course
• how time restrictions limit students’ thinking and ability to develop ideas, adding unnecessary pressure
• revising and cramming means material is stored in the short-term memory
• the added value of work-based and continuous assessment showing what people can really do
• there being evidence that the focus and time pressure in examinations often yield a high standard of work
• the examination being a level playing field where everybody is in the same position and therefore it is fair
• the nature of formal examinations minimising the potential for copying or cheating
• examinations often being marked externally which is fairer than internal assessment.

Consider the  view that  more scientists than  artists  are needed in the  world today.

This essay explores the comparative usefulness of scientists and artists in the modern world. Knowing that the world today  depends heavily on the use of technology for survival, it is not surprising that  scientists are seen to  be  more  useful.  Artists are  considered  to  be  inconsequential to  the  overall  survival of societies as their usefulness is often  to abstract to be understood by the laypeople.

It is important  to  compare and  contrast between the  functions  and  purposes of scientists  versus artists  based on the  modern world contexts. The comparisons must be based on recognised criteria. Ensure that   the   comparison  is  within characteristics of the modern world.

There are no great leaders in the world today. Discuss.

• consider what makes a great leader
• explore a range of great leaders in the world from all areas of life
• make a judgement, based on the consideration of the evidence and argument put forward.
• leaders that have brought their country through war, famine or other significant difficulties
• corrupt leaders, often lauded, diminishing the greatness of a country
• economic success being ascribed to great leadership and other factors
• great leaders in the world offering moral, ethical and spiritual leadership in a range of roles
• the many occasions when the really ‘great’ leaders are marginalised
• leaders that are feared or revered and the effect they have on others and their country
• those leaders who are not in power but strive to be
• the many possible qualities and attributes a ‘great’ leader might have.

Evaluate the need for censorship in films and television.

• examine who might censor films and television and why
• consider the necessity for censorship on society and its potential impacts
• make a judgement based on the consideration of the evidence and argument put forward.
• the prevention of hate speech and subversion before it is aired
• parents limiting access to some television channels to protect their children
• the effectiveness of the ratings system used in films and music
• the exclusion of offensive and explicit scenes which may offend
• how regimes can control what the entertainment that is available to the people
• the avoidance of creating narratives that are untrue as a form of entertainment
• the management of censorship is fallible with many ways of breaching the laws
• any form of censorship being seen as the stifling of creativity and freedom.

‘Given the  cost  of conflict,  it should  always be  avoided.’ Discuss.

Conflict is widely regarded as something that  incurs some form of cost  to all parties involved,  especially for those wielding  lesser  power  in the  dispute. While it is oft assumed that  these costs  outweigh the  potential benefits (if any) arising from the conflict and should  thus be avoided, there could  be situations where  the cost is justified or where  the conflict is unavoidable despite the potential cost incurred.

Show that the condition of the cost of conflict in every argument when evaluating whether it should  be  avoided. Provide  clear yardsticks  or criteria for evaluating and weighing whether disagreements should  always be avoided or not, given the costs  incurred.

Consider the possibility  that  some conflicts may be  unavoidable despite the potential cost. Consider the possibility  that  some conflicts may be the right course of action  if the potential cost is outweighed by the potential benefits of conflicts. Candidates are able  to discuss  the worth and value.

Assess how successfully recycled materials are used for arts and crafts in your country.

• evaluate how successfully recycled materials are used for arts and crafts
• make a judgement, based on a consideration of the evidence and argument put forward.
• creative recycling being good for the environment forming the basis of money making projects
• the transformation of trash into various forms of art and design
• entrepreneurs starting their business ventures by collecting and repurposing unwanted items
• mosaics and other art forms being made from recycled material
• countries using recycled materials for arts and crafts that represent their local culture
• plastic waste which is a major problem being transformed for decorative purposes
• not all waste materials can be successfully recycled or lending themselves to producing arts and crafts
• recycling negatively impacting manufacturing companies and having a detrimental effect on the local economies.

To what extent is history based on lies rather than facts?

• discuss what might constitute an historical fact
• consider the extent to which history is based on lies
• make a judgement, based on the consideration of the evidence and
argument put forward that is history based on lies.
• manipulating of historical events to suit national narratives and
prejudices
• history of wars and social upheaval tending to be written by those on the
winning side
• how real or imagined historical events are portrayed in stories such as
myths and legends
• the deliberate manipulation and misrepresentation of history by using
propaganda
• how historical events and figures have been understood differently in
different ages or parts of the world
• the nature of history demanding that there is some basis in truth
• it being rare that there is complete agreement in the study of history
• the distortion of the truth may happen in the study of history, but this is
not lying.

Consider the  importance of nature in your society.

While intuitively we know that  nature is important for societies, we may take it for granted. By examining the roles  and  functions  nature plays  for [insert your country]. Evaluate  how  big  a part  nature plays  in the lives of citizens of [insert your country] and if our belief in the importance of nature truly reflects in the actions of citizens towards preservation and  conservation of nature in their country. The assumption is that there is worth in nature and  importance of nature [insert your country].

Demonstrate the purposes and  uses  of nature in [insert your country] and  evaluate the value and relevance of these purposes and  uses  to the  average citizen. Examine the challenges  that  will cause [insert your country] to  weigh  the  value  and  relevance of nature against  other  competing demands.

Present  the  impact  from  various  levels  of society  (individuals, community and  national). Provide an analysis of the  impact  (good or bad) and  come to a conclusion on whether do the impact  justify the presence of nature in [insert your country].

Consider also the counter-arguments by explaining  that  there are  other  areas  that  are  equally,  or more important than nature without any attempt to compare against the functions  of nature.