Category: Outlines

‘Studying the history of your own country is of more value than studying the history of other countries.’ How far would you agree with this statement?

Possible points for studying the history of your own country is of more value

• Identity/belonging/pride
• Studying the history of your own country is easier due to access to sites/documents/evidence
• More real/interesting/meaningful
• To understand the political evolution of their country (well informed when making choices/ voting)
Other Countries:
• Avoids isolationism
• Own country’s place in world history
• Often the produce of other influences/countries/civilisations
• Migration is constant – necessary to widen studies
• The processes of human development are common to many countries
• Political borders are relatively recent developments


Both ‘your country’ and ‘other countries’ need to be considered followed by a reasoned conclusion addressing ‘more value’

Evaluate the extent to which sport and leisure should be priorities for your country

Keywords: ‘Evaluate the extent’ and ‘sport and leisure’ and ‘priorities’ and ‘your’.
• Improve the health of the nation
• Constructive use of free time
• Encourage better self-image (e.g. reduce obesity)
• Participate in prestigious world events (e.g. Olympics/World Cup/Youth Olympic Games)
• Promote interest in outside work
• Escapism
• Reduce stress/depression
• Social/family benefits
• There are other financial priorities (education/economic/health/welfare)
• Basic survival
• Could just cater for a minority
• Too obsessed with winning (e.g. China/Russia)

Evaluate the possible advantages of apprenticeships and training in the work place over school and college courses.

Possible Points for advantages of apprenticeships and training in the workplace

• Hands-on experience useful when applying for a job
• Some young people prefer using practical skills
• May have a small wage
• Useful for businesses
• Academics are important to deliver leadership in education and health
• Also can have a combination of both, e.g. hospitals and schools

‘Powerful nations are far more inward-looking than weaker ones.’ How far do you agree?

Possible Points for/against powerful nations are more inward-looking than weaker ones.

• May look at the geography and history of these nations
• Limited knowledge of other nations arising from lack of interest
• No need to align themselves with other nations
• Weaker nations are more motivated to look beyond their borders
• Power has to be kept; the powerless have other priorities

‘Equality of opportunity is the most important feature of a civilised society.’ How far do you agree?

Possible points for/against equality of opportunity is the most important feature of a civilised society.

• Fair and just laws
• Access to Art, Music and Culture
• Fair legal system
• Courtesy and good manners towards people from all walks of life
• Political and economic issues
• An empty aspiration given social realities

‘Watching television limits the imagination whereas listening to the radio expands it.’

Possible points for the claim that watching television limits the imagination

• Television can be a passive activity
• Someone else’s a visual interpretation
• Manipulates thoughts
• No time to be silent/contemplative
• Can widen horizons/stimulate imagination when TV is off
• Imagination is dependent on the individual anyway
• Listening to the radio creates an imaginative response, similar to reading
• Radio can just be factual (local news/information)
• Radio can be more personal/intimate
• Requires more concentration
• Mostly just used for music

To what extent is the saying ‘a healthy body means a healthy mind’ as true as it seems?

Possible points for/against a healthy body means a healthy mind

• Anxiety/stress-filled life can produce inactivity/obesity/blood pressure/depression
• Exercise – de-stresses/encourages wellbeing/enables relaxation and regular sleep patterns
• Health monitoring/preventative medicine (blood pressure/cholesterol)
• Can become obsessive about health
• Health can depend on genetics
• Mind and body are separate entities
• Needs a balanced argument before making an assessment of ‘true’

‘There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable to censor the internet.’ Discuss

Points for and against whether it is acceptable to censor the internet.

• It unacceptable to censor the internet as it violates freedom of the press
• State interference with political freedom
• Various forms of expression, for example, artistic
• Gratuitous filtering of educational sites
• Invasion of privacy
• Very relevant to mention situations where censorship may be acceptable
• Pornography
• Radicalisation