THE STUDY OF

CONTEMPORARY
ISSUES
The Concept of a Contemporary Issue

Contemporary Issue
Events that happened Refers to subjects,
between the 20th century themes, or problems that
and the present affect the society because
they are being talked
about.

A contemporary issue refers to an event, idea, opinion, topic, or

problem that is relevant and in public discourse in our community,
our nation, or the world at present.
 Criteria to become a
contemporary issue
• Important and valuable to society;
• Having a clear effect or influence on
society;
• Happening at the present time;
• About subject matters being talked
about by various groups in society.
Aspects in Analyzing a Contemporary
Issue
1) Significance and Scope
➢ Why does this issue matter?
➢ Who/What is affected by the issue?
➢ When/Where/How did this issue begin?
2) Evidence
➢ What are my sources in analyzing this
issue?
➢ How reliable are my sources?
Aspects in Analyzing a Contemporary
Issue
3) Perspective
➢ How do perspectives differ on this issue?
➢ Which perspective are most defensible and
why?
➢ Whose voices are not heard?
4) Connections
➢ How has this issue changed over time?
➢ Why does this issue continue to be a
problem and for whom?
 Aspects in Analyzing a Contemporary
Issue
5) Reflection
➢ How do you feel about the issue now that
you know more about it?
➢ How might this issue have been
prevented?
6) Impact
➢ What is happening at the local, national,
and global level with regards to the issue?
➢ What actions are being taken by citizens,
governments, businesses, and other
groups?
 Aspects in Analyzing a Contemporary
Issue
7) Action
➢ Who needs to do what?
➢ What can and should we do?
➢ What are the challenges in taking action?
 HW
1. Identify one contemporary issue.
2. Answer at least 2 questions per aspect.
3. Copy and answer the questions that you
are answering.
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues
❖ It cultivates our personal abilities
and skills in learning and thinking
• Use of clear and meaningful
knowledge about important
events that influences people,
the community, the country,
and the world
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• Analysis and evaluation of the

cause-and-effect relationship
of events
• Use of technological services
and different sources to gather
information
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• Use of different statistical

approaches in analyzing
quantitative data about social
events
• Investigation, analysis of data
and different sources, and
research
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• Critical thinking, sound

judgment, effective
communication, creativity, and
widening of global perspective
• Deeper understanding and
appreciation of collaborative
actions and response to global
problems
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• Respect for different beliefs,

perspective, or points of view
• Recognize the differences of
each person’s culture, beliefs,
and respect for their dignity
and human rights
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• Being mindful of personal

preferences and being
considerate of others’
preferences
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues
❖ It helps us to be better citizens
• It develops our knowledge of
our rights and responsibilities
as a citizen to be able to
participate in significant
activities for the improvement
of livelihood in the community,
country, and the world.
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• It develops our understanding

and respect for laws and
regulations that promote unity,
progress, and peace in our
country and the whole world.
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• It develops our understanding

of the various aspects of
problems and issues of the
society using the skills
developed in the study of
different fields of knowledge.
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• It develops our appreciation of

the collective actions as a
nation and response to the
national and global problems.
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• It develops our patriotism,

humaneness, environment-
friendliness to the world and
its inhabitants
 Importance of Studying
Contemporary Issues

• It develops our pro-activeness

in performing our duties at
home, in school, and in the
community.
 Skills Needed in the Study of
Contemporary Issues
1. Identifying Primary and
Secondary Sources
Primary source – an original account of
happenings that was written by the person
who had experienced them.

Secondary sources – are information or

interpretations based on the primary origin
or other secondary sources and written by
persons who are not involved in the
narrated events.
 Skills Needed in the Study of
Contemporary Issues
2. Distinguishing Fact from
Opinion

3. Identifying Bias
The presentation of information should
be balanced.
 Skills Needed in the Study of
Contemporary Issues
4. Forming Inferences,
Generalizations, & Conclusions
Inference – a thought out theory or an
educated guess about something
Generalization – involves a mental process
where one connects information to make a
summary statement.
Conclusion – a statement that describes
relationship among information or data
after careful study, observation, and
analysis of important evidence.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF
CONTEMPORARY
ISSUES
 Structural Classification

Environmental Issues
Economic Issues
Political Issues
Social Issues
Cultural Issues
 Territorial Classification

Local Issues
National Issues
International Issues
Reference:
Antonio, E.D., Dallo, E.M., Imperial, C.M., Samson, M.C.B., & Soriano, C.D. (2017). Turning
Points Contemporary Issues. Manila: Rex Publishing, Inc.

Jose, Navarro, Ong, Villain, Ph.D. (2020). Contemporary Issues. Manila: Vibal Group, Inc.