Evaluating Methods

Lesson Objective: To evaluate methods of

protecting the coast.

Must be able to describe some methods

that can be used.
Should be able to evaluate some methods
that can be used.
Could be able to critically evaluate which
method is best for this case study.
 Schedule for two lessons
Task Format For how long
Individual Persuasive 30 minutes
Formative Task Letter
(Criterion C and
D)
Group Role Play 1.5 lessons
Formative Task
 Reminder of Assessment that you are
working on:
1. You pick a case study.
2. In an introduction you talk about why it is important to do investigate coastal erosion and where
your case study is using a map.
3. Then you do the methods section which is similar to the Personal Project selection of sources.
you do this by:
(i) Selection of sources: Picking three really good websites and evaluate them using OPVL.. By
picking three only then you are pushed into only using useful sites.
This would be written as a methodology. Website A,B and C were the most useful sites for this
project. Website A is a governmental website written in 2010 by the UK council. (this is the origin)
It was written to inform the public about ongoing coastal protection schemes. (this is the
purpose). It was valuable because it was reliable as it was written by the gov. It was also up-to-
date blah blah blah (this is the value of origin and purpose). However a limitation is that because it
was written for members of the adult public, it was hard to understand. (limitation).
(ii)Application of information: Here is where you say how each source helped you address the
question. Website A showed me different perspectives from the people who lived there  etc etc etc.
Website B was useful because it explained what is currently in use and said how successful it has
been so far.
4. Then you do a discussion of the research question – which is a teeny essay basically saying which
method you think should be used and why.
 Case Study:
Holderness Coast
 Fake House,
Fake town,
Fake country.
29/11/2021
Holderness City Council,
Holderness, UK.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my concerns regarding….. (explain why you are worried?

What’s happening?)

In this paragraph, give possible solutions to the problem and justify why your solution
is best solution. (Make sure you talk about advantages …and maybe some
disadvantages). (this may contain two major paragraphs with at least 8 sentences)

In conclusion….

Yours sincerely,
Robert Haag.
 Writing a letter to persuade
Giving your opinions: Justifying your opinion (Evidence)
You are writing a letter to • I think... • The reason for this is...
persuade the local council • In my opinion... • Due to the fact that ...
• It seems to me • This can be proven by ...
that your view on coastal that... • This shows...
protection is the right one. • I consider...
Quality of protection method words:
Try to use these persuasive techniques: • Strengths
• You need to sound certain that you are right! Don’t be half-hearted. • Weaknesses
• Use repetition to emphasise your points. • Good qualities
• Use rhetorical questions ( questions which do not require an answer). • Advantages
• Exaggerate the good points you make. • Disadvantages
• Use emotive language to appeal to the feelings of the letters reader. • Drawbacks
• Emphasise words using bold print or underlining. • Successful
• Especially

Comparing and contrasting protection methods:

• Similarly. ...Whereas... Ending your letter:
• However Although • In summary
• On the other hand While it is true • Overall...
that... • On the whole...
• Instead Equally... • To conclude...
Paragraph structure • In conclusion...

Point Evidence Explanation

 Writing a letter to persuade
Justifying your opinion (Evidence)
You are writing a letter to • The reason for this is...
persuade the local council • Due to the fact that ...
• This can be proven by ...
that your view on coastal • This shows...
protection is the right one.
Try to use these persuasive techniques: Quality of protection method words:
• You need to sound certain that you are right! Don’t be half-hearted. • Strengths
• Use repetition to emphasise your points. • Weaknesses
• Use rhetorical questions ( questions which do not require an answer). • Good qualities
• Exaggerate the good points you make. • Advantages
• Use emotive language to appeal to the feelings of the letters reader. • Disadvantages
• Emphasise words using bold print or underlining. • Drawbacks
• Successful
• Especially
Comparing and contrasting protection methods:
• Similarly. ...Whereas...
• However Although
• On the other hand While it is true
that...
• Instead Equally...
Paragraph structure

Point Evidence Explanation

 Role Card Local Resident
You have lived along the Holderness Coastline your
whole life. Your children have grown up in the area
YOUR HOUSE
and you are very emotionally attached to the area.
You are desperate to not lose your home. Each year
your house moves closer and closer to the cliff edge.
You have considered moving, but no one wants to
buy a house which will likely fall into the sea! On top
of all of that, you can’t get house insurance so you
could lose everything you own!
You are not unreasonable. You know it would cost a
lot of money to defend the cliffs from erosion, but
you really think that it would be money well spent.
Every morning you wake up and look out of the
window, hoping that your have not crept closer to
the cliffs edge.
Your neighbours all feel the same. You are thinking of
writing a letter to the local council to see if you can
get your opinion heard.
With so many people having different views about
how the coast should be defended, you know you
are going to have to be really persuasive in your
letter!

Wish list:
• To save your home from collapsing into the sea.
• To feel safe in the future, knowing that you are protected.
• To continue living where you are.
 Role Card Local Resident *
You live on the Holderness Coastline your whole life.
You love your house and will be very very sad if you
YOUR HOUSE
lose your home.
But you are worried because the cliff beside your
house keeps getting eroded by the sea and you think
your house might someday fall down.
You have very bad nightmares about losing your
house.

You understand that is very expensive to protect the

cliffs but you think it is very important.
Your neighbours feel the same and want you to write
a letter to the local council.

Write a letter to the local council telling them:

1. Why it is important that you protect the cliffs?
2. What method should you use (sea wall, sea
groynes, riprap etc)?

Wish list:
• To save your home from collapsing into the sea.
• To feel safe in the future, knowing that you are protected.
• To continue living where you are.
 Role Card Conservationist/Bird
watcher
As a Conservationist, I am concerned about the
environment and think that it should be taken good
care of. I am worried that some forms of sea defence
will damage the environment in various ways, and
look unsightly.
Its really a hard decision because I want the coastline
to remain natural and for the sea to be allowed to
behave in its own way. However, people who live and
work along the Holderness Coastline fear losing your
homes. I don’t want this to happen either.
I’m really keen to find a happy, middle ground
between the needs of man and nature.
A particular form of sea defence would mean that
mudflats and salt marshes would be created
naturally. These provide a habitat for some of the
most magnificent creatures!
I don’t want the landscape to be ruined by unsightly,
horrible sea defences which will look worse over
time.
I would really appreciate it if you could write a letter
to the local council, from a Conservationists point of
view, saying which type of defence you think might
be best.

Wish list:
• To look after and not damage the environment.
• To make sure that beautiful scenery is not destroyed.
• Create habitats for wildlife.
 Role Card Easington Gas
My name is Mike and I work at the Easington Gas
terminal. We are a really important part of industry,
been one of only three main gas terminals in the UK.
terminal worker
The cliffs on the edge of our plant are made of
Boulder Clay. This means that you are eroded really
easily! We are rapidly creeping closer and closer to
the cliff edge. It is really worrying because if the gas
terminal were to fall into the sea it could have
devastating consequences for the environment.
From my point of view, and the point of view shared
by my fellow colleagues, the coast does need
defending.
However, at this point in time we are unsure as to
which would be the most suitable method. Do you
think you could help?
We know money doesn't grow on trees but the gas
terminal is vitally important, not to mention the
number of jobs that would be lost. Surely it should be
protected somehow?

Wish list:
• To make sure the gas terminal does not get destroyed.
• To feel that your job is secure.
• To continue providing, storing and processing gas.
 Role Card Tourist
My name is Carol. When I was a little girl I used to go
to Withernsea each summer with my family. We
would spend hours on the beach, playing games and
making sandcastles. Now I have grandchildren I
would really like them to have the same experiences I
had, but I’m really worried that you will not be able
to. The amusements and other tourist facilities in the
area are all under threat. The coastline is eroding
quickly, and there are fears that sooner or later, the
sea will take these buildings. A great number of
tourists come to the Holderness Coast each year.
With them you bring money, money which is spent in
the local area. I think that it would be such a loss to
the local economy if this income was lost.
The coast definitely needs protecting. Withernsea
already has a Seawall in place, mainly because it is
the most popular tourist area along the Holderness
coastline. However, what about the rest of the coast?
Surely that needs protecting too. Question is, How?
Maybe you have some ideas.

Wish list:
• To make sure that the seaside can be enjoyed by
generations to come.
• To protect tourist businesses and the money generated from
tourism.
 Role Card Tourist*
My name is Carol. When I was a little girl I used to go to
the beach each summer with my family. We would
spend hours on the beach, playing games and making
sandcastles. Now I have grandchildren I would really like
them to have the same experiences I had, but I’m really
worried that you will not be able to.
The amusements and other tourist facilities in the area
are all under threat. The coastline is eroding quickly, and
there are fears that sooner or later, the sea will take
these buildings. A great number of tourists come to the
Holderness Coast each year. With them you bring money,
money which is spent in the local area. I think that it
would be such a loss to the local economy if this income
was lost.
The coast definitely needs protecting. Some parts of the
coastline already have a seawall in place, mainly
because it is the most popular tourist area along the
Holderness coastline. However, what about the rest of
the coast? Surely that needs protecting too. Question is,
How? Maybe you have some ideas about good methods
to protect the beaches?

Wish list:
• To make sure that the seaside can be enjoyed by
generations to come.
• To protect tourist businesses and the money generated from
tourism.
 Role Card Farmer
My name is Edward. I am a farmer. My farm is
situated in Barnston, along the Holderness coastline. I
grow crops, along with taking care of cows, pigs and
Chickens. However, recently the Chickens have had to
be moved. The Chicken Coop has recently had to be
re-located, it was just getting closer and closer to the
cliff edge. At one time, the farm would have been
worth a fortune! Not now though. The land is only
good for farming, and the sea is even laying claim to
that. Our farmhouse is located much further back,
but even so, house insurance is almost impossible to
get without paying a small fortune. I had one day
hoped to pass the farm onto my son but I doubt he
would thank me for it now!
Its such a shame that such good, fertile farm land is
been lost to the sea. The cliffs really do need
defending, my livelihood is at stake. The land is really
profitable, its like throwing money into the sea. What
a waste.
Writing to the local council would really help. A letter
outlining my opinion, along with a suggestion of a
suitable method of defence would make sure that us
farmers are not forgotten about!

Wish list:
• To protect good and profitable farmland.
• To have sea defences which protect areas of farmland, not
just areas with buildings.
 Role Card Farmer*
My name is Edward. I am a farmer. My farm is situated in
Barnston, along the Holderness coastline. I grow crops,
along with taking care of cows, pigs and Chickens.
However, recently the chickens have had to be moved
because the chicken coop (where the chickens live) is
now very close to the edge of the cliff!
Before now this farm meant that I was very rich. If I lose
my farm I will be poor. I am sad because I wanted my son
to take over the farm when I get old but now he will not
be able to.
I am very worried because my house is also near this cliff
and house insurance is getting too expensive to buy!
Its such a shame that such good, fertile farm land is been
lost to the sea. The cliffs really do need defending, my
livelihood is at stake. The land is really profitable, its like
throwing money into the sea. What a waste.
I will write a letter to the local government telling them
about:
-my opinion.
- A suggestion (what type of defence I think we should
use.)

Wish list:
• To protect good and profitable farmland.
• To have sea defences which protect areas of farmland, not
just areas with buildings.
 Role Card Emergency service
worker
As an Emergency service worker, my job is really
challenging. I work for the Life boat rescue service on
the tip of Spurn Point. I live here with my family, in a
purpose made mini-village. Life down here is really
quiet, but we’re kept too busy to be lonely.
We do a really important job, protecting people from
the power of the sea. However, often it is not people
that need protecting. Cliffs along the Holderness
Coastline and Spurn Point itself also need protecting.
The road along Spurn Point is often getting cut off by
the force of the sea. This means my children cannot
get to school.
The life boat station is extremely important to the
coastline, it is just ridiculous to think it could be lost.
We need storage facilities, along with specialist
equipment and there really is no other option than to
store all of this right on the edge of the coast.
However, there are certain forms of sea defences
which can pose a safety issue for us. This can make
our work harder.
One thing is for sure, the coastline does need
protecting. Its up to you to decide which method
would be best.

Wish list:
• To make sure that we can continue doing such a vitally
important job.
• To protect the life boat station and the residents of Spurn
Point.
 Welcome to the Council Meeting
Some members of the public will have their letters read out
to you during a council meeting. Collectively as a group of
councillors, you have to decide on what option to go for.
There will be a vote at the end.