Family

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Troubled Teens Lesson 5
Introducing the IR

IGCSE Global Perspectives

Learning objectives
I can reflect on the successes and
challenges of previous projects
I can comment on the attributes of
academic writing
I understand the nature and requirements of
the Individual Report
I can identify perspectives on an issue using
the documentary filmmaker thought
experiment

Academic writing
Tell a partner about the biggest, most
complex piece of academic work you
have ever done. Talk about the
challenges and the successes.
You know, when you have a great idea about a topic,
starting a project about it is really fun and exciting. But
when you get stuck in the middle, it's so frustrating. I
have reread the last sentence of my Global Perspectives
paper so many times because I didn't know how to
continue. My mind was a huge mess that I couldn't
organise. There were different perspectives and theories
that I analysed and the stuff I researched had a lot of
new vocabulary that I had to learn. With all that
information, I couldn't find the right words to write my
ideas clearly, and even when I finally wrote down
something, I couldn't always find enough studies to
support my claims! And then sometimes, when I reread
the stuff I wrote, it didn't make sense, so I had to write it
again! If I choose to continue with this project, I need to
write down my thoughts to organise them instead of
doing it in my head. I think I should have narrowed down
the topic for it to be more researchable right when I
started.
– Constance
What is good GP writing like?
 “Learners research their topic to identify the
__________, and analyse the causes and __________ of
The Individual Report (IR) these issues. They suggest possible courses of
__________ to prevent the identified consequences.
Within their Individual Report, learners are expected to
The IR is a coursework assignment
research and present arguments and __________ from
which is submitted to Cambridge for different __________ (global, national and local) and
marking before your final exams. __________ within those perspectives (e.g. scientists,
politicians, farmers, teachers), to use sources, and
It accounts for 30% of your IGCSE.
evaluate the __________ of these sources in relation to
the arguments presented as well as their question. When
they have done their __________ and considered their
question from different perspectives, learners
action own __________ their question giving their __________
answer perspectives perspective based on the evidence gathered.”
– IGCSE GP Coursework Handbook, p.33
consequences quality
evidence research
issues viewpoints

The Individual Report (IR)
Your final IR is best done in the
second year of your course. We’ll
prepare with lots of examples and
practice activities so that you will be
confident to do your IR well when the
time comes.
“Learners research their topic to identify the issues, and
analyse the causes and consequences of these issues.
They suggest possible courses of action to prevent the
identified consequences. Within their Individual Report,
learners are expected to research and present arguments
and evidence from different perspectives (global,
national and local) and viewpoints within those
perspectives (e.g. scientists, politicians, farmers,
teachers), to use sources, and evaluate the quality of
these sources in relation to the arguments presented as
well as their question. When they have done their
research and considered their question from different
perspectives, learners answer their question giving their
own perspective based on the evidence gathered.”
– IGCSE GP Coursework Handbook, p.33
The Individual Report (IR)
• Belief systems
The IR must be on a global issue
• Biodiversity and ecosystem loss
within one of these broad topics.
• Changing communities
In this unit, for example, we are
exploring the issue of Troubled • Digital world
Teens within the topic Family, and • Family
our research could be used to write
• Humans and other species
an IR.
• Sustainable living
• Trade and aid
Tough love for troubled teens: a global issue?
This short video shows historical reasons why the USA has a large “Troubled Teen
Industry”. But this doesn’t mean the issue is only American. Can you suggest reasons this
issue is global?
● Universal aspect of human nature – teenagers
can be troublesome anywhere
● Parents everywhere must choose the toughness
of their discipline
● “Tough Love” programmes exist in other
countries (including yours?)
● Children are sent to American programs from
countries where such approaches aren’t
legal/available
● Some American organisations also run camps
A* Challenge: Why might a typical web search in other countries
give a skewed view of the severity of an issue is ● Data to support/debunk such approaches is
shared in global scientific networks
in different places?
Tough love for troubled teens: a global issue?
This short video shows historical reasons why the USA has a large “Troubled Teen
Industry”. But this doesn’t mean the issue is only American. Can you suggest reasons this
issue is global?
● Universal aspect of human nature – teenagers
can be troublesome anywhere
● Parents everywhere must choose the toughness
of their discipline
● “Tough Love” programmes exist in other
countries (including yours?)
● Children are sent to American programs from
countries where such approaches aren’t
legal/available
● Some American organisations also run camps
in other countries
● Data to support/debunk such approaches is
shared in global scientific networks
Collecting perspectives for your investigation

Imagine you are a filmmaker. You have a

film crew, a research assistant, and a
budget of $1,000,000 to make a
documentary film about the Troubled
Teen industry.

Where would you go?

Whom would you interview?
What would you ask them?
 Exit ticket

Compare your list with a classmate’s.

 IGCSE GP
Out of the Box
from

www.igcseglobalperspectives.net