1. Getting Started – Understanding the course
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013

2. Aims for this class as a whole:
To understand the structure and aims of AS GP
To have the information to decide how we format your course
To understand the plan of the course
To know how to construct detailed lessons
To know what resources are available
To be able to talk about the course to your students and colleagues with confidence

3. Syllabus characteristics
Linearity - avoids fragmentation
Authentic ‘stretch and challenge’
Genuine synopticity
Greater discrimination at the top end
Focus on skills of research and analysis
Interdisciplinary themes
Investigation of real-world challenges and opportunities

4. Student outcomes

5. The Critical Path

6. Deconstruction - Conduct a detailed analysis and evaluation of a point of view
Which different perspectives are represented?
What are the key components of the argument or claim?
What are the implications of the conclusions, arguments, reasoning or claims?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of arguments, reasoning or claims?

7. Reconstruction - Carry out research, identify and evaluate evidence and sources for and against competing points of view
What evidence is there to support different perspectives?
Which sources are used as supporting evidence and how credible are they?
Does the evidence lead to a single conclusion?
What is the context of the arguments?
How reliable is the conclusion?

8. Reflection - Explore the impact of research on personal perspectives
What were the personal viewpoints before carrying out the research?
How do the personal viewpoints relate to the perspectives identified in the research?
What impact has the research had on any prior viewpoints?
Why has the research had an effect on prior viewpoints?
What additional research might be useful?

9. Communication and Collaboration - Communicate views, information and research effectively and convincingly
How can I work with others to identify problems and work towards devising effective and workable solutions?
What is the most effective way to structure a presentation?
How can research findings be presented to a non-specialist audience?
How can arguments be presented effectively and persuasively?
How can research findings be presented reliably?

10. Assessment Objectives:
AO1 – Deconstruction and Reconstruction
AO2 – Reflection
AO3 – Communication and Collaboration

11. Assessment Objectives – The components
Component One - critical evaluation of arguments. Deconstruct and assess the validity of opinions about a key issue in the modern world.
Component Two – to build on this to construct and evaluate arguments and counter arguments and reach a reasoned judgement. To research independently and effectively.
Component Three – to apply all skills through a team project – research based with presentation – communication skills and personal reflection.

12. Context
The skills are developed in the context of studying major issues in the world, their place in the world and with a view to broadening the students’ knowledge and understanding of global issues.

13. Component/Paper 1
Written examination consisting of compulsory questions based on sources provided with the examination paper.
Candidates analyse and evaluate arguments, interrogate evidence and compare perspectives on global issues listed in the syllabus.
30 marks

14. Component/Paper 2
Candidates explore different perspectives on issues of global significance arising from their studies during the course and write an essay based on their research.
The essay title is devised by candidates themselves.
The essay must be between 1750 and 2000 words and written in continuous prose.
35 marks

15. Component/Paper 3
Candidates work in teams to identify a local problem which has global relevance.
Individual team members research the issue and suggest solutions to the problem based on their research findings.
Teams work together to agree a set of proposed team solutions to the problem.

16. Component/Paper 3 continued
While the focus of the task is on team work, each candidate within a team prepares two pieces of work for individual submission. These are:
Presentation
Each candidate presents an eight-minute live presentation of their individual research and proposed solutions to the problem. (25 marks)
Reflective Paper
Each candidate explains these team solutions in an individual 800-word reflective. (10 marks)
35 marks in total

17. Scheme of Assessment

18. Global Topics

19. Themes

20. The AS Global Perspectives ‘Jigsaw’
In many respects, the Critical Path is the key to the whole course.
The three assessment components, the themes and topics all revolve around it in an iterative process.
In order to design your course, attention must be paid to gradually introducing each of the jigsaw pieces

21. AS GP Course Themes The Critical Path Topics Component 1 Component 2

23. Some of the topics we have covered…
Are social networks actually anti social?
Should we give to charity?
Islamophobia
Gender Issues
Endangered cultures
Kidney transplants
Oil spills
Child poverty in developed countries
Impact of Tourism
Immigration
International Sport

24. GP does not assess a body of knowledge
Freedom to choose topics in the news
Freedom to respond to the interests of the students