4. What political issues do I care about?

Activity 1 - What issues do I care about?

Activity Tasks

Create - Design a new mind-map on either a Padlet Canvas, A3 paper, or any other form of mind-mapping method. In the centre of your mind-map write the title, ‘What political issues do I care about?’:
Identify - Using the levels of analysis as your headings, brainstorm as many political issues as you can at each level of analysis - make sure these are all political issues that you are personally interested in or care about:
1. Community
2. Local
3. National
4. International
5. Regional
6. Global
Explore - If you are struggling to think of political issues at each level, then use some of the news sources on this research links page to help you explore news media at different levels of analysis.
Share - Now take turns to share your ideas. Present what you think are the most significant political issues at each level of analysis. What issues do you care most about?

Activity Tasks

Consider - With a partner or individually, choose a contemporary political issue or challenge from anywhere in the world right now that is trending in the global news media. Search for a current news story that appeals to you and that has a clear political issue at its heart.
Research - Complete this worksheet by conducting some brief research on your political issue. Answer the following questions to help you analyse your political issue in more depth:
1. P - Political Issue - What is the political issue and why is it a political issue?
2. R - Relevance - How was the global political issue relevant to any of the key Global Politics concepts?
3. A - Analysis - Explain which level(s) of analysis are most closely associated with the issue? Who are the main actors or stakeholders involved? Make a note of at least two perspectives
4. I - Interesting - Comment on an aspect of the story that you found particularly interesting
5. S - Summary - Provide a brief summary of the issue. Why is this political issue significant?
6. E - Extending - What questions do you still have?
Discuss - Which media news sources were the most useful to you in your research? Which would you recommend?

Activity Tasks

Create - Turn your research into something that can be presented to an audience, summarising your findings. Either write a short article, record a Podcast, design a visual presentation, create an infographic or put together an Adobe Spark video or something similar. Remember to include and use the headings from your worksheet.
Present - Take turns to present your research to the class. Who do you think analysed their political issue in the most depth? Who presented well? Who did the most effective research?
Showcase - Once you have finished, send your completed research presentations to your teacher who will then showcase your research on the News Blog webpage on the website. Next year you will be expected to review the news regularly using a similar format.