DME: Decision Making Exercise

30% of your total GCSE marks 

Time allowed: One and three-quarter hours

Tuesday 25th Jan 2005 pm

Title: Feast or Famine? Feeding the World

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Guidance

There are three sections in the DME 

Section 1: The background

This will be composed of a number of data-response questions [ie. You are provided with material in the form of graphs, data, maps etc., and asked questions about then].  You will need to know and understand the lessons we have completed in this unit, and be able to apply them in the context of material presented on the day.

Section 2: Options 

You will be asked to write about the advantaged and disadvantages of various solutions to the problem from the point of view of different stakeholders.

Section 3: The decision

This will require a piece of extended writing stating and justifying your final decision. 

You should give your decision in the first paragraph. 

Then you should systematically consider the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative solutions. 

Finally you should justify your decision, stating your final arguments.

In Section 3, the best answers will be those that: 

  • Clearly state evidence from the data to support the argument

  • Make reference to other evidence or case examples NOT given in the data

  • Recognise that the views of different stakeholders need to be reconciled

  • Express reservations about the final choice made [no answer can be fallible]

During the DME you should:

Allocate your time EQUALLY between the three sections. 

If you run out of time, make sure the basic requirements of Section 3 have at least been met.

Refer to the resources given, but do not waste time with lengthy quotes.  The examiner knows the material too!  Instead, you should interpret and explain the data as it applies to the issue. 

Do not write about anything in the resources which is irrelevant to the issue. 

Pay attention to COMMAND WORDS in the questions, which are more involved than those in the final examination. 

Write concise and well detailed answers.  Do NOT write long vague generalised answers.