The document provides instructions for a school assignment evaluating claims made in media articles about climate change. Students are asked to find one article agreeing that climate change is occurring and one disagreeing, then analyze two claims from each. They must also discuss the media debate around climate change, stakeholders on each side, and how the public learns about the issue. The report should introduce the articles, evaluate the four claims in relation to climate science evidence, analyze the media debate, include a bibliography, and attach copies of the articles. The assignment will be graded based on choice of articles, summaries, claim evaluation, analysis of the debate, bibliography, writing quality, and presentation.

1. Year 10 Science
Term 4 2013
The Climate ‘Debate’
Due Date: Thursday 7th of November 2013
Weighting: 20%
Teacher: Ms Lawrence
Length: 1-2 pages (including bibliography, not including articles) (size 12, standard margins)
Background
Over the last several decades the media has created a ‘debate’ around whether climate change is
occurring. Many articles, on either side of this argument, have claimed that aspects of the climate
science support them. So who’s right?
Task Description
You will need to find two recent media articles (newspaper/online news) on the topic of climate
change. One article must agree that climate change is occurring, and the other must disagree with
the phenomenon. Please check with your teacher that your article is appropriate for this task!
Select 2 claims made by each of the articles you have chosen. These claims should refer to
specific aspects of climate science. You will need to evaluate each claim in terms of the science
involved.
You will also need to include a statement on the general debate within the media – why is there a
‘debate’ regarding scientific evidence? Who are the stakeholders on each side? How do regular
people find out about this issue?
You should include a copy of your articles with your report, as well as a full bibliography.
What will it look like?
You will present your findings in the form of a report. You may use the dot points below as a
guide to the different sections of your report. Each section has a rough guide to the expected
length.
1. Introduction – a brief description of each article you chose, stating the position and key
arguments. (2 paragraphs)
2. Evaluation of claims – an analysis of 4 scientific claims made by the articles (2 each),
detailing both the claim and the science it claims to refer to. It may be appropriate to
quote the section of your article in which the claim was made. (2-3 paragraphs for each
claim)
3. Media debate – Why is there a ‘debate’ regarding scientific evidence? Who are the
stakeholders on each side? How do regular people find out about this issue? (2-3
paragraphs)
4. Bibliography – fully reference your two articles (author, publisher, date, etc), as well as
any other research you may have used. (1 paragraph, dot points acceptable)
5. Articles – Provide a copy of each of the articles you chose to examine, to be submitted
with your report. (not included in length of report)

2. Marking Guide
A very good report
1
One of the articles
chosen represents a clear
argument supporting
climate change, the other
clearly denying it.
Choice of
articles
A satisfactory report
0.5
Two articles were chosen
representing differing
views on climate change.
2
1
Summary of position and
key arguments of each
article provided.
Brief summary of position
of each article provided.
2
Evaluation of
claims
Two claims were
investigated from each
article.
2
Each claim refers to
aspects of climate
science.
4
The validity of each
claim was thoroughly
analysed in relation to
scientific evidence.
3
Analysis of
media debate
A thorough analysis of
the media debate on
climate change is given,
examining relevant
stakeholders and public
sources of information.
3
Bibliography
Literary
Communication
Layout and
Presentation
Total:
/20
‘For’ and ‘Against’
articles referenced fully.
Hard copy provided of
both articles.
Other sources recorded
in full.
2
Appropriate scientific
terminology used
throughout.
No spelling or
grammatical errors.
1
Report is presented
neatly and clearly.
Clear and relevant
subheadings add clarity
to the report.
1
A single claim was
investigated from each
article.
An unsatisfactory report
0
The two articles chosen do
not represent differing
views on climate change.
0
No summary of articles
provided.
0
Claims from the articles
selected were not
investigated.
1
0
Each claim refers to
aspects of climate science.
Each claim refers to
aspects of climate science.
2
0
The validity of each claim
was considered and
scientific evidence referred
to.
The validity of each claim
was not analysed in
relation to scientific
evidence.
1.5
Some analysis of the
media debate on climate
change is given, with
stakeholders and public
sources of information
listed.
0
Little analysis of the media
debate on climate change
is given.
Stakeholders and public
sources of information not
listed.
1.5
0
‘For’ and ‘Against’ articles
referenced.
Hard copy provided of one
article.
Other sources referenced.
‘For’ and ‘Against’ articles
not referenced.
Hard copies not provided.
Other sources not
referenced.
1
Some scientific
terminology used
throughout.
Few spelling or
grammatical errors.
0.5
Report is presented neatly.
Subheadings add clarity to
the report.
0
Little scientific
terminology used
throughout.
Many spelling or
grammatical errors.
0
Report is not presented
neatly or clearly.
The clarity of the report
would benefit from
subheadings.