Analyzing IssuesSocial 10-2

Analyzing Issues

Issue- is a question, situation or dilemma that needs to be thoroughly examined and requires you to make a choice or decision that involves responsible action.

Analyzing IssuesAn issue is a powerful question. It has no

easy – or correct – answer, but an answer or solution is required nonetheless.

Example issue: the crime rate is NOT an issue. What

to do about the crime rate is an issue, because thoughtful people might arrive at different decisions and propose radically different solutions neither of which may be completely right or wrong.

Criteria for Analyzing an issue

1. Definition- Summarize and clarify the issue at hand. Clarify the understanding of words and issue as a whole. In other words, give a summary that explains the issue as it is. For example: Should Canada be involved in the war on Terror? – A) What do you mean by involved? (Troops?, Intelligence?, Money?) B) What is meant by the war on terror? (Iraq, Afghanistan? Al Qaeda? Other?) What are the basic facts surrounding the issue?

Criteria for Analyzing an issue

2. Policy – What are governments, organizations or citizens doing? This analysis involves taking action or making change. This area analyzes what governments, organizations and or individuals are doing about the issue.

Criteria for Analyzing an issue

3. Values – How are ALL people and groups involved in the issue impacted?

This analysis requires you to think about all people involved and seeing the issue through their eyes. This area speaks to how different groups of people think, feel, react, and act toward the issue and proposed solutions.

Criteria for Analyzing an issue

4. History- Was an action justified? Did a previous action work?

This analysis requires you to examine the merits of past actions or events to in form future choices. Have other people in another time or place confronted this or a similar issue? What was the result?

Criteria for Analyzing an issue

5. Facts – What evidence and facts are present regarding the issue?

This analysis requires you to research, examine and weight the evidence and facts surrounding the issue.

You can’t say something without backing it up. Use facts to give credibility to the policy, values and history analysis.

Assignment