Alarm Colours and matrix

Identify

Describe

Explain signif
purpose function or
role cause or effect

What is it
name,
recognise or
note

What does it do
name, recognise
or note

How does it
name, recognise or
note

talk about
features and
characteristics

Critically analyse+/-

Evaluate

Critically evaluate

Why does it
name, recognise or
note

Points +/- s
name, recognise or
note

How well
name, recognise or
note

how well over all

name, recognise or note

talk about features

and characteristics

talk about features

and characteristics

talk about features

and characteristics

talk about features

and characteristics

talk about features and

characteristics

Explain how it
relates to the topic

Explain how it relates

to the topic (giving

Explain how it
relates to the topic

Explain how it
relates to the topic

Explain how it relates to

the topic (giving either its

Explain why it relates

to the topic

Explain why it
relates to the topic
Give points for and
against (clearly

Explain why it
relates to the topic
Give points for and
against (clearly

Explain why it relates to

the topic
Give points for and
against (clearly stating

Make a judgement
based on your
points for and
against and justify
it. (You need more

Make a judgement based

on your points for and
against and justify it. (You

(giving either its

function/role or
showing cause or
effect).

Notes

A describe question or any other

lower verb becomes an evaluate
if it relates to impacts
Discuss finishes at critically
analyses unless discussing
impact
Highlight the colours in the
question and then check these

Analyse/explain how
why/relationships

either its function/role

or showing cause or
effect).

(giving either its

function/role or
showing cause or
effect).

stating which points

are for and which are
against and show
how/why they relate
to the topic)

(giving either its

function/role or
showing cause or
effect).

stating which points

are for and which are
against and show how
and why they relate
to the topic)

than 1 point each way

to do this well to
clearly state if you
think its good or bad,
explaining why you
think it.)

function/role or showing
cause or effect).

which points are for and

which are against and show
how and why they relate to
the topic)

need more than 1 point

each way to do this well to
clearly state if you think its
good or bad, explaining why
you think it.)

Use criteria to state how

you will make your
judgement on how
good/useful something is
overall. (Make sure your

criteria links to your points.)

Conceptualise Topic
Appreciate Topic Concept (importance to life or evaluative process)

Identify

Describe

Explain signif
purpose function or
role cause or effect

Analyse/explain how
why/relationships

Critically analyse+/-

Evaluate

Critically evaluate

What is it

What does it do

How does it

Why does it

Points +/- s

How well

how well over all

Conceptualise Topic
Appreciate Topic Concept (importance to life or evaluative process)
Sample answer working through the scaffold: Analyse the environmental impacts of replacing fossil fuels with alternate sources of energy
Identify a point to discuss
Nuclear energy
Describe its features etc
Produce electrical energy using nuclear reactors and turbines
Explain why its significant
Uses nuclear fission instead of fossil fuels to produce the energy to heat the water to produce steam and turn turbines therefore much less CO 2 emission
Explain how it relates to the Can be used on a large scale and there is plenty of uranium so it can replace fossil fuels
question asked
Points +/- s remember to When mining for radioactive elements unstable atoms are
Much less CO2 emission from heating water therefore improves environment Efficient
released into the environment (water and land) which are
works at all times only need small amounts of fuel to get large amounts of energy
justify why it is a +/dangerous for living things for a very long time
so less transportation therefore less impact on environment from air pollution
How well
Good for air pollution and greenhouse but radioactive materials into environment will last for millions of years
Identify a point to discuss
Solar energy
Describe its features etc
Produce electrical energy using solar cells
Explain why its significant

Technology has improved it so it can mass produce a great deal of energy from the sun and we have plenty of this resource

Explain how it relates to the

question asked
Points +/- s remember to
justify why it is a +/How well
Identify a point to discuss
Describe its features etc
Explain why its significant
Explain how it relates to the
question asked
Points +/- s remember to
justify why it is a +/How well

Can now be used on a large scale particularly with development of new battery storage

Identify a point to discuss

Describe its features etc
Explain why its significant
Explain how it relates to the
question asked
Points +/- s remember to
justify why it is a +/-

Fossil fuels
Produce electrical energy using combustion of fossil fuel and turbines
It produces large amounts of greenhouse gases and contributes greatly to global warming which impacts on the environment
The current main source of our energy so if we want to reduce the impact on the environment we need to find ways to replace it

How well
well over all

Needs sunlight therefore not light no energy so back up energy

No CO2 emissions , No radiation , No mining
needed
Battery development may solve the need for back up energy
Good for environment but cant be used on its own just yet
Wind energy
Produce electrical energy using wind turbines
Can mass produce a great deal of energy from the wind and we have plenty of this resource
Can also be used on a large scale with wind farms etc
Very visible in the environment; Some noise pollution; Needs wind
so back up still required
Good for environment but cant be used on its own

No CO2 emissions No radiation No mining

can work at night

Produces large amounts of CO2 which impact on greenhouse gases

Available at all times
and increases global warming
Mining and transportation impacts on environment water air and
land pollution
Not good for environment but is available anytime
Both solar and wind have minimum impact on the environment compared to fossils but cannot replace all fossil fuels yet because they canot produce energy
all day yet so we would need a backup of nuclear or fossil. This means that if we use a mixture and reduce our use of fossil fuels we can have a positive
impact on the environment

Blank ALARM scaffold

Identify 1st point to discuss
Describe its features etc
Explain why its significant
Explain how it relates to the
question asked
Points +/- s remember to
justify why it is a +/How well
Identify 2nd point to discuss
Describe its features etc
Explain why its significant
Explain how it relates to the
question asked
Points +/- s remember to
justify why it is a +/How well
Identify 3rd point to discuss
Describe its features etc
Explain why its significant
Explain how it relates to the
question asked
Points +/- s remember to
justify why it is a +/How well
Identify 4th point to discuss
Describe its features etc
Explain why its significant
Explain how it relates to the
question asked
Points +/- s remember to
justify why it is a +/How well
well over all

Note:
the number or points you need to use will depend on the maximum marks being awarded for the question
generally in science use 2/3 points for 6-8 mark questions
but follow teacher advice for your particular course and/or syllabus dot point as some may need 4-5
for 25 mark questions in other faculty areas you need to look at the rubric for the question and again take teacher
advice for that specific content area sometimes your points may be more detailed and only need 3 others may
require several
above all else ANSWER THE QUESTION BEING ASKED

Glossary of verbs

Account: Account for: state reasons for, report on. Give an account of: narrate a series of events or transactions
Analyse: Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications
Apply: Use, utilise, employ in a particular situation
Appreciate: Make a judgement about the value of
Assess: Make a judgment of value, quality, outcomes, results or size
Calculate: Ascertain/determine from given facts, figures or information
Clarify: Make clear or plain
Classify: Arrange or include in classes/categories
Compare: Show how things are similar or different
Construct: Make; build; put together items or arguments
Contrast: Show how things are different or opposite
Critically (analyse/ evaluate): Add a degree or level of accuracy depth, knowledge and understanding, logic, questioning, reflection
and quality to (analysis/evaluation)
Deduce: Draw conclusions
Define: State meaning and identify essential qualities
Demonstrate: Show by example
Describe: Provide characteristics and features
Discuss: Identify issues and provide points for and/or against
Distinguish: Recognise or note/indicate as being distinct or different from; to note differences between
Evaluate: Make a judgement based on criteria; determine the value of
Examine: Inquire into
Explain: Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how
Extract: Choose relevant and/or appropriate details
Extrapolate: Infer from what is known
Identify: Recognise and name
Interpret: Draw meaning from
Investigate: Plan, inquire into and draw conclusions about
Justify: Support an argument or conclusion
Outline: Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of
Predict: Suggest what may happen based on available information
Propose: Put forward (for example a point of view, idea, argument, suggestion) for consideration or action
Recall: Present remembered ideas, facts or experiences
Recommend: Provide reasons in favour
Recount: Retell a series of events
Summarise: Express, concisely, the relevant details
Synthesise: Putting together various elements to make a whole