use evidence to support claims, arguments and perspectives

IGCSE Global Perspectives – Research, Analysis & Evaluation

Learning Objective

Use appropriate, evaluated evidence to support claims, arguments and perspectives in all three assessment components (Written Exam, Individual Report, Team Project).

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1. Syllabus Checklist (Quick Reference)

Item	Details (Cambridge 0457, 2025‑2027)
Core Themes (23 topics)	Arts, Culture & Identity Climate Change Conflict Development Education Energy Environment & Sustainability Food, Water & Agriculture Health & Well‑being Human Rights Migration & Urbanisation Science & Technology Values & Beliefs Work & Employment Gender Equality Poverty & Inequality Population Growth Global Governance Disaster Risk Reduction Media & Communication Tourism & Heritage Social Justice Ethics & Morality
Assessment Components & Weightings	Component 1 – Written Exam (35 % of total) Component 2 – Individual Report (30 % of total) Component 3 – Team Project (35 % of total)
Overall Assessment Objectives (AOs)	AO1 – Research, analysis & evaluation (68 % of total) AO2 – Reflection (15 % of total) AO3 – Communication & collaboration (17 % of total)
AO Distribution per Component	Component AO1 AO2 AO3 Written Exam (35 %) 100 % 0 % 0 % Individual Report (30 %) 70 % 15 % 15 % Team Project (35 %) 70 % 15 % 15 % These percentages are applied to the component’s overall weighting.
Supervising & Authenticity Rules	Students must submit a signed declaration of authenticity for Components 2 and 3. Teachers may supervise only the planning, research methods and final editing – they must not write any part of the work. All sources must be correctly referenced (APA, Harvard or MLA). Failure to do so results in loss of marks for AO3.
Mark‑Scheme Overview (Tables A‑H)	Table A – Overall mark allocation (AO1 = 68, AO2 = 15, AO3 = 17). Table B – Component 1: source‑analysis criteria (relevance, interpretation, evaluation). Table C – Component 2: research, evaluation and reflection criteria. Table D – Component 3: research, evaluation, reflection and collaborative communication. Tables E‑H – Detailed descriptors for each band (1‑8) for the three AOs. Knowing the descriptors helps teachers design targeted practice tasks.

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2. Why Evidence Matters

• Shows depth of understanding of the chosen issue.
• Increases the persuasiveness and credibility of arguments.
• Demonstrates the reliability, relevance and validity of sources (AO1).
• Enables balanced discussion of multiple viewpoints and counter‑evidence (AO2).
• Provides a solid basis for clear communication and collaborative work (AO3).

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3. Choosing a Topic

Pick any of the 23 core themes. When deciding, ask yourself:

• Is there sufficient, credible evidence (statistics, expert testimony, visual material, etc.)?
• Do I have a personal or local connection that can enrich the perspective?
• Can the topic generate at least two contrasting viewpoints?
• Is the issue suitable for an action‑oriented investigation (Team Project)?

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4. Assessment Overview & How Evidence Fits

Component	Weighting	Key AOs (per component)	How Evidence Is Used
Written Exam (35 %)	35 %	AO1 – Research, analysis & evaluation (100 %)	Analyse supplied source material, extract relevant data, evaluate credibility, and justify arguments with that evidence.
Individual Report (≈1 500 words, 30 %)	30 %	AO1 70 % – research & evaluation AO2 15 % – reflection AO3 15 % – communication (referencing, structure)	Locate, evaluate (5 C’s) and cite external evidence; integrate it using CEEL; reflect on how it shapes your viewpoint.
Team Project (≈2 500‑3 000 words total, 35 %)	35 %	AO1 70 % – research & evaluation AO2 15 % – reflection AO3 15 % – collaboration & communication	Collect evidence as a team, compare sources, present findings, justify the chosen action, and reflect on the group process.

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5. Types of Evidence

Mix quantitative and qualitative evidence for balanced arguments.

Type of Evidence	Typical Sources	When to Use
Statistical Data	UN, WHO, World Bank, national statistics offices, peer‑reviewed databases	Show trends, magnitude, or comparisons across regions.
Expert Testimony	Academic journals, conference papers, specialist interviews, policy briefs	Provide authority, explain complex mechanisms, or forecast outcomes.
Case Studies	NGO reports, reputable news outlets, documented project evaluations	Illustrate real‑world successes, failures, or contextual nuances.
Historical Evidence	Archives, primary documents, textbooks, reputable documentaries	Show how past events shape current issues.
Personal Experience	Interviews, surveys, field notes, reflective journals	Give a lived‑experience perspective, especially for local impact.
Visual Evidence	Maps, infographics, photographs, political cartoons, video clips	Support spatial arguments or visual analysis (especially in Component 1).

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6. Evaluating Sources – The “5 C’s”

1. Authority: Who created the source? What are their qualifications or affiliations?
2. Accuracy: Is the information verifiable? Are references provided?
3. Currency: When was it published? Is the data up‑to‑date for the issue?
4. Purpose: Is the aim to inform, persuade, sell, or entertain?
5. Bias: Does the source present a balanced view or an agenda?

Exam tip: When a source is supplied in Component 1, note any clues related to the 5 C’s and use them in your analysis.

Mini‑Exercise – Comparing Two Sources

Choose a newspaper article and an NGO report on the same issue (e.g., plastic pollution). Write a short paragraph that:

1. Evaluates each source using the 5 C’s.
2. States which source is more reliable for supporting a claim and explains why.

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7. Integrating Evidence into Arguments (CEEL)

The CEEL framework ensures every paragraph meets AO1 requirements.

1. Claim: The point you are making.
2. Evidence: Data, quotation, visual, or example that backs the claim.
3. Explanation: Analyse how the evidence supports the claim and link it to the wider argument.
4. Link: Connect to the next claim or to the overall thesis.

Example – Climate Change

Claim: Increasing renewable‑energy capacity reduces national carbon emissions.

Evidence: The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that between 2015‑2020, countries that raised renewable electricity generation by 20 % achieved an average 12 % drop in power‑sector CO₂ emissions.

Explanation: The data shows a direct correlation: as the share of renewables rises, reliance on fossil‑fuel plants falls, leading to lower emissions. This demonstrates the effectiveness of policies that incentivise clean energy.

Link: Consequently, governments should prioritise investment in renewable infrastructure to meet their climate‑target commitments.

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8. Command Words & Mapping to Assessment Objectives

All exam questions use one of the following command words. The table shows what each asks for and the most efficient evidence strategy.

Command Word	What It Asks For	Evidence Strategy (CEEL)	Relevant AO(s)
Analyse	Break down information, identify components, examine relationships.	Present evidence, then explain each component’s significance before linking to the overall argument.	AO1
Evaluate	Judge strengths/weaknesses, consider alternatives, reach a balanced conclusion.	Compare at least two sources (5 C’s), discuss bias, and justify a final judgment.	AO1 + AO2
Justify	Provide reasons and evidence for a position.	State a clear claim, give strong, relevant evidence, explain relevance, link to thesis.	AO1
Discuss	Present multiple viewpoints, weigh them, and reach a reasoned conclusion.	Use diverse evidence (statistics, case studies, personal accounts); acknowledge counter‑evidence; reflect on implications.	AO1 + AO2
Compare	Identify similarities and differences between two or more items.	Apply the 5 C’s to each source, then use CEEL to highlight convergences/divergences.	AO1
Assess	Make a judgement about value, significance or impact.	Combine evaluation (5 C’s) with reflection on implications (AO2).	AO1 + AO2
Explain	Make clear the reasons or mechanisms behind something.	Provide evidence that shows cause‑effect, then elaborate the link.	AO1
Describe	Provide a factual account without analysis.	Use accurate evidence; keep interpretation minimal.	AO1
Outline	Give a brief summary of main points.	Present key evidence succinctly; avoid detailed analysis.	AO1
Define	Give a precise meaning of a term.	Use authoritative source (e.g., dictionary, textbook) as evidence.	AO1
Suggest / Propose	Offer a possible solution or course of action.	Base the proposal on evaluated evidence; reflect on feasibility (AO2).	AO1 + AO2

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9. Linking Evidence to the Other Assessment Objectives

• AO2 – Reflection: After each piece of evidence, add a brief reflective comment (e.g., “This statistic highlights the urgency of the issue for my community”).
• AO3 – Communication & Collaboration:
  • Maintain a consistent referencing style (APA, Harvard, or MLA) throughout the Individual Report.
  • For the Team Project, create a shared source‑evaluation spreadsheet showing each team member’s 5 C’s ratings.
  • Use clear headings, sub‑headings and visual aids (charts, maps) to improve readability.

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10. Global vs. Local Perspectives

When selecting evidence, consider the scale of the data:

• Global evidence (e.g., World Bank poverty rates) shows worldwide patterns and allows cross‑regional comparison.
• Local evidence (e.g., a community survey) demonstrates personal relevance and can be used to justify action in the Team Project.
• Contrast the two to highlight similarities, differences, or gaps in knowledge.

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11. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

• Over‑generalisation: Never draw a worldwide conclusion from a single national statistic.
• Cherry‑picking: Include evidence that challenges your claim; address it in the explanation.
• Misinterpreting Statistics: Always check units, sample size, margins of error and the context of the data.
• Plagiarism: Quote verbatim with quotation marks and cite; paraphrase responsibly and reference.
• Ignoring Visual Bias: Analyse creator, purpose and any omitted elements of images or graphs.
• Weak Linking: Ensure every piece of evidence is followed by an explanation and a link to the next point.

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12. Checklist for Using Evidence (All Components)

• Have I stated a clear, specific claim?
• Is the evidence recent, relevant, and from a credible source?
• Have I evaluated the source using the 5 C’s?
• Do I explain how the evidence supports the claim (CEEL)?
• Is the source correctly cited in the required referencing style?
• Have I considered alternative perspectives or counter‑evidence?
• Did I reflect on how the evidence influences my viewpoint (AO2)?
• In group work, have I shared the evidence and evaluation with teammates?
• For Components 2 & 3, have I completed the authenticity declaration?

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13. Suggested Diagram

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14. Summary

Effective use of evidence is the cornerstone of success in all three IGCSE Global Perspectives components. By selecting appropriate evidence, rigorously evaluating it with the 5 C’s, and integrating it using the CEEL structure, you will satisfy AO1 while simultaneously supporting AO2 (reflection) and AO3 (communication & collaboration). Remember to balance global and local perspectives, acknowledge bias, and always reference correctly. With these strategies you will be well‑prepared for the exam, the Individual Report, and the Team Project.