Knowing and understanding legal concepts is one thing, but being able to apply them to evaluate contemporaneous issues is a whole different skill altogether. It's one that requires careful attention and unpacking during class time through discussion and explicit teacher modelling. Now, when it comes to IA2, if the big challenge is finding enough class time to model the skill of research, synthesis and of evaluative thinking: but don’t stress, we’ve got your back with these resources. They’re made and presented by experienced teachers, bespoke to the QCE.

Level up students' retrieval and comprehension of cognitive verbs with these hands-on, engaging lessons

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• “I have, who has” - to help students memorise verbs. The hands-on nature of this lesson fosters collaboration and engagement
• “Sugarcoat your verbs” - to help students comprehend the nuances and differences between verbs. By making students apply verbs to lollies, it removes the complexities of content and activates their prior knowledge… of lollies!

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Give a WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)

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To help students understand the IA2, visualise each step in the criterion and see what a sample response looks like, use this Edrolo masterclass (subscription required).

• ‍‍It unpacks the task itself, key steps and provides studies with a clear annotation of a sample response. Top tip: get students to take notes as they watch with our ready made scaffolded note taking templates.

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Model an existing issue

To help students understand what an example of a contemporaneous issue and how to apply evaluative thinking, use this Edrolo lesson on evaluating and analysing the legal framework of climate change (subscription required).

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Build writing, analysis and evaluative skills with these masterclasses and lesson ideas

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• Offline lessons and resources on writing - includes handouts for students, graphic organisers, word walls and exemplars. Great to do offline as a collaborative task.
• Masterclass on constructing an extended response - to help students with writing. Great to flip for students.
• Masterclass on analysing legal issues - to help students unpack the nature, scope and viewpoints of legal issues and help them express ideas in writing!  Includes fully worked examples.
• Masterclass on evaluating legal issues - to help students present alternatives to decisions, propose recommendations, justify using legal criteria and discuss implications. Includes fully worked examples.
• Masterclass on creating the inquiry report - to help students understand the IA2, visualise each step in the criterion, and what a sample response looks like. *subscription required*

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‍A great way to win back class time for explicit instruction of skills is to flip the content. We’ve got every syllabus dot point covered, made, written and presented by teachers bespoke to the QCE course.

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• Here is a summary of how our expert teacher presenters approach the reasons for law reform (subscription required).

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Love these ideas and want more? Reach out for more information on QCE Legal Studies.

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