Activity 10: Your Opinion in a Written Discussion

Focus
Students produce a written discussion justifying their view on a scenario which might occur in the World Heritage Area.

Background
In activities throughout the unit students have explored different points of view surrounding issues in Wet Tropics management. They will now use this information together with additional research to produce a written discussion on a topic of their choice

Pedagogy/teaching strategies
The Written Discussion Template provides a framework for students.

Activity sequence
1. Students will choose one of the following hypothetical scenarios:
• widening the Kuranda Range Road
• building a bridge over the Daintree River
• damming the Mulgrave River to supply Cairns with water for the future
• building a 500 unit resort in the Fan Palm forests of Mission Beach
• approval of a marina for Hinchinbrook Island
• building of a cableway to an eco resort at Paluma.

2. Work through the Directed Discussion activity outlined in Activity 7 or the Six Thinking Hats Strategy.

3. Use role plays to explore the diversity of opinions that can be related to the scenario. Divide the class into three stakeholder groups and a fourth whose role, as the government, is to make a decision. Students may want to research the media clippings and the internet for similar issues.

Each group presents a case, both verbally and in writing, and the government is called upon to justify its decision.

Assessment opportunities
Each student produces a written discussion justifying their point of view of the World Heritage Area’s future direction. See Written Discussion Assessment for suggested guidelines.