Clarification details
Updated December 2016. This document has been updated to address issues that have arisen from moderation.
The purpose of clarifications
We create clarification documents to help people understand the current requirements of achievement standards. Clarifications do not introduce new criteria, change the intent of the standard, or change what we expect from assessment.
These documents unpack and explain the language and intent of the standard so people interpret and apply the standard consistently. We provide examples or guidance as illustrations only. They are not prescriptions or requirements.
For official requirements, always refer to the current version of the achievement standard as published by NZQA.
Focus of the standard
Students examine an ethical issue in the media, demonstrating understanding by describing how and why the issue is framed in the media and its effect on the media and/or society. Students need to go beyond describing the ethical issue by looking at the media and societal context, examining how and why the ethical issue is mediated.
Assessing the standard
For Achieved, students need to discuss more than one point of view. This may mean that students will need support in finding and engaging with a variety of viewpoints. Students should be supporting their discussion with evidence from a range of sources rather than making generic and unsupported statements.