To compare an action with a stated value, name the value, describe the action, say whether they match and, if they do not, suggest a realistic fix. Always judge the action, not the person.
This is the second lesson in environment and global responsibility, in SPM Pendidikan Moral.
What is a “stated value”?
A stated value is something a person or group says it cares about, such as “we value a clean environment”. It may appear in a school motto, a club rule or a character’s own words in the scenario.
The question then asks whether what they do matches it.
The four-step routine
- Value. Quote or paraphrase the value from the scenario.
- Action. Describe exactly what was done.
- Match or gap. Say whether the action fits the value, partly fits it or does not fit it.
- Fix. If there is a gap, suggest a realistic way to close it.
Worked example: a Green Club event
This is an original scenario. A school’s Green Club states that it values reducing waste. For its bake sale, the club sells cupcakes wrapped in single-use plastic and hands out plastic bags at the counter.
Value: reducing waste. Action: selling cupcakes in single-use plastic and giving plastic bags. Gap: the action creates the waste the club says it wants to reduce. Fix: wrap the cupcakes in paper that can be recycled or sell them on trays, and invite buyers to bring their own container.
Notice the language. The answer does not say the club is hypocritical. It says the action does not match the value and moves straight to a practical step.
A common mistake: judging the person
A weak answer says: “The Green Club members are hypocrites who do not really care.” That is a judgement about people, and the scenario gives no evidence of their intentions.
The repair is to describe the gap between the value and the action, then suggest a fix. The stronger version keeps the marker’s attention on the facts of the scenario.
Partial matches
Suppose the club had used paper wrapping but still gave out plastic bags. The action partly matches the value, because the wrapping reduces waste but the bags do not.
Name both parts: “The paper wrapping matches the value, but the plastic bags do not, so the club could stop offering bags and ask buyers to carry the cupcakes in a box.”
Check yourself
A school says it values saving electricity, but classroom fans and lights stay on during recess. Write a gap and one fix in two sentences, without judging anyone personally.
Answer
A sample answer: The school values saving electricity, but leaving fans and lights on during recess uses electricity when nobody is in the room, so the action does not match the value. A class monitor can switch them off when the room empties, and the class can agree a simple reminder sign by the door.
The answer names the value and the action, states the gap and gives a practical fix without blaming a named person.
What to study next
Move on to supporting a sustainability response with reasons. Use the moral scenario response planner to plan a response, then try the cluster practice set.
For a teacher to go through scenarios with you, see online one-to-one Pendidikan Moral tuition.