MYP DESIGN Criterion A Explained: How to get TOP MARKS for your IB MYP Summative Assessment Task

Tips on how to write your MYP Design Criterion A Summative assessment piece and get an 8!

A i. explains and justifies the need for a solution to a problem for a client/ target audience
~ What is the problem? Who are we solving it for? Where is the problem situated? Why is solving this important?
~ This should be directly linked to the statement of inquiry (provided by your teacher)
~ In your own words, explain what the problem/issue/challenge/concern is
~ In your own words establish context - exactly where is this situated?
~Identify the target audience/client/end-user
~ Persuade the reader of your Criterion A report that this issue/problem is in need of a solution - here are tips on how to persuade:
~ research - conduct some research and find and share statistics, quotes, graphs, images and anything that can add weight to your argument​
~ personal approach - discuss how important this issue is to you personally &/or to your client and how finding a solution is so very important and much needed
~ provide reasons - use the word "because"
~ prognosticate - share how bad the world will be if this problem is NOT solved - compare a happy world with a solution to a horrible world without a solution

A ii. constructs a detailed research plan, which identifies and prioritizes the primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem independently
~ Create a long list of research topics - then change these ideas into research questions using the MYP command terms - think what data and information is needed to be collected so that you can solve the problem?
~ Identify a variety of places to find answers and collect data (primary, secondary, qualitative, and quantitative research)
~ Consider that you have to solve this problem without your teacher's help - what do you need to know and where would you find it?
~ Prioritize HIGH - MEDIUM - LOW and add "because" to justify your classification
~ Organize and present your research plan (consider visuals ways to tables, flow charts, outlines, mind maps, etc.)
~ N.B. this is a research plan... not actual research

A iii. analyses a range of existing products that inspire a solution to the problem in detail
~ First - cast a wide net and collect a wide range of existing product
~ Second - find 3-6 key products that stand out and strike a chord
~ Third - find a suitable method of analysis for the specific product
~ Fourth - use this analysis tool to analyze your 3-6 key products and present your products and analysis

A iv. develops a detailed design brief, which summarizes the analysis of relevant research
~ Revisit A ii. and conduct the research you planned and share findings
~ Provide clear evidence that a wide variety of research was conducted (citations and bibliography)
~ To conclude, craft a neat and concise Design Brief - tips on crafting a design brief:

~~ present information concisely
~~ explain how and why the information is relevant to solving the problem
~~ link to research (i.e. cite key elements in your design brief)
~~ revisit Ai and address the key elements
~~ identify a clear goal "I will design..."
~~ who is it for "for ...."
~~ why "to solve..."
~~ where "created and delivered/installed ... "

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