Definition
The key word analyse is one of the more often used words in HSC PDHPE. Not only is it used to ask questions in exams, but it also guides what you need to be able to do with content in the learn to dot points of the HSC PDHPE syllabus.
NESA define analyse
Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications
Comparing Analyse to other NESA Key Words
The key term analyse is very similar to explain:
Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how
Both require connections to be made between components, however, explain is often used for cause and effect, whereas the key word analyse is used to draw out the relationship between components. Eg) Hydrogen ions cause fatigue in the lactic acid energy system, whereas, oxygen allows ATP to be produced from fat (it is not the cause but is required).
Further more, the key word analyse is a level above “describe” which asks you to:
Provide characteristics and features
Analyse goes beyond this, asking you to connect these characteristics and features rather than simply providing them.
In a HSC PDHPE exam the key word analyse may not occur in a question that is asking you to analyse. The question will often use the term “how” or “what” and/ or “effect/affects” as it asks you to show the relationship. For example, how does the aerobic energy system affect performance?
Studying for Analyse
In preparation for a HSC PDHPE exam questions that uses the key word analyse, I highly recommend the use of mind-maps. This will help to make the relationships between components evident as lines joint the various sections and help to fully understand the topic.
Answering an analyse question
When answering a question that asks you to analyse you should seek to use linking words such as: therefore, thus, as a result, leading to, in order to illustrate the relationship between each of the components/points.
If we look to apply this to the energy systems, where the syllabus says you need to “analyse each energy system” you will need to identify the various components of each energy system and how they relate to each other. This will involve a knowledge and application of the energy system in terms of the implications for performance.
The HSC PDHPE syllabus is helpful here, in that it provides us with the various components that we should know as we use the key term analyse. These components are the dash points under the dot point:
- analyse each energy system by exploring:
- source of fuel
- efficiency of ATP production
- duration that the system can operate
- cause of fatigue
- by-products of energy production
- process and rate of recovery
So in analysing each energy system you need to identify the above components, and relate them to each other (note that this can also include explaining how fatigue is caused). That is, how does the source of fuel affect fatigue. Or how does the cause of fatigue relate to the process and rate of recovery. For example:
The alactacid energy system only lasts ~10 seconds because it runs out of fuel (ATP/PC). The system recovers quickly though as there is no waste product that needs to be removed, the fuel simply needs to be replenished.
OR
The aerobic energy system can be used for extensive periods because fat and carbohydrates are used as fuel sources and fat particularly produces lots of ATP, however, this is not produced quickly and so the system cannot be used for high intensity work loads.
The key word analyse also requires you to relate the implications. In the statements above, the implications come as the components are connected. Aerobic energy system cannot produce energy fast enough for high intensities and so the body relies not the anaerobic systems during this time. This can lead to a build up of lactic acid if the high intensity is maintained for extended periods of time (30+ seconds).
A scaffold for the key word analyse can be accessed here: Scaffold for analyse.
Analyse in the PDHPE Syllabus
The key word analyse appears in the HSC PDHPE syllabus in the following locations:
Health Priorities in Australia
- research and analyse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and ONE other group experiencing health inequities by investigating:
- the nature and extent of the health inequities
- the sociocultural, socioeconomic and environmental determinants
- the roles of individuals, communities and governments in addressing the health inequities
- research and analyse CVD, cancer and ONE other condition listed by investigating:
- the nature of the problem
- extent of the problem (trends)
- risk factors and protective factors
- the sociocultural, socioeconomic and environmental determinants
- groups at risk
- critically analyse complementary and alternative health care approaches by exploring questions such as:
- how do you know who to believe?
- what do you need to help you make informed decisions?
Factors Affecting Performance
- analyse each energy system by exploring:
- source of fuel
- efficiency of ATP production
- duration that the system can operate
- cause of fatigue
- by-products of energy production
- process and rate of recovery
Sports Medicine
Improving Performance
- analyse TWO of the training types by drawing on current and reliable sources of information to:
- examine the types of training methods and how they best suit specific performance requirements
- design a training program
- describe how training adaptations can be measured and monitored
- identify safe and potentially harmful training procedures.
- analyse overtraining by considering questions such as:
- how much training is too much?
- how do you identify an overtrained athlete?
- what do you do if you identify an overtrained athlete?
- how can overtraining be avoided?
