How to write the Best SACE SHE Task?

The Science as a Human Endeavour (SHE) assessment requires you to explore interactions between science and society. Writing these pieces can seem quite challenging at first, but after reading this guide, you will be able to ace it.

What is the SHE task?

SHE requires you to explore what researchers are currently doing to strengthen our scientific understanding. The focus of the task is to explore an aspect of contemporary science with a particular emphasis on the interaction between society and Science.

• You will collect information from a variety of contemporary sources relevant to your topic to form conclusions.
• All sources should be credible, for example, a peer-reviewed research investigation or journal article.
• Most SHE tasks are completed in the form of a report.
• In stage 2, this must be a total of 1500 words and contain paragraph headings.

How to Write the SHE?

SHE tasks differ from subject to subject, meaning an SHE task in biology will be slightly different to a physics SHE task. Despite this, there are key requirements you must follow in each subject:

1. The report must contain an introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph to synthesise your knowledge.
2. To start writing your SHE task, you will typically either be given a theme on which you can pick a topic, or be given the topic directly.

If you're struggling to choose a topic, here is my best tip: choose one that has a ton of information behind it. Or, get a tutor from KIS Academics to guide you through this process!

Once you have chosen you topic, you should do some research to examine which SHE concept is most relevant to your topic. The four SHE concepts are:

• Communication and Collaboration
• Development
• Influence
• Application and Limitation.

There are specific requirements you must follow for each concept, so make sure you read the subject assessment advice and the SHE guidelines on the SACE website carefully.

What are Markers looking for?

Check your rubric for each assessment and ensure you are following it closely. For the SHE, you are assessed on:

• How well you communicate the bidirectional relationship between science and society: explain clearly how advancements in science have an effect on society, and how society also affects advancements in science.
• How well you understand the course content: make sure you explain and support your findings with the terminology you have been learning in class throughout the year.
• Correct formatting of the SHE Tak:
  • Introduction should include basic foundational knowledge of your topic, and clearly state the SHE concept you have picked.
  • Body paragraphs should clearly reveal which concept you are discussing, as well as the requirements for that concept.
  • Conclusion should condense each key point in the body paragraphs, and end with a hard-hitting final sentence that supports all of your research.
• Throughout the SHE task, make sure that you consistently demonstrate the interaction between science and society as well as mention scientific terms.
• Writing must be clear, straight to the point, and has strong fluency.

If you would like a second pair of eyes to evaluate your SHE task, try out KIS Academics' assignment marking service!

Which SHE concept to pick?

Many topics may be suitable with multiple concepts. You can select more than one concept if you feel strongly about it. However, if you do this, ensure you mention the requirements of all of the chosen concepts, not just a few.

You can seek advice from your teacher if you are not sure which concept fits your topic best. Or, have chat with an expert KIS Academics tutor.

What to Write for each SHE concept?

Each SHE concept has different requirements, so depending on which one you chose, the content will differ.

• Communication and collaboration primarily requires you to scrutinise how scientists around the world have collaborated to look at a problem.
• Development focuses on how a wide variety of evidence has been used to create new technologies and tools.
• Influence looks at how one field of science may cause ripple effects within another field such as engineering, mathematics, and technology. In this concept, you should also mention the influence of science on economics, society, and ethics.
• Application and limitation investigates how science has benefited society as well as the potential risks of science. Risks include the unexpected outcomes, and how insufficient data may prevent studies from taking place.

Final Tips

• Proofread your assignments and edit them. You can get a friend or guardian to check your work so that you can gain other perspectives on your writing.
• Check that you are following the performance standards of the SHE task which are listed on the SACE online website.
• Ensure you mention the concept, and explain how your topic is relevant to the concept.
• Provide evidence from credible sources.
• Clearly demonstrate how science and society interact, and predict any possible future outcomes for society if the topic is implemented in society.

Conclusion

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FAQs

Written by Charlotte Kenning, who pursued a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Flinders University.

Looking for some extra help to guide you through your SACEs? Look no further, KIS Academics has many brilliant tutors that can help you achieve your academic goals.