Educational resource for members of the Burnet News Club - a club for young journalists run by The Economist Educational Foundation. www.burnetnewsclub.com

1. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
Forming opinions and ideas:
Logic Trees

2. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
It’s a good habit to ask yourself
“why?” and “how?” about things
in the news as much as you can.
Logic Trees are a great way to help
you work out what you think.

3. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
There are two
types of trees
WHY
trees
HOW
trees
and

4. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
Why tree
With a Why Tree you start with a news story or a problem in the news
in the first box, then just keep asking yourself “why?” about everything
you write down.
Put
problem
in this
circle
Why?
Why?
Answer C
Answer D
Answer E
Answer F
Why?
Answer A
Answer B

5. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
Why tree example
Put a problem
in this circle
Children
in the UK are
not healthy
enough

6. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
Why tree example
Why?
Ask why
Put in an
answer
Not doing
enough
exercise
Not eating
healthy food
Put in an
answer

7. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
Why tree example
Why?
Ask
why
Put in two
answers
Put in two
answers
Ask why
Why?
Not enough outdoor space to play,
outside space isn’t safe
Too many parents allowing computer games
and telly instead of playing outside
School dinners not healthy enough
Junk food adverts are deliberately designed
to appeal to young people

8. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
Why tree example
Each new section might
give you a new idea for a
question to ask or a
solution to the problem.
You can make your trees as
big as you like by adding
more and more layers!

9. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
How tree
With a How Tree, you put a question into the first box, then keep putting
down your ideas for “how”.
Put
question
in this
circle
Answer C
Answer D
Answer E
Answer F
How?
Answer A
Answer B
How?
How?

10. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
How tree example
How could
teachers help
more pupils
enjoy maths?
Put a problem
in this circle

11. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
How tree example
Ask how
Put in an
answer
Help pupils
that struggle
with maths
Make maths
lessons
more fun
Put in an
answer
How?

12. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
How tree example
How?
Ask
how
Put in two
answers
Put in two
answers
Ask how
How?
Run an after school club on maths for pupils
that find it particularly hard
Spend extra time on maths in class
Include maths games in lessons
Invite visitors to the school to talk about
exciting jobs that use maths

13. The Burnet News Club
LOGIC TREES
How tree example
This helps you to think of
more ideas, and improve
your ideas, as you go
across the tree.
Each new section might give
you a new idea for a question
to ask or a solution to the
problem.