PERCY:

Point - State your point.

Explain and Expand - Give an example, and explain your point.

Research - Give a piece of research supporting your point.

Critics - Criticise this piece of research (there will always be something; self-reports, old, correlational, sexist, cultural bias, etc.).

whY - Explain the issue.

Exemplar (for SCZ genes):

Genetic explanations of schizophrenia (SCZ) could offer helpful treatment applications. This includes genetic screening to understand a person’s likelihood of the developing the disorder, but also treatments which could aim to alter the functioning of abnormal genes. McCarroll, who discovered the C4 gene and it’s link to SCZ, suggests that treatments could be used to counteract the overexpression of C4A, which prunes synapses and is linked to SCZ. Individuals can have this gene identified from a young age, and undergo treatment as early as possible. However, it could be argued this is highly unethical. The label of ‘at risk‘ for SCZ could cause an individual to suffer bias and stress, which could end up leading to an increased risk of SCZ. Additionally, C4 isn’t the only gene linked to SCZ, and it could be seen as harmful to identify an individual as at risk for SCZ, but offer no treatments.