A consequence explains what changes for someone because of the action. To write one, name the person, then say what changes for them: trust, safety, feelings, time or money.
This lesson is part of personal and family responsibilities.
How do you find who is affected?
Ask three questions. Who does the action touch directly? Who depends on the person acting? Who will find out later?
| Person | What could change |
|---|---|
| The one acting | Their trust, reputation or peace of mind |
| The one directly affected | Their feelings, safety or belongings |
| Others who depend on them | Their plans or their confidence |
Worked example
Scenario: Wei Jie breaks his mother’s favourite cup while cleaning the kitchen. His mother is at work and his younger brother saw what happened. Wei Jie thinks about hiding the pieces.
Answer: “Wei Jie should tell his mother honestly when she returns. Honesty means owning a mistake, and he can offer to help replace the cup. His mother will be sad about the cup, but she will trust him more if he tells her himself. His younger brother will also learn that telling the truth is the normal thing to do, because he watched what Wei Jie chose.”
Three people, three consequences:
- Wei Jie: gains his mother’s trust.
- His mother: sad about the cup but glad he was honest.
- His brother: learns from the example.
The mistake to avoid
A common slip is giving one consequence for the person acting and stopping. The other people in the scenario then disappear.
| Weak | Stronger |
|---|---|
| “He will feel guilty.” | “He will feel relieved, his mother will trust him more, and his brother will learn honesty is expected.” |
Check yourself
Scenario: Devi has been asked to call her aunt every Sunday while her parents travel. She forgets for three weeks. Her aunt lives alone. Write consequences for two people if Devi continues to forget.
Answer
For the aunt: “Her aunt may feel lonely and forgotten, because she relies on the call to hear from family.”
For Devi: “Devi may lose her aunt’s trust, and her parents may feel disappointed that she did not keep her word while they were away.”
Both consequences follow from the scenario. A third could mention the parents, who may worry about their relative.
What to study next
Move to writing a reasoned response without moralising about the learner to polish the tone. For the online version of this skill, see considering consequences without collecting personal incidents.
To practise with a teacher, see online one-to-one Pendidikan Moral tuition.