Analysis and Evaluation The Comparison Question

The Comparison Question The Comparison Question is the last question you will answer in the Analysis and Evaluation paper. Earlier questions in the paper will have tested your knowledge of information contained in the first passage. The Comparison Question requires you to focus on both passages. It is an Evaluation question, i.e. it requires you to provide your opinion on certain aspects of both passages, and to support that opinion with evidence. It is worth 5 marks (roughly 17% of the paper), so it is vital that you put a lot of effort into answering this question. It requires you to compare both passages and write about one of the following: – ways that the passages agree – ways that the passages disagree – a combination of ways that the passages agree and disagree. In the Analysis and Evaluation exam it is advisable to read the comparison question first – before you even start to read the passages. This will mean that you can reflect on how the two passages compare with one another as you work your way through the A & E paper.

What Do I Need to Know? The comparison question for the paper we are working on is: 7.Both writers express their views about immigration. Identify key areas on which they agree. In your answer, you should refer in detail to both passages. You may answer this question in continuous prose or in a series of developed bullet points.5 As with any Analysis and Evaluation question, you need to make sure you know what the question is asking you before you attempt to answer it. 1.Where should I look for the answer to the question? 2.How many marks is it worth? 3.What type of question is it? Given that it is a comparison question, you should also consider: 4.What feature(s) of the passages am I being asked to compare? – ways that the passages agree – ways that the passages disagree – a combination of ways that the passages agree and disagree. Everywhere. 5 marks. Evaluation.

What Do I Need to Know? The comparison question for the paper we are working on is: 7.Both writers express their views about immigration. Identify key areas on which they agree. In your answer, you should refer in detail to both passages. You may answer this question in continuous prose or in a series of developed bullet points.5 As with any Analysis and Evaluation question, you need to make sure you know what the question is asking you before you attempt to answer it. 1.Where should I look for the answer to the question? 2.How many marks is it worth? 3.What type of question is it? Given that it is a comparison question, you should also consider: 5.What feature(s) of the passages am I being asked to compare? – ways that the passages agree – ways that the passages disagree – a combination of ways that the passages agree and disagree. Everywhere. 5 marks. Evaluation.

Comparison Questions – Structure An effective way to structure your answer to a comparison question is: 1.Identify a key agreement / disagreement of the two passages. 2.Refer to ideas / techniques from Passage 1 which relate to this agreement / disagreement. 3.Refer to ideas / techniques from Passage 2 which relate to this agreement / disagreement. Example: One of the key ways in which the writers of the passages appear to agree about immigration is their belief that Britain has had few immigrants in the past. o This is made clear in Passage One, when Ruth Wishart writes about the misconception that the UK is a “a group of nations swamped by a tidal wave of immigration” – the false belief that vast numbers of people from other countries are trying to emigrate to the UK. o Similarly, in Passage Two, Anne Karpf writes about the fact that tabloid newspapers wrongly suggest that people from all over the world are flocking to the UK, when in actual fact it is only a tiny minority that come to this country.

Comparison Question - Process Complete the following tasks in pairs / small groups: A.Identify as many areas as you can on which the writers of Passage 1 and Passage 2 agree about issues to do with immigration. B.Consider your answers to Task A. Pick four of what you consider to be the most significant areas of agreement that you have identified. A.d

“Talented Immigrants” – Key Areas of Agreement 1.In the past, Britain had few immigrants. 2.Immigrants/ asylum-seekers can actually make a positive contribution to British society but we don’t utilise skills fully. 3.The media portray a negative image of immigrants/ asylum-seekers. 4.Government policies are failing immigrants and asylum- seekers. 5.Britain has failed to learn from the past/ treats immigrants unfairly. 6.Compared to Europe, Britain contends with few immigrants.

Comparison Question - Process Complete the following tasks in pairs / small groups: A.Identify as many areas as you can on which the writers of Passage 1 and Passage 2 agree about issues to do with immigration. B.Consider your answers to Task A. Pick four of what you consider to be the most significant areas of agreement that you have identified. C.Find evidence from Passage 1 that supports the area of agreement you identified in Task B. D.Find evidence from Passage 2 that supports the area of agreement you identified in Task B.

Comparison Questions – How They Are Marked The following generalised marking scheme can be applied to any comparison question: 5 markscomprehensive identification of three or more key similarities / differences with full use of supporting evidence 4 marksclear identification of three or more key similarities / differences with relevant use of supporting evidence 3 marksidentification of three or more key similarities / differences with supporting evidence 2 marksidentification of two key similarities / differences with supporting evidence 1 markidentification of one key similarity / difference with supporting evidence 0 marksfailure to identify any key area of agreement and/or total misunderstanding of task

Comparison Questions – How They Are Marked The following generalised marking scheme can be applied to any comparison question: 5 markscomprehensive identification of three or more key similarities / differences with full use of supporting evidence 4 marksclear identification of three or more key similarities / differences with relevant use of supporting evidence 3 marksidentification of three or more key similarities / differences with supporting evidence 2 marksidentification of two key similarities / differences with supporting evidence 1 markidentification of one key similarity / difference with supporting evidence 0 marksfailure to identify any key area of agreement and/or total misunderstanding of task An answer which identifies less than three key similarities / differences cannot be awarded more than 2 marks. An answer which clearly identifies at least three key similarities / differences and has at least some supporting evidence will score a minimum of 3 marks.

1. Point and Evidence on Social Importance One of the key ways in which the writers of the passages appear to agree is in their belief that libraries are a source of social importance. – This is made clear in passage one when Kerevan recalls walking through one of the library floors and sees people socialising, "chatting, flirting, doodling, panicking". – Likewise, in passage two Macintyre describes socialising as another use for a library along with reading books, "not just for reading in, but for sociable thinking, exploring ideas and exchanging ideas".

2. Point and Evidence on Cultural Importance A key similarity between both passages is that both writers agree that libraries have great cultural value. – This is made clear in passage one when the writer states “but our culture, local and universal, does demand strategically situated libraries.” This shows that libraries are a valued part of society which many people rely on. – This is also shown in passage two when the writer states “for a library is more to our culture that a collection of books: it is a temple, a symbol of power, the hushed core of civilisation.” This re enforces the idea that as a society we need a place where not only information is readily available but a place where we can communicate with others in society.

3. Point and Evidence on Libraries as Important Physical Spaces One of the important points both writers agree on is the importance of a libraries physical space. – In passage 1 the writer describes the library of Glasgow University as being like a skyscraper and its structural enormity. He also talks about each floor only containing one subject of book, the fact each subject needs so much space implies the vast number of books. – Similarly, in passage 2 he describes the vast quantity of books in Cambridge University ‘the books stretched away in compact ranks hundreds of yards deep’, and he also mentions it reaching into the sky, similar to the first passage’s library being described as a skyscraper.

Comparison Question – A Complete Answer 8. One of the key ways in which the writers of the passages appear to agree is in their belief that libraries are a source of social importance. – This is made clear in passage one when Kerevan recalls walking through one of the library floors and sees people socialising, "chatting, flirting, doodling, panicking". – Likewise, in passage two Macintyre describes socialising as another use for a library along with reading books, "not just for reading in, but for sociable thinking, exploring ideas and exchanging ideas". Another key similarity between both passages is that both writers agree that libraries have great cultural value. – This is made clear in passage one when the writer states “but our culture, local and universal, does demand strategically situated libraries.” This shows that libraries are a valued part of society which many people rely on. – This is also shown in passage two when the writer states “for a library is more to our culture that a collection of books: it is a temple, a symbol of power, the hushed core of civilisation.” This re enforces the idea that as a society we need a place where not only information is readily available but a place where we can communicate with others in society. Another important point both writers agree on is the importance of a libraries physical space. – In passage 1 the writer describes the library of Glasgow University as being like a skyscraper and its structural enormity. He also talks about each floor only containing one subject of book, the fact each subject needs so much space implies the vast number of books. – Similarly, in passage 2 he describes the vast quantity of books in Cambridge University ‘the books stretched away in compact ranks hundreds of yards deep’, and he also mentions it reaching into the sky, similar to the first passage’s library being described as a skyscraper.