Exam Technique PAPER TWO

How do I answer source based questions? (paper 2) Answer the question + support it with the 3 c's

Yellow = E/D Green = C/B RED = A/ A* Remember: A* = Yellow + Green + RED

There are 4 Steps: State your answer. This is simple – reverse the question- ‘What is the message becomes The message is…’ Content Context Comment

What information does the source TELL you? What can you see? What does that mean? It means you must support your answer with: What information does the source TELL you? What can you see? Using your KNOWLEDGE put the source into context. (ADD REAL HISTORY) Make a comment on the reliability/usefulness of the source C – Content C – Context C – Comment

‘What is the Message?’ questions These are the easiest questions from paper two. They are worth either 6 or 7 marks. You do not even have to do all four steps! Simply complete steps 1, 2 and 3 1.State what you think the message is 2. Add content from the source ( details) 3. Consider the context by adding your own knowledge

Try it with this cartoon….

Answer.. Content… Context…..

‘How useful / reliable’ questions These type of questions will sound like this: ‘How useful is this source in understanding….?’ ‘Do you believe what the source tells you about…. ‘Do you trust….’ ‘How reliable is source..’

Remember the 3 c's First of all state your answer ‘the source is reliable because.. Next add evidence Content – it tells me that…. Context- ‘From my own knowledge I know this to true/ incorrect because…’ Comment – ‘However the source is not reliable because the author is biased because….’

Comparison questions These will sound like this: ‘Is source A more useful than source B?’ ‘Do you trust source C more than source D’ ‘Do these sources tell you different things about…?’ ‘Why do these sources give different opinions about…’

Remember the 3 c's Review: What does this mean? How might you do this for a comparison question?

First of all state your answer ‘I think source E is more useful’. Next add evidence – but remember you have TWO sources to deal with this time! For each source complete the three steps. Content – source F tells me that…. Whilst source G tells me…’( remember you must add specific quotes/ detail. Context- ‘From my own knowledge I know what source H to be true because… whereas source I…’ Comment – ‘Source J is not reliable because the author is biased because….I think K is reliable because…’ At the end you should summarise your findings.Refer back to the question and compare specific details from the sources.

The ‘Big’ Question Question 6- ‘How Far’

Question 6 This requires you to use all your source skills and your knowledge. You should aim to write AT LEAST a side and a half of A4 You are basically writing an essay to show whether the point of view offered to you is true or not.

How to structure it.. As with any essay you will need an introduction, main body, conclusion You MUST provide a BALANCED argument (both sides) You MUST use the sources and your knowledge Refer to the question throughout, particularly in your intro and conclusion.

Introduction- refer to the statement you are given and state whether you think it is true Paragraphs 1,2,3,4 Pick at least three sources which show the statement to be true and complete the 3 c’s for each. ‘Source A shows the statement to be true because… ‘It shows… ‘From my own knowledge source A is true because… The source is reliable because…’ If you have any additional knowledge supporting the statement add a 4th paragraph. Paragraphs 5,6,7,8 Pick at least three sources which show the statement to be false and complete the 3 c’s for each. ‘Source B shows the statement to be incorrect because… ‘It shows… ‘From my own knowledge source B is true because… The source is reliable because…’ If you have any additional knowledge supporting the statement add a 8th paragraph. Conclusion- refer back to the statement – state if it is true or not. ‘Overall…’ ‘Looking at the evidence…’