Utility Questions (3b) Aim: to understand how to answer the ‘UTILITY questions Starter: What is the difference between USEFUL and RELIABLE?

Reliable: We know the source is accurate. We can ‘test’ it’s reliability against other sources (that will show the same events). There is clear evidence for what is being written (either records, archaeology etc.) OR We know it isn’t really reliable. There are huge gaps/ inaccuracies. No evidence to support Useful: It doesn’t necessarily HAVE TO BE RELIABLE. Even the most unreliable sources have value. Sources are useful in the way they are written. They tell us about: What the society believed/ wanted to believe. What the Author wanted people to think/ believe. What the author wanted to promote/ discourage.

Livy and Virgil We know there are issues of reliability with Livy and Virgil. We also know that to the Romans this wasn’t really a big deal! They are both however VERY useful! They tell us a lot about ROMAN IDEAS ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR PAST.

Task: Broad themes: What do Livy and Virgil tell us about Roman attitudes to the past? Give examples for: Their origins, their character, positive traits, negative traits, The Roman people, Rome and the rest of the world, Roman rulers Write each theme on a new line (with big pens!) Underneath (normal pen) give your EXAMPLES from both Livy and Virgil.

Tackling question 3b Important points: Important points: You MUST MAKE REFERENCE DIRECTLY to the PASSAGE and other sources (Livy/ Virgil). You MUST address all 3 Assessment objectives AO1: (Factual Details): 5 marks AO2: (Understanding): 5 marks AO3: (Evaluation): 8 MARKS

Samples Read the two samples. Highlight the 3 different AO’s in 3 different colours (include a key). Using the standard mark scheme grid: decide which is better Try and give it a mark (overall) Feeling brave?- Give marks for each AO

SAMPLE Q – I believe that Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ and Livy’s ‘The History of Rome’ are fairly useful in helping us to understand the importance of Romulus in the development of Rome. This is because in Livy’s account the impression I get from the way that Romulus has been written about is that he is competitive. This is important in helping us to understand how important Romulus was in the development of Rome because his competitive streak would have helped to build large temples and win great battles. In Virgil’s passage, he gives the impression that Romulus was a powerful and respected man, this impression is given when the passage states ‘Rome herself with all her power will be founded under his auspices’ and ‘the father of the Gods stamps him with his own majesty’.

SAMPLE Q – AO1: answer contains some knowledge of relevant events and sources with some limited reference to details in the passage- level 3 AO2: answer demonstrates some relevant understanding of issues and events AO3: answer presents some limited evaluation with partially relevant conclusion and personal response based on some of the material From the examiner…

SAMPLE R – Virgil’s Aeneid is only slightly helpful in helping us to understand the importance of Romulus in Rome’s development. The passage with information about Aeneas’ shield show the unpretentious and simple upbringing Romulus has as we are told of how a she-wolf raised him and his brother in a cave. Romulus would therefore have led Rome in a way similar to his upbringing, lacking extravagance and so Virgil helps us see what values Rome was built on. The passage above is only useful in the fact that it shows us that Romulus was a great leader and therefore also set Rome up to be great. However, it tells us nothing of how Romulus developed Rome and what specific things he did to make the city great. Compared to Virgil, Livy is far more useful in helping us to understand Romulus’ importance in the development of Rome. Livy tells us how Romulus was smart enough to think of a way to populate the city by allowing asylum seekers to live there and by stealing unmarried women from the surrounding tribes through a false festival called the Consualia. Livy also shows us how as well as building the basic foundations of the city, Romulus also showed the city how to worship by, for instance, saying that Hercules should be worshipped in a Greek way. Livy helps us to understand how Romulus developed the Roman army though showing us great victories over people such as the Veii and the Fidenates. Livy also shows how Romulus’ diplomacy allowed Rome to develop as peace with the Sabines meant the city did not have to fear war as much and could concentrate on growing as a city. Virgil’s Aeneid cannot be seen as being that useful for understanding Rome’s development under Romulus. However, this is understandable as the Aeneid is about Aeneas and not Romulus which means we understand why so little is said about him and also see that what is said is not very reliable as Virgil was a poet and therefore not too concerned with fact. Although much more useful that Virgil, Livy is only useful to a certain extent as despite the fact that he wrote ‘the History of Rome’ he does not appear very reliable as the sources he wrote from were taken from folk tales and he is extremely biased in favour of everything that Romulus did.

SAMPLE R – AO1: answer contains very thorough knowledge of the key relevant events and issues with frequent and convincing reference to sources; information is detailed, thoroughly relevant, well-selected, organised and convincingly developed. Level 5 response for full marks AO2: answer demonstrates a sound understanding of issues, events and sources relevant to the question; organisation and development are sufficient for a level 4 -AO3: answer presents a sound attempt to analyse and evaluate the sources; there is a personal response based upon this evaluation and interpretation of the source material. Level 4 response From the examiner…

Planning some answers You will have 3 question 3b’s on their own A3 (sorry!) sheets. [Not 2011] In pairs, plan what you would write for one of the answers. There is a marks scheme on the back to help you. Try it without first! The answer should take 20 mins to plan and write!

Plenary How comfortable/ confident are you with 3b? Concept of utility? How to include all 3 AO’s? Key concepts e.g. What Livy and Virgil WANT to say? How to write the bugger? RED/ YELLOW/ GREEN pages in planner