1. GCSE exam technique. Paper 2 Section A

2. Extraction from a source (5 marks)
What you are required to do is make inferences from the source. An inference is not simply an observation but shows you understand the meaning of the source. E.G...
An excellent way to get off to a good start. Just remember that it is worth 5 marks – a simple description of the source is not good enough.
Explain what you can learn from source E about how the people of Northeim voted in the National elections, ?
A simple answer would be… The Nazis gained a lot more votes, from 123 in 1928 to 4268 in March (1 or 2 marks)
A more complex answer containing an inference would be…Both the Nazis and Communists increased their numbers of votes at the expense of the other political parties, but the Nazis gained a lot more than the Communists. ( 3- 4 marks)
A top answer would be…The major changes in how the people voted occurred between 1928 and July In the next nine months there were no significant changes. However, by then the Nazis had gained nearly two-thirds of the total votes cast, and had more than ten times the size of the Communist vote. The Communist vote went down slightly in March (5 marks)

3. Comparison of sources
Literally asking you to compare two sources. E.g. How does the content of sources F and G differ?
Source F says Van der Lubbe was responsible, and his voluntary
confessions explained how he could have acted on his own. Source G says that the Nazis started the fire, but blamed Van der Lubbe. (3 or 4 marks)
You need to read each source carefully – In what ways do they disagree/agree?
Source F provides apparently convincing evidence that Van der Lubbe was responsible, such as him being arrested when holding his burning shirt like a torch, and making voluntary confessions. However, Source G provides a more analytical view, arguing that Van der Lubbe was not the real culprit, but was the scapegoat for the Nazis, as he already had been known to attempt arson in other
buildings, and could be presented as being part of a larger Communist plot. (6 marks)
This is still a fairly basic answer. To reach a higher level you need to do into a little more depth…
What are the differences in the tone, style and content? Use your comparison of the sources to begin to draw conclusions about them…

4. Evaluation of an interpretation
This type of question will ask you, ‘Do you agree with the interpretation given in source …. If you concentrate on using the right historical skills this could be good way to pick up marks.
The source is offering an opinion and something and you are required to comment on how valid you think it is. These are the two key elements…
Carefully examine the provenance (origin) of the source. Who produced it? Why was it produced? What is its purpose?
Carefully examine the content of the source. Does it agree with your own knowledge? Is anything added in/missing?
Top level! = +

5. Utility
Always starts off by asking how useful…Worth 9 marks and if you follow these simple rules you will get close to full marks very time.
Always write a balanced answer show both the uses and limitations of the source.
Always use your own knowledge.
Examine the origin and the purpose of the source.
Explain HOW useful the source is not just whether it is useful or not.

6. e.g. How useful is Source H to an historian studying the attitude of the German people towards Hitler in the year in which he became Chancellor?
Use Source H and your own knowledge to explain your answer. (9 marks)
It is useful for showing how many German people cheered Hitler and saw him as a strong, determined leader who deserved to be followed.
Comment on source
Comment on the origin
It is of limited use because it is a Nazi Party poster and so will be biased, etc.
It is useful because it is reliable. I know that this sort of poster was very important in attracting people to join the Nazis, based on an impression of what Hitler stood for.
Use own knowledge
Because it is propaganda it is of limited use in saying what people actually felt, although many obviously agreed with the poster as he was voted into power. However, it is useful for showing how the Nazis portrayed Hitler and how they used this to attract support. Posters like these were deliberate propaganda to attract even more support.
Now add more depth