1. How to answer source based questions in the exam (Scottish)
Higher History
How to answer source based questions in the exam (Scottish)

2. 3 source handling Questions
Evaluate the usefulness… (6 marks)
Comparison question (5 marks)
How Fully (9 marks)

3. Type 1: Evaluate the Usefulness of a source
Evaluative comments relating to author, type of source, purpose, timing (4 marks)
Evaluative comments relating to source content (2 marks)
Evaluative comments relating to points of content omission (2 marks)
6 marks awarded in total

4. Marking conventions A author TS type of source P purpose T timing
C content
CO content omission

5. Evaluative comment?!
This means you must be evaluating the usefulness of each aspect of the source THROUGHOUT the answer
This makes it more useful because…
This is less useful because…

6. Example for author
The source was written by Private William Walsh, a soldier in the Cameron Highlanders who fought in the Battle of Loos The source was written by Private William Walsh, a soldier in the Cameron Highlanders who fought in the Battle of Loos This is more useful because he had first hand experience of fighting in the battle and was an eyewitness to the events at Loos in 1915.

7. Content points
These should be backed up with your own knowledge/ explanation
You still must make evaluative comment here
Useful phrases
This is useful information because it shows…

8. Content omission points
These should be relevant omissions which you can introduce your own knowledge into
NOT ‘The source doesn’t tell us who the leader was.’ – nor have you!
example
The source is less useful because it fails to mention other effects on Society such as DORA restrictions introduced in These included… (you must actually include factual points)

10. Source A is a photograph of a rent strike demonstration in Glasgow in 1915.
1. Evaluate the usefulness of Source A as evidence of the effect of the war on Scottish Society marks

11. A author (1)
TS type of source (1)
P purpose (1)
T timing (1)
C content (2)
CO content omission (2)

12. SQA PRACTICE PAPER: TIMED QUESTION

13. Marking

14. Origin & purpose 4 marks

15. Content 2 marks

16. Content Omission 2 marks

17. Model Answer task
Look at the handwritten model answer on the rent strikes evaluate the usefulness question
Highlight every use of ‘useful’
This is how often you must make an EVALUATIVE COMMENT
No evaluative comment, no mark

18. C what does it tell us? (2 points)
Task: Make an answer guide/ poster with the information below to use when answering these questions
A who wrote it?
TS what is it?
P why was it written?
T when was it written?
C what does it tell us? (2 points)
CO what does it miss out? (2 points)
REMEMBER EVALUATIVE COMMENT!!
This makes it more useful because…
This makes it less useful because…

19. 2015 Specimen paper

20. Marking instruction A/TS/P/T

21. Marking instruction Content (C)

22. Marking instruction Content Omission (CO)

23. Skills Q: Compare the views of two sources
Overall comparisons of viewpoints - 1 mark
Comparison points supported by specific references to sources – 1 mark each up to total of 4 marks
5 marks awarded in total

24. Highlighter required!

25. Two sources
always written
Quite wordy
Read 2/3 times
Will use course specific language ‘Jocks’, Cameron Highlanders, skirl of the bagpipes, slang, dialect etc.
Your job is to work out what the sources agree and disagree on (can be both)
THERE WILL BE 4 POINTS OF COMPARISON

26. Example
Overall, Sources A and B agree that DORA imposed a great number of restrictions on the people of Scotland during WWI, that DORA was unpopular on the Clydeside and that censorship of the press was a key aspect of DORA. (overall comp OC 1 mark) However, they disagree on how Scottish Society reacted to the DORA restrictions and extra government control (developed overall comparison DOC 1 mark). In detail, Source A and B agree that alcohol consumption was targeted by DORA and the government wanted people to drink less during wartime. Source A says ‘ in a bid to control the excessive West of Scotland drinking culture, pub opening hours were reduced’. Source B agrees by saying ‘Beer and whisky were watered down in a bid to ensure that Scottish worker productivity was enhanced for the duration of the war.’ (specific source comparison SC 1 mark).

27. Specimen paper example
Link to specimen paper - can't fit two sources on one slide!

28. Steps – writing the answer
Part 1
Establish all overall comparisons related to the source viewpoints
Develop these –add any disagreements or overall stances of sources
Part 2
Explain the specific point the sources agree/disagree on
Back up with a set of quotes

29. Template
Part 1 Overall
Overall, sources X and Y agree on _____, _____ (list)
However they disagree over the issue of _______ or Source A has the view that _______ whereas Source B... (not every set has this)
Part 2 In detail
In detail, sources X and Y agree that ____
Source X say “…” and Source Y agrees by saying “…”
Repeat x4

30. Highlighter required!

31. Skills Q: How Fully does a source explain/describe… 9 mark questions
You will be given one written source
You must do 3 things
Make a judgement
Interpret points from the source - up to 3 marks
Add your own detailed knowledge– up to 7 marks
Max. 2/9 for answers which don’t do all 3 above

32. Your task is to judge the source – identify what it tells us and what it doesn’t and make a JUDGEMENT about the extent of the source’s information
If you simply write out what the source tells us and what it doesn’t you will get 2 marks max (out of 9)
What you take from the source must be interpreted (explained) as you will receive 0 marks for copying at Higher
only use own knowledge = 2 marks
Your own knowledge must be highly detailed
Own knowledge can come from anywhere in the issue

33. Steps to success Part 1 – source – 3 marks
Start: Source A gives a fairly good explanation/description of __________.
Then explain the key source points without merely copying them. (The source says ‘...’ This means…)
Interpret each separately.
Part 2 – own knowledge – 7 marks
start: However, the source does not mention …
Then explain each point of content omission/ own knowledge (The source fails to mention…)
Explain each separately.

34. Use the source and your own knowledge.
2015 Specimen paper
How fully does source A explain the experience of Scots on the western Front? 9marks
Use the source and your own knowledge.

35. Points from source

36. Points from own knowledge

37. Model Answer – Source points
Source A gives a fairly good explanation of the experience of Scots on the Western Front.
The source says the Scots were magnificent trench fighters. This means that Scots were extremely good at trench warfare and were viewed as excellent fighters. (1mark - source)
The source says the Scots experienced great success fighting the Germans from November This means the Scots should be recognised for their military achievements after November 1916 as they were fighting an opposition of very high quality. (1mark - source)
The source says the Germans had come to greatly fear the Scots specifically the Highland Division. This means the Scots scared the Germans as they had such an unblemished record of success and bravery & a good reputation after the Battle of the Somme. (1mark - source)

38. Model Answer – Content omission points
However, the source does not explain the entire experience of Scots on the Western Front. It fails to mention the high numbers of Scots who volunteered at the start of war and that 20,000 from Glasgow alone had signed up by the end of August (1mark – content omission) It fails to mention that the Battle of Loos was known as ‘The Scottish Battle’ in September 1915 where around 35,000 Scots troops were engaged in the battle and around 1/3 of the casualties were Scots. (1mark – CO)

39. Model Answer – continued
It fails to mention the conditions for Scots in the trenches, who fared slightly better than others in the British army due to a rotation system where they spent roughly 7 days on the front line. (1 mark– CO). It fails to mention the leadership of Douglas Haig from Edinburgh who led the Scots at Loos and the Somme and whose military tactics have been criticised as being old fashioned and he was blamed for many thousands of Scots casualties. (1 mark– CO).

40. Model Answer – continued
Scotland did not officially have ‘pals battalions’ but the source fails to mention Scottish men from similar workplaces or areas who signed up and fought together, such as the Highland Light Infantry Glasgow tramway battalion or McCrae’s battalion of Hearts FC players and supporters. (1 mark– CO). Finally, it fails to mention the overall casualty rate of the Scots in the Great War, which at 26% was the highest of any nation involved and it is estimated between 75,000 and 100,000 Scots died in total. (1 mark– CO).