1. Higher Politics: Skills – compare questions
Read question
Read both sources
Identify points (often paragraphs) which correspond between the two sources.
Answer the question:
Identify what they have a different view on
Give quotes from each source to contrast these views
Sum up the difference in your own words

2. 2015 Q1
Socialists and Conservatives have a different view on private property.
Source A says that “socialists believe that private property is a key factor leading to inequality and exploitation.” In contrast to this, Source B says “Conservatives believe that private property has a number of social benefits such as rewarding hard work and providing security and a stake in society.”
Therefore it can be seen that socialists are very much against the right to own private property, while conservatives are in favour of this.
Socialists and Conservatives also have a different view on human nature.
Source A says that “Socialists have a broadly positive view of human nature and consider people to be social creatures who, if the state creates the right circumstances, can experience a common humanity.” On the other hand, Source B states that “Conservatives have a negative view of human nature and believe that humans are insecure, selfish, dependent and irrational.”
Therefore socialists think that the state should encourage human nature as this benefits society, while conservatives think that the state must seek to control human nature as it is damaging to society.
A final difference between Socialists and Conservatives occurs over their view of what should happen to society.
Source A says that “Socialists seek change – they argue for the state to play a key role in changing society by replacing the capitalist economic system.” In contrast to this, Source B says “it is the state’s responsibility to maintain the existing order and allow only gradual change.”
This means that socialists wish to radically change society, while conservatives wish to resist change and keep society as it is.