1. America Paper

2. The Exam- 2hrs 30mins Section A
01- Source Question based on 3 Sources (Value)- 30 Marks
Section B
02,03,04- Three essays, you choose two (25 Marks each)
Total for paper 80 marks

3. The Basics:
Section A- One question, 3 Sources, 30 marks, 60 mins, 6 pages
With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying ….
Section B- 3 questions, you choose 2.
Each question: 25 marks/ 45mins/ 4-5 pages
Two questions will be from the first year of the course and two will be from the second year
Questions should relate to: this unit explores concepts such as political authority, abolitionism and social justice. It also encourages students to consider what creates social tension and harmony, the idea of nationhood and the issues surrounding political compromise.

4. Section A
Extract question testing you ability to understand, evaluate and make judgements about how valuable primary sources are to historians studying aspect of America (A02)
In assessing value you are required to examine:
Provenance (Author, audience, source type, date, purpose)
Tone
Content and Argument

5. Q1 Value of sources: 30 marks/ 60mins/ 6 pages
With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying…
You look at the sources one at a time and must make a judgement on each about how valuable each source is to a historian studying the given topic
The mark scheme has four parts:
Understanding of Provenance and Tone- impact of author, audience, date, type and tone on value of the source.
Understanding of Content- What the source says/ argues and the impact of this on its value.
Contextual own Knowledge- Your own knowledge been used to illustrate value/ limitation of the source and support your argument/ judgement
Argument and Judgement- How convincing and well supported your argument and judgement is

7. So what makes it valuable/ limited?
This varies from source to source but think about the level of insight the source offers into the event or theme:
Is the author likely to be well informed or have particular insight no-one else would have?
Does the audience, type or date lead you to question the truthfulness or accuracy of what is said.
Is the tone suggesting a factual or emotive response or show what is been said is for effect.
Is the content accurate? Misleading? picked out to match a particular view? telling only part of the story? Exaggerated? Mistaken? Extensive?

8. The banned word!!
Never tell the examiner the source is biased!!! All the source will be to some degree. This does not mean they are of no value to historians.
Instead:
This source is one-sided…
In giving a moderate Northern view point…
As a member of the Democrat party….
The source highlights a strongly partisan Southern view point, which is valuable as….

9. Section B There are 3 essays you choose 2
Each question: 25 marks/ 45mins/ 4-5 pages
The questions are narrow do not write about events way before the focus of the question (except if the Q is c1845)

10. Essay types Causation Consequence Change and Continuity Significance
Success
Essays my be a direct question or a quote which you ‘Assess the validity’ of

11. Essay Tips
Make sure you fully understand and are addressing the question
Make sure you cover the whole time period of the question
Have a line of argument and stick to it
Bring in as many precise examples as you can
Keep referring back to the question
Stick to the dates/ focus of the question.
Remember this is a depth study you are expected to know each bit in a lot of detail.

12. Essay Structure Intro- definitions, criteria, argument
Main body- A range of paragraphs on both sides of the argument, make sure you PEEL. Maintain a clear line of argument. Use as mant precise examples as you can.
Conclusion g over your judgement explain how the historical evidence backs it up.