1. GCE AS History Revision
Little Heath School
Friday 28 December 2012

2. GCE AS History Revision
Little Heath School
Friday 28 December 2012

3. Meet the Examiner
Top tips
F964/02
AS Enquiries
10.30 – 10.50

4. The Examination
Five sources
Two questions
90 MINUTES
30 marks
70 marks

5. Q(a) The Comparison of Two Sources as Evidence
“This is now done more effectively than in the past and fewer seemed to compare the wrong sources (or all five!)”.
“It is now a weaker minority that offer a general sequential analysis, often without considering the question”.
“It is worth remembering that the question asks the candidate to compare two sources ‘as evidence‘. The comparison must be focused on the key issue in the question”.

6. Q(a) The Comparison of Two Sources as Evidence
“It is vital that candidates identify the relevant issues arising in the two sources and use these as their comparative focus. Failure to do so leads to description, paraphrase or at worst copying out word for word”.
“Analysis and evaluation of the sources as evidence carries high marks: the key to an effective comparison of provenance is to ask questions about the authors, their likely purpose, the different audiences and their respective tone”.

7. (A) Compare Source x and source z as evidence for Y (30)
ALWAYS A SIMILARITY / DIFFERENCE QUESTION
Comparison / Similarity – ways in which the sources agree or are similar.
Contrast / Difference – ways in which the sources disagree or are different.
Some evaluation of the provenance of both sources; probably easier to do this in the context of why the sources differ.
Crucial to limit comparison to the specific thing in the question, not to the passages in general.

8. B) Use your own knowledge to assess how far the sources support the interpretation that ….. (70)
“Most now plan and try to sustain a clearly structured answer, reasonably focused on the question”.
“Most know to attempt a grouping based on the assertion in the question”.

9. B) Use your own knowledge to assess how far the sources support the interpretation that ….. (70)
“Candidates need to sustain their grouping by linking and cross referencing within it, establishing why two or three sources contribute via their content to a particular interpretation or challenge it, and their relative merits as evidence. Thus, instead of arguing that A and C support the view and then proceeding to discuss A in one paragraph and C in the next, they would be better advised to select the issues both raise in support and base paragraphs on those. That way they cross reference and think about the key issues”.

10. B) How to USE YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE
“It is important to realise what the role of knowledge is in this question. It is there as a means of evaluating the sources, extending, confirming or questioning what they say. It is particularly important in evaluation. Selection and use of the most appropriate evidence in evaluating the Sources for the key issue was the key to a high level mark”.

11. B) Common weaknesses
“By tackling the sources sequentially and discretely they inevitably move into Levels IV and below”.
“Many answers drifted out of focus on the key issue in the question. The sharpness of focus was highly significant in marking out the best answers”.
“Candidates need to spot the main thrust of argument or view in a source”.
“The lack of evaluation was often a key reason for underperformance”.
“Many examples of weak or unclear English and some inappropriate use of slang”.

12. Candidates would be well advised to
To read the sources with care in relation to the question.
Plan using grouping; cross referencing those sources that can support two or more views. A structured argument is one of the keys to an effective answer.
Then assess the value of their grouping (evaluation) building in any relevant knowledge at this point to enable an evaluation of the linked sources to occur.
Use relevant evidence within the date range of the question, not from the broader topic.
Not to rush into writing. Thinking about a judgement and conclusion before starting to write and planning accordingly is very important.
Remember that a Judgement on the value of the sources as evidence, needs support to be convincing. It cannot suddenly be asserted or come out of the blue.

13. (B) Use your own knowledge to assess how far the sources support the interpretation that ….. (70)
Recommended Route
Short introduction
Arguments against the view in the question
Arguments in support of the view in the question
Conclusion – ‘assess how far’
Need to include evaluation of the sources’ based on own knowledge to gain top marks.