Higher History How to answer source based questions

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

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

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

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

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…

Example for author The source was written by Private William Walsh, a soldier in the Cameron Highlanders who fought in the Battle of Loos 1915. 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.

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…

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 1914. These included… (you must actually include factual points)

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. 6 marks

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

SQA PRACTICE PAPER: TIMED QUESTION

Marking

Origin & purpose 4 marks

Content 2 marks

Content Omission 2 marks

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

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

2015 ap p n e Specim er

Marking instruction A/TS/P/T

Marking instruction Content (C)

Marking instruction Content Omission (CO)

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

Highlighter required!

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 • • •

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).

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

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

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 x 4

Highlighter required!

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 • •

• 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

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.

2015 er p a p en m i c e p S 1. How fully does source A explain the experience of Scots on the western Front? 9 marks Use the source and your own knowledge.

Points from source

Points from own knowledge

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. (1 mark source) The source says the Scots experienced great success fighting the Germans from November 1916. This means the Scots should be recognised for their military achievements after November 1916 as they were fighting an opposition of very high quality. (1 mark - 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. (1 mark - source)

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 1914. (1 mark – 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. (1 mark – CO)

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).

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 Mc. Crae’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).