Answering Source-Based Questions

Basic Requirements

1.Analyse the questions and determine the target skills

2.Determine the core skills required (CR, CK) Note: Support for an inference/identified issue/CR must come immediately after statement

Inference Questions

Typical Question Format• What does the source tell you about

(topic/issue)? Infer message • What is the cartoonist’s/writer’s opinion

in drawing/writing (source)? Infer opinion - support/ dn support

• Why did (who e.g. cartoonist/writer) produce (source)? Infer purpose

Inference Questions

Infer (about topic/issue) 2 inferences

a. Support from sourceb. Explain if necessary

Inference Questions

Infer (about purpose PAMI)P rovenance (who)- Identify the motive of

individualA udience (message intended for)M essage (what is the message about) support

from source; keep in mind the message may be opinionated

I ntended outcome Intended (re-) action from target audience

Inference Question

Format for dealing with purpose

“The purpose of this source is to show (an issue/ message) so that people will do (an action)”

Check to ensure you’ve linked back to answer the topic stated in question

Comparison Skills

2-sidedHow similar/different

is (a source) from (another source)?

How similar/ different are the 2 sources…?

How far does (a source) support (another source)?

1-sidedHow are the 2

sources similar/ different in telling you about…?

In what ways are the 2 sources similar/different about (an issue)?

Comparison Skills

Initial Response:Study sources to mark out what each

source is sayingIdentify matches (both similarities and

differences) in ‘drafts’, in terms of Provenance, Content, Tone, Purpose

Reasons/causes

Process/methods

Results/consequences

Opinions/POV

Comparison SkillsAssertion…

However,

Conclude…

Yes, the sources are similar about (an issue)Sc A says (support) & (explain), and Sc B says (support) & (explain).Thus the sources are similar or support/ confirm/ concurs with one another

The sources are different in what they say about (another issue).Sc A says (support) & (explain), but Sc B contradicts Sc A by saying (support) & (explain).Thus the sources differ/ do not support each other

Compare purpose, if applicable… (remember PAMI)

Utility

Typical Question Format• How useful is this source in telling

you about (an issue)?• How useful is this source in helping

you to understand (an event/topic)?

Utility

Initial Response• Analyse the topic first, think of answers

to (topic/event)• Look at source and pick out the

information that checks/does not check with source

• Answer the question

UtilityAnswer Format Assertion…

However,

Conclude…

Yes, Sc A is useful bec of what it says about (an issue). I know from… (CR to other sc or CK- specific details)

Sc A is limited bec a Missing information (on issue) – be specific on what’s missing either CR to other sources or CKb Fallacy? Or other anomaly… Explain…

Enhanced usefulness:Purpose discuss using PAMI reliability affected >/< useful.

Utility

NOTE: • “less reliable” source can still be useful

to one’s understanding of an issue/topic

• eg although the source’s reliability is limited, it is still useful in showing us that there were opposition to the Tsar’s rule in just before the Feb Revolution

Reliability

Typical Question FormatDoes the source prove

(success/failure etc) about (a topic)? Do you believe what the source says

about (an issue)?• How reliable/credible/right/wrong is

the source in telling me about (an issue)?

Reliability

Initial Response:Again, briefly list what you know about

topic before analysing the sourceCheck knowledge against the source.

Reliable (checks)/ not reliable (conflicts)Write answer- remember to answer the

question directlyNote: Test the reliability of the source

based on what it says, not what it doesn’t say

ReliabilityAssertion…

However,

Conclude…

Yes, I believe the sc/ the sc is reliable about (issue)Sc A says (evidence) & by CR to Sc B / CK which states (specific evidence) & (explain to link to issue), Sc B confirms that Sc A is reliable about (issue)

Sc A is not reliable / is not true about (issue), because Sc A says (evidence) & (explain) but Sc B says (contradicting info) OR I know that (CK). Thus, ….

Test for Purpose (PAMI)Note: Missing info may be mentioned here to mislead audience/ exaggerate making source more/ less reliable about (issue)

General Pointers1. React logically to the question- identify the

anomaly (if there is one)2. Make a stand (with support of course)3. Plan your answer (within 1/2 a min)4. Start each sub-question (1a, 1b etc) on a

fresh page5. Leave a line after each paragraph written6. Make sure you have understood the source

well before you begin writing- do not quote out of context or misinterpret the source!

All the best for your All the best for your class test!class test!