History SBQ Formatting Notes

Title GCE ‘O’ Levels [G3] History Source Based Questions Standard Formatting Author AprilDolphin Group – 38412 Notice This file is hereby released in to CC0 Public Domain Dedication by the authors, which frees this document of any copyright effectively. Tips to studying history well and performing well in Singapore’s GCE O Level/G3 History Exam include the following ➢ Practicing Source-Based Question as much as possible ➢ Remember to follow the question within the exam paper on formatting matters, as not following the question could result in marks deduction ➢ Thinking in perspective of the intended audience of the given written or oral statement as set by the history exam paper ➢ Understanding and memorizing the formatting of how you should answer the questions ➢ Read the question really carefully, this applies to history in particular as misreading the question can cause any exam candidate to have their marks deducted due to writing of incorrect answers or producing of inferior answers

Inference Questions Question What can you infer from Source A? Answering format I can infer from Source A that [Inference], As seen from Source A, [Evidence from Source] Question What can you tell from Source B? Answering Format I can tell from Source B that [Inference], As seen from Source B, [Evidence from Source] Question What does Source C tell you? Answering Format Source C tells me that [inference] As seen from Source C, [Evidence from Source] These are the three common ways you may be asked for a simple inference in an exam setting typically, as you may have seen or realized, we absolutely must follow and comply to the formatting demanded by the question to prevent loss of marks.

Similarities and Differences Questions How Similar are Source A and Source B? 1 Similarity, followed by 1 Difference How Different are Source A and Source B? 1 Difference, followed by 1 Similarity How are Source A and B Similar? 2 Similarities How are Source A and B Different? 2 Differences Situation Answering Format Trying to write down similarity or similarities Source A and Source B are similar in terms of [similarity]. As seen from Source A [evidence]. As seen from Source B [evidence]. Trying to write down difference or differences Source A and Source B are different in terms of [differences]. As seen from Source A [evidence]. As seen from Source B [evidence].

Purpose of Source Questions Question What do you think is the purpose of Source C? Answering Format Source C is created by/said by/mentioned by/written by [Author/Speaker], directed at [Audience], to deliver a message which is [Message], so as to achieve [Outcome] As seen from Source C, [evidence] **Remember A2MO – Author (Or speaker for spoken statements), Audience, Message, Outcome Reliability of Source Questions [3 methods in total] – Cross Referencing, Purpose/Logical Deduction, Background Knowledge Question How reliable is Source D? Answering format (Using Cross Referencing technique) Source D is reliable as it agrees with Source A in terms of [Similarity]. As seen from Source D, [evidence] As seen from Source A, [evidence] Source D is unreliable as it disagrees with Source B in terms of [Differences]. As seen from Source D, [evidence] As seen from Source B, [evidence] Answering format (Using Purpose/ Logical Deduction) Source D is reliable as it is highly likely to be unbiased. The reason why Source D is unbiased is [reasoning] Source D is unreliable, as it is highly likely to be biased. The reason why Source D is biased is [reasoning] Source D is reliable as it is created by/said by/mentioned by/written by [Author/Speaker], directed at [Audience], to deliver a message which is [Message], so as to achieve [outcome]. As seen from Source D [evidence] Source D is unreliable as it is created by/said by/mentioned by/written by [Author/Speaker], directed at [Audience], to deliver a message which is [Message], so as to achieve [outcome]. As seen from Source D [evidence]

Answering Format (Using Historical Background Knowledge as taught in school) Source D is reliable as it agrees with my background knowledge of history taught in school. I know from history lessons that [background knowledge], which agrees with the source. Source D is unreliable as it disagrees with my background knowledge of history taught in school. I know from history lessons that [background knowledge], which disagrees with the source.