zistory ss weighing evaluation skills

SOCIAL STUDIES Weighing/Evaluation Skills SOCIAL STUDIES Weighing/Evaluation Skills What is Weighing? ● Weighing involves comparing the relative importance, significance, effectiveness etc. of two (or more) factors e.g. causes, impacts, strategies. ● In the context of the Social Studies examination, we often do weighing in: ○ Balanced conclusion for SBQ5 which is the Evaluation/Assertion question, ○ Balanced conclusion for SRQ7 which involves weighing two factors. How much weightage does Weighing hold in my exams? SBQ5 LORMS L1: Writes about statement, no valid source use (1m) L2: Explain agree OR disagree, supported. ● Award 2 marks for explaining from 1 source ● Award 3 marks for explaining from 2 sources ● Award 4 marks for explaining from 3 sources L3: Explain agree AND disagree, supported. ● Award 5 marks for explaining from 2 sources (1-1) ● Award 6 marks for explaining from 3 sources (1-2) ● Award 7 marks for explaining from 4 or 5 sources (2-2 or 2-3) To score additional 2m, candidates can take on any of these three routes: ● Through analysing at least one source in relation to its reliability, utility or sufficiency ● By sharing example(s) from their contextual knowledge ● By giving a balanced conclusion / resolution SRQ7 LORMS L1: Writes about topic but without addressing question. ● Award 1 mark for describing the topic. ● Award 2 marks for additional details. L2: Describes factor(s). ● Award 3 marks for describing one factor ● Award 4 marks for describing both factors L3: Explains factor(s). ● Award 5-6 marks for explaining one factor ● Award 6-7 marks for explaining both factors L4: L3 + Evaluate importance of factors (8m) MORE , FREE RESOURCES?!?!?!?!? https://t.me/zivstory

SOCIAL STUDIES Weighing/Evaluation Skills In sum, Weighing weighs 2 marks in SBQ5 (only if you select the Balanced Conclusion route) and 1 mark in SRQ7. This means that you should NOT be spending too much time on Weighing in exam conditions. Spend at most 3-5 minutes for Weighing and focus on your core content paragraphs that form the bulk of your responses and marks. Even for SBQ5, your school may advise you against the Balanced Conclusion route as it can get tricky at times as compared to the other two routes (CK and Reliability/Utility/Sufficiency). How do I weigh in my conclusion? You may consider using the SWIRL framework! For SBQ5 (if you decide to attempt the Balanced Conclusion route for +2m) : Stand In my final judgement, I agree with the statement to a small/large extent. Weighing Criterion Upon comparing… Importance (relative) Factor X is more important/effective/significant… than Factor Y. Reason This is because… Link Factor X is more important/effective/significant… than Factor Y and hence I agree with the statement to a small/large extent. For SRQ7: Stand In my final judgement, I think that Factor X is more important/effective/ significant… than Factor Y. Weighing Criterion Upon comparing… Importance (relative) Factor X is more important/effective/significant… than Factor Y. Reason This is because… Link Thus, I posit that Factor X is more important/effective/significant… than Factor Y. MORE , FREE RESOURCES?!?!?!?!? https://t.me/zivstory

SOCIAL STUDIES Weighing/Evaluation Skills What weighing criteria can I use? This is a non-exhaustive list of possible weighing criteria with their accompanying examples: Scale Personal level vs Local (neighbourhood/town) scale vs National scale vs Regional scale vs International scale The larger the scale, the more impactful/effective/significant the factor. e.g. The wind power projects may cause some form of impact in terms of altering the natural landscape and producing noise pollution which might have inconvenienced nearby residents. (Local neighbourhood/town scale) However, the wind power projects have provided America with an alternative energy source which is much greener and more sustainable compared to conventional fossil fuels. (National scale) The tradeoff here is that the minority of residents living near the wind turbines have to suffer minor inconveniences (Local neighbourhood/town scale) in exchange for a greater outcome of environmental sustainability and reduced environmental footprint in energy production processes. (National scale) Time period Short-term vs Long-term The longer-term the time period, the more impactful/effective/significant the factor. e.g. Cultural evolution is inevitable in the long run, and while globalisation of the entertainment industry catalyses transformations in these cultures, it mitigates the negative impact of cultural changes, ensuring that in the long term, the future generations will still continue to appreciate the cultures that exist today, perhaps just in a different form due to the unavoidable reality of cultural evolution over time. (Long-term) On the other hand, the resistance against the entry of foreign cultures in local entertainment industries is felt in only a select few places around the world that feature societies of a more conservative attitude. In the short run, they may fear the potential risks of changes to their local cultures (Short-term) , however in the long run, the benefits brought about by cultural homogenisation and hybridisation would be very important in protecting their local cultures (Long-term) . Magnitude Minority vs Majority As a whole, impact on majority is far larger than impact on merely the minority. (tbh this is a very weak argument cuz if we’re looking from a pov that somewhat resembles that of “conventional historiography”, you’ll come to realise that even impact on merely the minority can be more far-reaching MORE , FREE RESOURCES?!?!?!?!? https://t.me/zivstory

SOCIAL STUDIES Weighing/Evaluation Skills than impact on majority. but for O-level standard, this argument on majority vs minority is logical enough and thus accepted.) e.g. The positive impact of employing foreign manpower reaches the masses, with most, if not all, Singaporeans experiencing the contributions made by foreign labour. The infrastructure and services that many locals enjoy using come from these foreign workers working tirelessly on a day-to-day basis. (majority) On the other hand, the negative impact of foreign manpower on social cohesion would only affect Singaporeans with a cynical mindset which causes their xenophobia. The increased job competition that Singaporeans perceive foreign workers causes is only to a limited extent as the majority of the foreign manpower that Singapore employs work in blue-collared positions that Singaporean workers are unwilling to take up. (minority) Root cause Root cause vs Non-root cause (e.g. contributing cause, trigger cause) Root cause is arguably the most important. e.g. This is because a society requires a capable and exemplary leader with the right qualities and skills to com