CIE iGCSE History Paper 2 Question Structures

MESSAGE

e.g "what is the message of the cartoonist?"

Point

Evidence

Explanation (of the source content)

Explanation (using own knowledge)- "I know that the cartoonist would have likely felt like this at the time because"

Link

The overall message is that the writer is critical of.....

Use vocab such as weak / ineffective / disrespectful / contemptuous

SIMILARITY / DIFFERENCES

e.g."How far do the two sources agree?"

AGREE

Point - reference to big message

Evidence - detail from both sources

Explain & Link

DISAGREE

Point - reference to big message

Evidence - detail from both sources

Explain & Link

E.g. The two sources agree/disagree only to some extent.

On one hand the sources agree because they both have a _____ attitude/view about.... → quote

The sources agree in their view about... / The sources both view ..... as......→ quote + explain

However, the sources disagree in the way they look at... → quote + explain

+One sentence to sum up your judgement on 'how far'

Talk about both sources in both paragraphs

Need to have both agreement and disagreement in each paragraph

PURPOSE

e.g. "Why was this poster published?"

Point

Evidence

Explanation (of the source content)

Explanation (using own knowledge)- "I know that the artist would have depicted this at the time because"

Link

(2 - 3 paragraphs)

Purpose - to justify / to blame / to criticise

Infer big message / sub-message

Refer to details of source

USEFUL

e.g "How useful is this source?"

Point based on content

Evidence from source

Explanation of source (using own knowledge)- "I know that this is useful information and would have likely been the case because"

Point based on NOP

Explanation using knowledge

Possible limitation

Conclusion

E.g. Source X is useful because it suggests (Content).......

This is supported by........

This source is also useful because (NOP)........

This is supported by......

However it is limited as.......

RELIABLE

e.g. "How far does Source I prove Source H to be wrong"

DOES PROVE WRONG

Point

Evidence and Explanation- "Source H says..whereas Source I says..this is a contradiction because...and Source H has its weaknesses as evidence because... While source I has its strengths as evidence because..."

Link

DOESN'T PROVE WRONG

Point

Evidence and Explanation- "Source H also has its strengths as evidence because...While Source I has its weaknesses as evidence because.."

Link

On one hand, Source A proves Source B to be true because.... → quote

Source A proves/affirms Source B's point about....by saying...→ quote

On the other hand, Source A may prove Source B to be wrong because...→ quote

Source A disproves Source B by saying... → quote

+One sentence to sum up your final judgement

You can use your own knowledge, I know that....

You can link it to the other sources

You can talk about tone - about how it is exaggerated

Purpose of the source

SURPRISE

e.g. "How far does source G make source F surprising?"

DOES MAKE SURPRISING

Point

Evidence

Explain & Link

DOES NOT MAKE SURPRISING

Point

Evidence

Explain & Link

Overall Judgment

E.g.

Yes, I'm quite surprised by the source as it confirms that ...

Taking into account the fact that the source was written by ... it makes me more/less surprised...

The fact that "...." does / doesn't surprise me because... I expect it to be... because...

I'm not surprised by the claim that.... because the source

Overall I am only a bit surprised that....because...

ask - what is the source saying, who is saying it?

Are you surprised by what is described in the source - or by the fact that that author is saying that?

relevant contextual knowledge is crucial

be careful to respond to that particular source - is it surprising, not surprising, or both?

do not use a 'learned' answer

CONCLUSION

e.g. "Study all the sources. How far do these sources provide convincing evidence that.."

SUPPORTING

Point

Evidence

Explain & Link

Evaluation, only if there is a point to be made- "This source had specific strengths/weaknesses because"

NOT SUPPORTING

Point

Evidence

Explain & Link

Evaluation, only if there is a point to be made- "This source had specific strengths/weaknesses because"

Overall Judgment

For each side:

- show which sources support this side

- quote from sources as evidence

- explain how the source supports this side

- for some sources, you may need to evaluate their reliability and purpose in order to judge whether they prove the statement or not (this gives you the highest marks)

Finally give a short final judgement on "how far"

No introduction / conclusion

Lump all the FORs and then all the AGAINSTs

Source A provides convincing evidence that [....]. It states that [...]

This meant that [explain]

2 marks for evaluation - the source is not particularly useful because....