Paper 1 - Question Techniques

Question 1

How do you answer a 5-mark question?

Answer 1

• An opening, introductory ‘framing’ sentence
• Two points well described

Question 2

How do you answer a 10-mark question?

Answer 2

• An opening, introductory ‘framing’ sentence. This is like a ‘ten second answer’ to the
  question.
• Three points really well explained.
• A concluding sentence that sums up your answer

Question 3

How do you answer a 25-mark question? (is the interpretation fair?)

Answer 3

a) Start with a short explanation of the interpretation, to show that you understand what the historian is saying (the ‘framing sentence’). Give a ‘ten-second answer’ to the question (‘it is
/ isn’t fair because…’ )
b) Include a paragraph explaining why the interpretation is fair – do this by quoting from the
source and then identify historians/interpretations that would agree with this specific aspect
of the interpretation
c) Include another paragraph explaining why you think the interpretation is not fair - do this by
quoting from the source and then identifying historians/interpretations that would agree with
this specific aspect of the interpretation
d) End with a short conclusion

Question 4

what do you have to include in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs of a 25-mark question? (is the interpretation fair?)

Answer 4

a) The context in which the historian is writing
b) The views of other historians
c) Your knowledge of the events surrounding Appeasement (1936-1939) or the early Cold
War (1945-49)

Question 5

How do you answer a 20-mark question? (why don’t all historians agree?)

Answer 5

• Start by summarising the interpretation given in the question
• Write two or three separate paragraphs which carefully explain carefully how and why each of the interpretations disagree with this interpretation (v. important – make sure you give reasons for other historians holding different views e.g. by referring to the context in which
  they were writing, the evidence they had access to etc.)
• One way to do this is by quoting a small section from the source and then explicitly highlighting how another interpretation or historian disagreed with it.
• Show awareness of the degree of difference – interpretations might partially agree/disagree
• Offer some evaluation of the interpretation you have been given

Question 6

How do you answer a 2-mark question?

Answer 6

One point, with a piece of development

Question 7

How do you answer a source question? (separate questions)

Answer 7

• Why was this source published?
• How is this source useful to historians?
• What is the viewpoint of the artist/author? What is the message of the cartoonist?
• How reliable is this source?

Question 8

How do you answer a source question? (comparison question)

Answer 8

• How similar are sources A and B?
• How far do the sources agree?
• Why do they disagree?
• Is one source more reliable than the other?
• Is one source more useful than the other?

Question 9

How do you explain why the source was published?

Answer 9

• Summarise the purpose of the source. What is it trying to achieve (not just what is it saying).
• What details are there in the source and about the source that you could use to show how
  the author/artist/cartoonist is trying to achieve the purpose you just described?
• Put the source into context. How does this source fit into your wider knowledge? Was this source part of a broader campaign? If so, say so! What was happening in the year in the question that helps explain why it was published?

Question 10

How do you explain why the viewpoint of the artist/author?

Answer 10

• Sum up the basic message of the artist/author/cartoonist in a single sentence.
• Pick out a few details of the source and explain how they illustrate the artist/author/cartoonist’s view.
• Use your own knowledge to explain what the artist/author/cartoonist had in mind to produce
  this. What knowledge do you have that puts into context the source’s message and details? Make sure your knowledge is relevant to the message/viewpoint of the source.

Question 11

How do you explain how this source is useful for historians?

Answer 11

• Pick out some details about what the source says and briefly show how they fit in with your wider knowledge.
• Move beyond what the source says (at face value) and try to explain what you can tell or
  infer from the source’s content.
• Who wrote the source and why? In what ways does the source’s bias make it useful?

Question 12

How do you explain how reliable this source is?

Answer 12

• Use contextual knowledge AND the origin/purpose/attitude of the author to explain ways in which the source is not reliable.
• Support your points with references to the source, particularly any biased language used.
• Use contextual knowledge AND the origin/purpose/attitude of the author to explain ways in which the source is reliable.

Question 13

How do you answer an 18-mark question?

Answer 13

• 4 points in detail in a balanced response.
• Explain two points for one side of the argument
• Explain two points for the other side of the argument (or a 3-1 split of points)
• Come to a conclusion, carefully explaining your overall view.