SBQ Notes for Social Studies

Programme Source-handling skills Structured-essay questions Studying Smart Exam Tips

Source-handling Skills

Examination Format
Source-based is compulsory
Answer all 4 sub-questions

Studying a Source: things to

Question
key words
instruction words
3. Source
source type
content/details e.g. detect bias,
the “message”, tone , purpose
Source 4. Cross-refer to Other Sources, Contextual Knowledge or Background Information check its reliability, ‘gaps’ in information; refute/corroborate what the source is saying
2. Caption
context
provenance details
Studying a Source: things to

What is CONTEXT ?
It may refer to:
- the time frame in which the text was written,
the audience for whom the text was intended,
the political & social events that may have been
occurring while the text was being written.
Why is it important to note the CONTEXT of a source?
The context of the writing can help determine:
an author's viewpoint & intentions , and
the reasons for certain interpretations as
opposed to others.

It refers to the origin/source . The following are some questions one can ask with regards to provenance: Why is it important to note these PROVENANCE details? What is PROVENANCE ? Cast light on:
Who is the creator /
author of the source?
When was the source
produced?
Where was the source
produced?
Whom was it created for?
the target audience; explain purpose how long after the event was it produced; affects reliability the author’s relationship with the person/event s/he is describing; explain why s/he is biased, her/his purpose ; source’s reliability explain its intended audience, impact & purpose

What is TONE ? way of wording or expressing things that shows a certain ATTITUDE / FEELING Why is it important to note the TONE of a source?
The tone of the writing can help determine:
an author's viewpoint & intentions , and
the reasons for certain interpretations as
opposed to others.

What words can one use to describe the TONE of a source?
DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES (ADJECTIVES) e.g.
casual, personal, friendly, positive, celebratory, happy,
warm, encouraging, etc.
official/formal, threatening/hostile, tense, negative,
embittered, sad, cold/unfeeling, angry/harsh,
vindictive, authoritative, arrogant, disapproving, etc.
How does one detect the TONE of a source?
Note:
the choice of words (the use of
emotive words / ‘loaded’ words
what words are stressed on, etc.

What is PURPOSE ?
encourage, influence, persuade, convince, appeal or
instigate its readers to do something e.g. to agree
with her/his views or to take up certain action, etc.
- promote something / to seek support for something - evoke emotional responses e.g. to arouse anger, to gain sympathy or to ridicule, etc. - inform / educate its readers about something - express certain views / personal thoughts It refers to what one plans to get or do; INTENTION / PLAN / AIM ; the reason for something What words can one use to describe the PURPOSE of a source?

It is a process of checking the reliability of a specific aspect of a source by comparing it either
against what another source says, or
b) against one’s own knowledge For cross-reference to work, it must be clear:
What exactly is being checked i.e. the specific aspect / claim in the given source that is being checked
That there is an indication of doubt , hence the need to check the claim i.e. the reliability of a specific aspect / claim in the source is being tested.
What exactly it is being checked against i.e. something in another source, or some specific item of factual knowledge to test the claim
What is CROSS-REFERENCE ?

What is BACKGROUND INFORMATION ?
Information provided in a decontextualised /
contextualised case study of a SBQ
Information to introduce / provide more
information about the case study
It can be used to cross-refer in addition to
other sources

An example of how to handle a SBQ
Skills Revised
Inference
Comparison
Reliability

Background of Source-Based Case Study
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom (UK). Northern Ireland
has 2 groups of people. The majority who controls the Government are
the Protestants. They are settlers from Britain. The minority are
Catholics who are the descendants from the local Irish inhabitants. The
Catholics have always believed that the Protestants government is
biased against the Catholics and demanded for equal treatment. When
tensions grew between the Catholics and the Protestants, the British
sent it their troops to maintain peace. However, the British troops were
seen as biased against the Catholics and the Catholics formed their
owned armed resistance group called the IRA or Ireland Republican
Army who demanded for a separation from the UK. Many terrorists
attacks such as bombings were carried out by the IRA .

Study Source A. Why do you think the cartoonist portrays the IRA in the way he does? Explain you answer. (6) Source A An American cartoon about the IRA. Bobby Sands, a member of the IRA, was the first prisoner to starve himself to death during the 1981 hunger strike. He had demanded special privileges and political status for imprisoned IRA members.

He wants to show the IRA people carrying the coffin of their member. They are carrying the coffin of Bobby Sands. They are holding guns and saying ‘I was afraid he’d never die.’ L1 Answer Guide: L1 Answer based on provenance / merely describes the source (1) L2 Misinterpret the source (2-3) L3 Interpret the source correctly (4-5) A

The IRA is a illegal organisation. It’s aim is to get rid of the British from Northern Ireland. In order to do so, it has taken to violence and killed many people. Even innocent Protestants has been killed. It has been recognised as a terrorist organisation. Answer Guide: L1 Answer based on provenance / merely describes the source (1) L2 Misinterpret the source (2-3) L3 Interpret the source correctly (4-5) B 0

The cartoonist wants to show that IRA is a helpful organisation . He wants to show that it cares for its people . He thus draw the photograph of IRA soldier doing the funeral rights of their member , Bobby Sands. They are also very happy he died because otherwise he would be suffering. Answer Guide: L1 Answer based on provenance / merely describes the source (1) L2 Misinterpret the source (2-3) L3 Interpret the source correctly (4-5) C L2

He wants to put IRA in the bad light . He wants to show that IRA is only concerned about its own personal goal . He thus drew the IRA as a group of people being very happy although their own member had died . Answer Guide: L1 Answer based on provenance / merely describes the source (1) L2 Misinterpret the source (2-3) L3 Interpret the source correctly (4-5) L4 Detects the message of the source (6) D L3

Other ways the inference questions can be asked..
Why do you think the Minister make this comment?
What is the message of the Source A?
What can you learn from Source A about…?

The IRA is just a bunch of crooks. There isn’t a building or a pub that you don’t hold up for protection money. You’ve made this place into a bloody shambles. You’re not fighting for anybody’s freedom. Not mine, not the people of Northern Ireland’s, not anybody’s. The only thing you’re doing is making people hate each other worse than ever. Maybe that’s what you want, isn’t it? Because if the Catholics stopped hating the Protestants, where would the IRA be? Source B A c omment on the IRA by Moira Dillon, a Catholic, who was held hostage by IRA gunmen I believe the armed struggle can be justified, even though I don’t like it. I don’t like the fact that Irish men and women have to resort to force of arms. But I sincerely believe that the armed struggle would cause embarrassment and ridicule for the British Government throughout the world. This, I hope would force the British Government at some time in the future to work toward a positive, radical and peaceful solution. Source C A n account given by Martin McGuinness, Deputy President of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, in 1990 Qn: 1b Study Source B and C. How different are these sources? Explain your answer. (6) .

Source B tells me that the IRA is a bad organisation. It caused a lot of death and destruction to Northern Ireland. The source also says that the IRA caused the Catholic and Protestant to hate each other. Source C tells me that the Deputy President of Sinn Fein believes that armed struggle is justified. He believes that armed struggle would be and embarrassment and ridicule for the British. Answer Guide: L1 Difference based on provenance/topic L2 Similarity OR Difference in content (2-3) L3 Similarity AND Difference in content (4-5) L4 Difference in tone/purpose, supported (6) A 0

The sources are similar to a certain extent. Both sources agree that IRA is involved in violence . Source B states that the IRA has made Northern Ireland into a place of bloody shambles while Source C agrees by stating that Irish men and women have to resort to force of arms. Answer Guide: L1 Difference based on provenance/topic L2 Similarity OR Difference in content (2-3) L3 Similarity AND Difference in content (4-5) L4 Difference in tone/purpose, supported (6) B L2

L3 Answer Guide: L1 Difference based on provenance/topic L2 Similarity OR Difference in content (2-3) L3 Similarity AND Difference in content (4-5) L4 Difference in tone/purpose, supported (6) The sources are similar to a certain extent. Both sources agree that IRA is involved in violence . Source B states that the IRA has made Northern Ireland into a place of bloody shambles while Source C agrees by stating that Irish men and women have to resort to force of arms. Both sources are also different in that both disagree over the use of violence . Source B states that the IRA’s armed struggle is worthless however, Source C states that armed struggles is justified . This is seen in Source B where Moira Dillon, a Catholic, says that the armed struggle makes the Catholic and Protestant hate each other while in Source C, the Deputy President feels that the armed struggle might force the British government to work towards a peaceful solution to the conflict. C L3

Other ways comparison questions can be asked..
How far does Source B support Source C?
How far do Sources B and C agree with each other?
Do you think the speaker in Source B would agree with the views in Source C?
Let’s look at an example…

Source E An extract taken from an article, Inside the IRA, 1994 So far, the IRA has talked a convincing game, persuading us to believe they want peace. Yet their terrorist actions suggest that they do not want peace. Their justification for continuing their war against the British is oppression, inequality and injustice. I believe the armed struggle can be justified, even though I don’t like it. I don’t like the fact that Irish men and women have to resort to force of arms. But I sincerely believe that the armed struggle would cause embarrassment and ridicule for the British Government throughout the world. This, I hope would force the British Government at some time in the future to work toward a positive, radical and peaceful solution. Source C A n account given by Martin McGuinness, Deputy President of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, in 1990 Study Source C and E. How far does Source C support Source E? Explain your answer. (6) .

Source C supports Source E to a certain extent . Source C states that ‘… Irish men and women have to resort to force of arms’ and this implies that there has been violence in Northern Ireland. This is supported by Source E which states that the IRA has involved in ‘terrorist actions’ On the other hand, Source C states that the IRA activities were meant to force British government to discuss peace . However, Source E strongly feels that the IRA is not sincere in wanting peace because they are still involve in terrorist activities. POSSIBLE ANSWER

Qn: 1c Study Source D. Does the source prove that the IRA has the support of the Catholics in Northern Ireland ? Explain your answer. (6) . Source D An IRA member with Catholic children

Yes , the source proves that the Catholic support the IRA as the photograph shows me that there are many children playing around an IRA member . The children are not afraid as they are smiling and seem very happy to be with the IRA member. Answer Guide: L1 Agrees based on source content (1) L2 Disagrees based on typicality (2) L3 Agrees but raises doubts (3-4) L4 Agrees/Disagrees based on cross-reference (6) A L1

No , the source does not prove that the Catholics support the IRA as it is only showing me the children but not other Catholic adult with an IRA member. There maybe adults who do not like to be with the IRA member. B Answer Guide: L1 Agrees based on source content (1) L2 Disagrees based on typicality (2) L3 Agrees but raises doubts (3-4) L4 Agrees/Disagrees based on cross-reference (6) L2

The source does prove that the Catholic support the IRA but only to a certain extent. The photograph maybe staged by the IRA to show that they have the support of the Catholic. The children maybe also be asked to pose with the IRA member to show that the IRA is very popular. C Answer Guide: L1 Agrees based on source content (1) L2 Disagrees based on typicality (2) L3 Agrees but raises doubts (3-4) L4 Agrees/Disagrees based on cross-reference (6) L3

No , Source D does not prove that the Catholics support the IRA. The photograph shows that the Catholic children are playing happily with the IRA member who is armed. However, I know that not all Catholics support the IRA . This can been seen from Source B , a Catholic, Moira Dillon, comments that the IRA is not supporting anybody’s freedom and that it has worsened the relationships among the people . Her feelings towards the IRA prove to me that the IRA is not supported by all Catholics. D Answer Guide: L1 Agrees based on source content (1) L2 Disagrees based on typicality (2) L3 Agrees but raises doubts (3-4) L4 Agrees/Disagrees based on cross-reference (6) L4

Other ways questions on checking reliability can be asked ..
Study Sources C and D.
The two source differ in their views of the behaviour of the British army in Northern Ireland. Does it mean that one of them is wrong? Explain your answer.
Study Source B.
How reliable is Source B for showing that the Catholics in Northern Ireland were hostile towards the British Army ? Explain your answer.

Ways to do cross reference:
Step 1
Read the question carefully. The clue to what you need to look at will be in the question. Focus on that.
Step 2
Pick out any statement or point from the text which you can disagree or agree with
Step 3
Discuss the statement or point you have picked out earlier with the points / statements in other sources / the background information

Let’s try it : We are fortunate that the IRA is helping us in this conflict. Who do we have to stand by us against the British government , the Protestants and the British army? Only the IRA. Our lives have been more secure, our property protected and the IRA is interested in making peace with the British government. Source F A view of a Catholic who is very happy with the IRA Study Source F. Does the source prove that the IRA has the support of the Catholics in Northern Ireland ? Explain your answer. (6) . No , the source only proves that the Catholic support the IRA to a certain extent. Source F states that because of the IRA presence 'our lives have been more secure, and our property protected’ . However, I know that this is not totally true as Source B states that the IRA has made Northern Ireland ‘ into a bloody shambles’.

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SBQ Notes for Social Studies

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