This document provides guidance on answering different types of questions in exams related to social studies. It explains that for describe and explain questions, students should use PEEL paragraphs, which include a Point, Explanation, Example, and Link back. For sources questions on supporting or opposing a statement, evidence from sources should be cited. Decision making questions require choosing between two options based on three sources, and conclusions questions involve summarizing facts from three sources on given topics. PEEL paragraphs and citing source evidence are key strategies for answering different question types.

1. How to answer…
Knowledge questions
 Describe questions
These questions will be worth up to 8 marks
In these questions you have to describe facts about an issue e.g. ways
Americans take part in politics, How an MSP represents constituents.
You should use PEEL paragraphs to answer these questions.
POINT
EXPLAIN
EXAMPLE
LINK BACK
Give your answer
Explain/describe what this means
Include a real example, statistic, etc to prove it
Summarise your answer
You need to make eight substantive points to gain full marks e.g. in a 6
mark question, you need at least two PEEL paragraphs. In an 8 mark
question you need at least three PEEL paragraphs.
FOR EXAMPLE Describe ways Americans can participate in politics
One way Americans can take part in politics is by voting in elections.
This is when Americans can choose people who will run and make laws
for their local area, city, state or entire country. For example, Barack
Obama was re-elected as President in 2012 when Americans voted.
Therefore voting is one way Americans can participate in politics.

2.  Explain questions
These questions will be worth up to 8 marks
You have to explain facts about an issue e.g. why some people oppose
prison sentences, the effectiveness of different voting systems.
Use PEEL paragraphs to answer these questions (see above).
You need to make eight substantive points to gain full marks e.g. in a 6
mark question, you need at least two PEEL paragraphs. In an 8 mark
question you need at least three PEEL paragraphs.
FOR EXAMPLE Explain why some people oppose prison sentences
Many people oppose prison sentences because they believe that they
are too expensive. This is because they believe that the money spent
could better be used on more useful purposes such as better education
or training. For example, it costs around £32,000 per year to keep
someone in prison in Scotland. Therefore many people oppose prison
sentences because they are too expensive.
Sources questions
 Support and Oppose tasks
These questions will be worth 8 marks
You will be given a statement(s) and have to find evidence to either
agree with it (Support) or disagree with it (Oppose).
Your answer should be as follows:
 I support/oppose [NAME] when they say …..
 This is because…. [INSERT SOURCE DETAIL]
 Therefore they are right/wrong because…. [INSERT SUMMARY]

3.  Decision Making tasks
These questions will be worth 10 marks
You have to choose between two options based on information found
in three different sources. You must use all sources at least once.
Split your answer into three parts: recommendation, Arguments to
support your decision (3/4), Arguments against other option (2/1).
Your arguments for should include:
 An argument from one source supporting your decision (Source 3
will include a range of these).
 A supporting piece of evidence from another source
 A summary of what your argument is
Your arguments against should include:
 An argument from one source which people who support the other
option may make (Source 3 will include a range of these)
 A piece of evidence from another source disagreeing with this
 A summary of what your argument is
 Conclusions tasks
These questions will be worth 8 marks
You have to summarise facts about an issue based on three sources.
You must use all sources at least once in your answer.
Write about topics found in the bullet points at the end:
 A conclusion e.g. is it most or least, increasing or decreasing, etc?
 Include evidence to support this from one source
 Include evidence from another source to back this up
You must do this for all three of the topics.