The document provides guidance on answering exam questions about sources, specifically focusing on making inferences. It advises students to take facts directly from the source and then make inferences based on those facts. Inferences go beyond what is directly stated to suggest deeper meanings. Students should consider tone, context clues, and combining facts to make complex inferences for higher marks. A sample source and question is provided about the importance of Hitler and the Nazi party in 1922 based on the source.

1. Exam Technique: PAPER 2 Question: Explain what you can learn from Source A about… (5) You should not include your own knowledge

2. MARK SCHEME L1 – You are able to take things out of the source to show what can be learned about the topic in question (CONTENT) (1-2) L2 – You are able to draw out the inferences (SUGGESTIONS) that can be made from the source. (Have a conclusion for higher marks) (3-4) L3 – You are able to put two facts together from the source and make a ‘complex’ inference (5)

3. More about making an INFERENCE An inference is something which is not directly stated in the source/ obvious at face value, but which you can work out by ‘reading between the lines’.

5. Technique From source A I can see that … (Start by stating two or three facts from the source.) From this I can infer that … (Try to get 2 inferences therefore aiming for 4/5) *For more able pupils: When I put together … with … I can infer that … (This is aiming for L3)

6. The National Socialist (Nazi) Party has recently gained a huge political influence in spite of its actual size. Adolf Hitler has been the dominating force in the movement, and his personality has been one of the most important factors contributing to its success. His ability to influence a popular assembly is uncanny. SOURCE A: From an American official report on political activities in Germany, 1922 1. Explain what you can learn from Source A about the importance of Hitler and the Nazi Party in 1922. (5 marks)

7. From Source A I can see that the Nazi Party was gaining influence in Germany despite its size. Also, Adolf Hitler was the force behind the party due to his personality and this helped to explain why the party was successful. From this I can infer that it was clear at such an early stage (1922) that Adolf Hitler was absolutely central to the success of the Nazi Party. I can also infer that it was his own powerful personality that allowed him to have such ‘persuasive’ powers over his audiences. After all, this is an American speaking in 1922 and the tone seems to be of an impressive nature. This suggests that Hitler had a powerful and very influential presence.