Learn Mojo's guide to upper sec History Elective/Social Studies source based question (SBQ) skills Part 2 |
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(This post by Miss Karen Goh first appeared here on Domain of Singapore Tutoring Experts on 29 September 2014.) |
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(To read part 1, please visit HERE.) STEP 4: Write answer in complete sentences. Now we get to write out the answer. There are different formats for the 3 different ‘flavours’. (a) BASIC Q1. What does Source A tell you about the Samsung Galaxy S4? Explain your answer. [5m]  IMPORTANT: Once your 7 min is up, leave some space and move on to the next Q even if you haven’t finished the second inference. You lose more marks by not answering other Qs! This is what your answer should look like:  Suggested LORMs for Vanilla Inference SBQs: L1/1m Describes/lifts from source without any interpretation. L2/2-3m Makes valid inference(s), unsupported with evidence. L3/4-5m Makes valid inference(s), supported with evidence. Note: Actual distribution of marks may vary, but the level descriptors generally follow the above guideline. (b) Tone/opinion: a. “Is the author of Source X a supporter of Hitler?” b. “What do you think is the nationality of the artist?” This is really a tone/opinion question.  When examiners see these ‘Tone’ words, they place your answer in a higher level: • The speaker is critical of (who?) • The artist is mocking (who?) • The artist is praising/complimenting (who?) • The writer highlights/emphasizes the virtues of (who?) This is what your answer should look like:  Suggested LORMs for Opinion Inference SBQs: L1/1m Answers based on source content, without any interpretation. L2/2-3m Answers based on valid inference(s) of opinion/purpose, unsupported with evidence. L3/4-6m Answers based on valid inference(s) of opinion/purpose, supported with evidence. Note: Actual distribution of marks may vary, but the level descriptors generally follow the above guideline.  (c) Message/Purpose: a. “Why did the author of Source X write this article?” b. “What is the message of Source X?” "Why did the President have to make this speech?”  IMPORTANT: If Q asks ‘Why’, you should use signposts like ‘because’, or ‘as’ in your answer. Without these, it’s a straight ZERO! This is how your answer should look like: Q2. Why was this political cartoon published? [6m] For the cartoon, go to: http://goo.gl/9mfFx0. Click on the second poster, titled Boris Efimov: Ezhov's Iron Glove (1937).  Suggested LORMs for Purpose Inference SBQs: L1/1m Answers based on source content, without any interpretation. L2/2-3m Answers based on valid inference(s) of message, unsupported. L3/4-5m Answers based on valid inference(s) of message, supported with evidence. L4/5-6m Answers based on valid inference(s) of purpose, supported with evidence. Note: Actual distribution of marks may vary, but the level descriptors generally follow the above guideline.   And there you have it—the guide to tackling Inference SBQs! For History Elective, it is important to note that you should know the case studies very well, or you won’t know what on earth the sources are talking about (this is especially true for political cartoons). If you end up misinterpreting, the maximum mark you get is L1/1m. A few ways to know the 4 SBQ case studies well: 1. Memorise the timeline printed at the start of every chapter in your All About History textbook; you could even do your own timeline. 2. Do Structured Essay Questions on the 4 case studies. In the exam, only 1 of the case studies will appear in Section A (SBQ). More often than not, at least 1 out of the remaining 3 case studies will appear in Section B (SEQ). So you’re killing two birds with one stone by practicing SEQ on the 4 case studies. If you are not already aware, these are the 4 case studies: 1. Stalin’s Russia 2. Hitler’s Germany 3. The Korean War 4. The Cuban Missile Crisis If you set aside 40 minutes do an SEQ/SEQ on each topic every week, you would have effectively revised both for all 4 topics within two months. Clueless about how to score for SEQs? Enter your email address at www.learnmojo.com and you will get a free SEQ guide sent right to your inbox. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About The Author Karen Goh spent her early student life at Dunman High School and Hwa Chong Junior College. Like many of the students she has taught, she was a Pure Science student in secondary school. A love for reading and history led her to the Arts stream in Hwa Chong JC, and to major in English Language and Political Science in NUS. She also has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education from NIE. She was with MOE from January 2005 to December 2012, teaching secondary school students of all abilities History and Social Studies. Majority of her graduating students scored distinctions. She started Learnmojo as a way for to share all that she knows about scoring in History and Social Studies, gleaned from her years of teaching experience. She believes that the Do It Yourself (DIY) method should be a first resort before parents rush out to hire tutors. The DIY method = students doing consistent practices and getting feedback from their school teacher. She shares free advice and tips to parents and students on her email list, so hop on over to www.learnmojo.com to sign up. For students who find it a challenge to adopt the DIY method, she does offer paid online
coaching in Lower Secondary History and Upper Secondary History Elective and Social
Studies. These students need someone other than their school teacher to Feel free to email karen@learnmojo.com if you have a burning question about History and Social Studies. |
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