History questions structure

• Source question:

  • Unit 2 R cold war
  • 30 marks
  • 60 mins overall (15 mins reading/planning and 45 mins of writing)
  • Only 1 question on any cold war topic
  • Three written sources
  • Assess both valuable aspects and limitations
  • Evaluation and contextual knowledge coming from analysis of the source
• Step 1: Find the issue in question

  • Highlight the issue in question what you will be judging each source's in relation to
• Step 2: Plan with the source using PANDA PACT

  Annotate how the following aspects affect the source's value for the issue in question

  • Provenance (origin of the source)
  • Purpose - Why was the source written? Is it trying to persuade? (propaganda) Might there be a vested interest ? (Reason/motive) for the source to argue what it does)
  • Author - Insider? (who can offer insight or expertisee) Nationality? Politics? Influential?
• Step 2: Plan with the source using PANDA PACT

  • Nature (form) - what form does the source take? How direct or edited is the account?
  • Date - Is it close to, or overshadowed by, the event in question or other events in the cold war? Is it long after? What 'stage' of the cold war is this during and does that affect it?
  • Audience = Is it public or private? Might its message be moulded to the audience and/or attempting to persuade them? (often linked to purpose)
• Step 2: Plan with the source using PANDA PACT

  • Argument (What does the source outline or argue in its context?) - What does it emphasis in relation to the issue in the Q? Who/what does it blame?
  • Contextual knowledge - Are the arguments accurate to the events in the Q? Is there over/under - exaggeration? Is the view of the source to be expected or surprising given the PANDA context?
  • Tone (Closely linked to the purpose of the source) - Informative? Advisory? Critical? Aggressive? Accusatory? Defensive? Hyperbolic? Sarcastic?
• Step 2: Plan with the source using PANDA PACT:

  After you have annotated with PANDA PACT. Use multiple strengths and weaknesses to you need to select your points:

  • Have at least 1 point of strength and 1 point of weaknesses for each source
  • Have at least 1 point which refers to each source's provenance and 1 which refers to each source's argument assessed with specific details from your contextual knowledge
• Step 2: Plan with source using PANDA PACT

  Using PANDA PACT pick multiple strengths and weaknesses for your points:

  • Try to link the individual strengths and weaknesses together into points:
  • Does an aspect of PANDA lead the source to make certain arguments or adopt a certain tone? Does it help explain why it takes that view?
  • If it is inaccurate or exaggerated in its claims does PANDA explain why?
• Step 3: Get writing - Overall structure

  No need for an intro. Main body:

  Analyse Source A's value for the issue in question:

  • 1 large or 2 small paragraphs on the strength and weaknesses of A
  • Mini conclusion: Reach a judgement on Source A's overall value for the Q
• Step 3: Get writing - Overall structure

  Analyse Source B's value for the issue in question:

  • 1 large or 2 small paragraphs on the strengths and weaknesses of B
  • Mini conclusion: Reach a judgement on Source B's overall value for the Q
• Step 3: Get writing - Overall structure

  Analyse Source C's value for the issue in question:

  • 1 large or 2 small paragraphs on the strengths and weaknesses of C
  • Mini conclusion: Reach a judgement on Source C's overall value for the Q
  • No need for an overall conclusion
• Paragraph structure (Rules of Source Qs)

  • You have a point and especially a link that gives a reason why the source has value or is limited in its value for the issue in question
  • When you claim a sources argues something or adopts a certain tone you should evidence this with a short quote (ellipsis and brackets)
• Paragraph structure (Rules for Source Qs)

  You need to explain fully why the PANDA PACT point you make impacts the value of the source. Could be done by:

  • Point out the validity/accuracy of the claims and arguments is makes in relation to your own contextual knowledge. If a source is accurate it may increase its value. If source is inaccurate it may reduce its value
  • Point out that the Source's PANDA either gives us insight into the issue in the Q or distorts the view of the source and explain Why/How
• Paragraph structure (Rules of Source Qs)

  You need to explain fully why the PANDA PACT point you make impacts the value of the source. This could be done by:

  • Pointing out whether the view is expected/typical or if it is noteworthy in that it goes against prevailing opinion or the source's expected view based on your knowledge of the context
• Paragraph structure (Rules of the Source Qs)

  • You reach an overall mini - conclusion at the end of each source analysis with an evidenced judgement on its value for the issue in question
• B question essay

  • Occurs in both Units: 1J empire and 2R Cold war
  • Answer 2 of a choice of 3 questions
  • 25 marks each with 2 in each paper
  • 45 mins each (5 mins planning and 45 mins of writing)
  • All with require 2 sidess (plan with time)
  • Assesses AO1: Worth 50% of your A - Level
• B question essay: L.O.A.D.S

  • Line of argument: What is your answer to the question? (LAST) - Do this after you have fully planned, perhaps by 'ranking' your points, and come down clearly one one side
  • Others factors? - Does the other side to this question involve giving other factors (reasons/causes/consequences) not supplied by the question itself?