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PAPER 2PAPER 2A GUIDE TO THE A GUIDE TO THE

‘COMPARISON’ QUESTION‘COMPARISON’ QUESTION

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Types of question - Types of question - ReminderReminder

There are 4 different types of question in Paper 2: There are 4 different types of question in Paper 2:

1. How Useful? (5 marks)1. How Useful? (5 marks)2. Comparison (5 marks)2. Comparison (5 marks)3. How Far? (10 marks)3. How Far? (10 marks)4. How Fully? (10 marks)4. How Fully? (10 marks)

Please note that Paper 2 questions can Please note that Paper 2 questions can appear in any order!!!appear in any order!!!The whole paper is worth a total of The whole paper is worth a total of 3030 marks. marks.

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Comparison QuestionComparison Question5 Marks5 Marks

• This question is easy to spot as it is This question is easy to spot as it is the only one that involves two the only one that involves two sources. The question itself may sources. The question itself may not use the word comparison it will not use the word comparison it will probably ask: probably ask:

• ““To what extent does Source A To what extent does Source A agree with Source B about…..” agree with Source B about…..”

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What do I have to do?What do I have to do?

1. You must first give an 1. You must first give an overall overall comparisoncomparison of the attitudes of both of the attitudes of both sources either agree/disagree e.g. sources either agree/disagree e.g.

““Source A overall is in favour of… Source A overall is in favour of… Source B is against…”Source B is against…”

You will get up to You will get up to 2 mks2 mks for stating the for stating the main ideas or points of view of the two main ideas or points of view of the two sourcessources

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2.2. There are always There are always 4 points4 points of direct of direct comparison (4 agree/disagree comparison (4 agree/disagree points). Go through both quotes step points). Go through both quotes step by step giving by step giving some background some background knowledge to explain what each is knowledge to explain what each is talking about. talking about. Up to 4 mks Up to 4 mks

Take a new paragraph for each Take a new paragraph for each comparison.comparison.

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3.3. No single comparisons e.g. like in No single comparisons e.g. like in standard Grade only Source A standard Grade only Source A mentions…… but Source B mentions…… but Source B doesn’t.doesn’t.

4. 4. Sum up your main points in a Sum up your main points in a concluding sentence.concluding sentence.

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Top Tip!Top Tip!

Usually in a comparison question Usually in a comparison question you can gain marks for identifying you can gain marks for identifying and explaining points where the and explaining points where the sources agree and also where they sources agree and also where they disagree. Don’t always assume disagree. Don’t always assume that the sources will take exactly that the sources will take exactly opposite points of view. They opposite points of view. They might – but not always.might – but not always.

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Example 1 – Haig Example 1 – Haig SourcesSources

Read pages 49-Read pages 49-52.52.

Notetaking.Notetaking. The Leadership The Leadership

of Douglas Haig of Douglas Haig – does he – does he deserve praise deserve praise or criticism?or criticism?

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General HaigGeneral Haig

The most controversial figure of WW1.The most controversial figure of WW1. The phrase “lions led by donkeys” had Haig in mind in The phrase “lions led by donkeys” had Haig in mind in

other words he lacked imagination and persisted in other words he lacked imagination and persisted in the same tactics.the same tactics.

A Scot who could order attacks in which he knew tens A Scot who could order attacks in which he knew tens of thousands would die and then repeat the slaughter of thousands would die and then repeat the slaughter day after day for 5 months like at the Somme.day after day for 5 months like at the Somme.

Haig admitted that he was pursuing a policy of “war of Haig admitted that he was pursuing a policy of “war of attrition”, he was deliberately sacrificing men to also attrition”, he was deliberately sacrificing men to also bleed the German army dry.bleed the German army dry.

Haig appeared aloof, did not care about his men or Haig appeared aloof, did not care about his men or their losses e.g. “the nation must be taught to bear their losses e.g. “the nation must be taught to bear losses”.losses”.

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The Western Front was already deadlocked when The Western Front was already deadlocked when Haig took over, several commanders before him Haig took over, several commanders before him had failed to break through the German trenches.had failed to break through the German trenches.

Haig was prepared to use new tactics to break Haig was prepared to use new tactics to break the stalemate e.g. poison gas, tanks etc.the stalemate e.g. poison gas, tanks etc.

He turned an untrained citizen army of raw He turned an untrained citizen army of raw recruits into a modern fighting force.recruits into a modern fighting force.

Haig did eventually win the war with the army he Haig did eventually win the war with the army he trained and led.trained and led.

Haig was not as insensitive as many like Lloyd Haig was not as insensitive as many like Lloyd George suggested he was, he helped set up the George suggested he was, he helped set up the Haig poppy fund for wounded ex-soldiers.Haig poppy fund for wounded ex-soldiers.

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Start with an introduction/ Start with an introduction/ overall comparison:overall comparison:

Both sources discuss the Both sources discuss the leadership of General Haig; Source leadership of General Haig; Source C is the more positive source C is the more positive source giving Haig credit for his leadership giving Haig credit for his leadership qualities and his ability to adapt. qualities and his ability to adapt. Source D is far more critical and Source D is far more critical and criticises Haig’s inflexibility which it criticises Haig’s inflexibility which it claims led to repeated slaughters.claims led to repeated slaughters.

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Do a short paragraph for each Do a short paragraph for each comparison and include recall to comparison and include recall to explain the points made.explain the points made.

Source C states Haig “at first he clung Source C states Haig “at first he clung to traditional methods, he did not revise to traditional methods, he did not revise his plans until the old ones had been his plans until the old ones had been fully tested”, Source D makes a similar fully tested”, Source D makes a similar point “huge bombardments failed again point “huge bombardments failed again and again yet we persisted in employing and again yet we persisted in employing the same hopeless method of attack”. the same hopeless method of attack”. Both refer to the Battle of the Somme Both refer to the Battle of the Somme were Haig was criticised for persisting were Haig was criticised for persisting with prolonged artillery bombardments with prolonged artillery bombardments and frontal assaults which clearly were and frontal assaults which clearly were not working and led to massive loss of not working and led to massive loss of life e.g. 60,000 casualties on the first life e.g. 60,000 casualties on the first day.day.

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Source C also states “a smaller man Source C also states “a smaller man might have tried fantastic experiments might have tried fantastic experiments that would have assuredly spelt that would have assuredly spelt disaster” but Source D disagrees it disaster” but Source D disagrees it states “many other methods were states “many other methods were possible”. Clearly Source C feels Haig possible”. Clearly Source C feels Haig was a steady and methodical leader was a steady and methodical leader who did not try new methods like poison who did not try new methods like poison gas or tanks till he was ready, whereas gas or tanks till he was ready, whereas Source D suggests he was too inflexible Source D suggests he was too inflexible and should have tried these methods and should have tried these methods sooner.sooner.

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Source C tries to excuse Haig from full Source C tries to excuse Haig from full responsibility for the losses suffered at responsibility for the losses suffered at the Somme amongst other battles by the Somme amongst other battles by stating “under him we incurred heavy stating “under him we incurred heavy losses but I believe these losses would losses but I believe these losses would have been greater if we had been led by have been greater if we had been led by someone else”. However Source D someone else”. However Source D suggests that Haig was responsible for suggests that Haig was responsible for the heavy loss of life at the Somme and the heavy loss of life at the Somme and elsewhere when it states” I did not elsewhere when it states” I did not believe then, and I do not believe now believe then, and I do not believe now that the enormous casualties were that the enormous casualties were justified”.justified”.

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Source C Finally makes reference to Haig’s Source C Finally makes reference to Haig’s ability as a commander which he believes ability as a commander which he believes helped the British Army “in the special helped the British Army “in the special circumstances of war his special qualities were circumstances of war his special qualities were the ones most needed-patience, calmness and the ones most needed-patience, calmness and unshakeable determination” but clearly Source unshakeable determination” but clearly Source D disagrees about Haig’s qualities “it is D disagrees about Haig’s qualities “it is difficult to see how Haig….so cut off from the difficult to see how Haig….so cut off from the fighting troops could fulfil the tremendous task fighting troops could fulfil the tremendous task laid on him effectively”. Clearly Source D feels laid on him effectively”. Clearly Source D feels Haig was too inflexible and out of touch with Haig was too inflexible and out of touch with his troops to be an effective commander as his troops to be an effective commander as the Somme demonstrated yet Source C feels the Somme demonstrated yet Source C feels his steady influence eventually helped the his steady influence eventually helped the British army overcome Germany by 1918.British army overcome Germany by 1918.

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Overall conclusion – a Overall conclusion – a sentence only to sum up.sentence only to sum up.

Source C is more favourable towards Source C is more favourable towards Haig and praises his determination Haig and praises his determination and claims he could be adaptable and claims he could be adaptable and use other tactics e.g. poison gas and use other tactics e.g. poison gas or tanks, however Source d is much or tanks, however Source d is much more critical blaming Haig’s more critical blaming Haig’s inflexibility and stubbornness for the inflexibility and stubbornness for the slaughter of the Somme in slaughter of the Somme in particular.particular.