social studies tips

7/28/2019 Social Studies Tips

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Social Studies GCE O Level (11 Oct 2010)

Steps:

1. Do SEQ first spend no more than 40min

2. Do SBQ

a. Read the Issue 20sec

b. Read the sources and underline/highlight key words about 5min

c. Read the questions and underline/highlight key words 2min

i. Identify the skills asked (inference, comparison, reliability, usefulness)

d. Answer the questions

i. Always answer based on keywords in the question e.g. What do you think is themessage of the cartoonist

Not Valid: I infer from Source

Valid: I think the message of the cartoonist is telling me

SBQ Skills

Inference

Keyword: Infer, say, tell

e.g.

- What does this source tell you about?;

- Is Source A a supporter or opponent of?

Format

Paragraph What to write?

1 Inference (answer the question) +Evidence (give details from source) +

Explain (write This means that)

2 Purpose (write Purpose of the source) +

Influence and Message +

Audience +

Outcome

Influence: Ask the question Is this source positive or negative about the ISSUE?

- If it is positive, use: The purpose of the source is to praise / encourage

-

If it is negative, use: The purpose of the source is to criticize / condemn / blame /discourage

- If not sure, use: convince/persuade

Audience: Check the provenance for the audience

- Newspaper: readers

- Television: viewers

- World

- Citizens of a country e.g. US public / Sri Lankan Tamils

Outcome: Ask the question What does the cartoonist/writer/speaker wants theaudience to feel/think?

- I think the cartoonist/writer/speaker wants the audience to think or feel (e.g. evoke

the feeling ofin order to


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Comparison

Keyword: similar, different, agree, disagree

e.g.

Question Answer / Format

How similar are thesesources?

Similar and Different in Content +

Similar in Tone +

Similar in Purpose

- For better time management, focus on Content and Purpose

How different are thesesources?

Similar and Different in Content +

Different in Tone +

Different in Purpose


How are the sources similar? Similar in Content ONLY +

Similar in Tone +

Similar in Purpose


How are the sourcesdifferent?

Different in Content ONLY +

Different in Tone +

Different in Purpose


Format

Para What to write?

1 Similar and/or Different in Content (depends on the question)Always have a criterion for comparison e.g.effectiveness of political solution (e.g.

Source B thinks that a political solution will be the way to resolve the conflictwhile Source C did not think so).

+

Evidence (give details from source)

+


2 Similar or Different in Purpose (write Purpose of the source) +

Influence and Message +

Audience +

Outcome


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Usefulness

Keyword: useful

e.g. How useful is Source E as evidence indicating whether there will be peace in Sri Lanka? Explainyour answer.

- Note: peace in the question can mean there is peace or there is no peace.

Format

Para What to write?

1 Yes, Source is useful because it says (based on content)

e.g.

Yes, Source E is useful because it tell us that peace could not be achieved since the SriLankan Tamils are living in horrible conditions which could lead to more conflict with thegovernment.

2 Cross-reference (i.e. Source can be supported by another Source)

+

Evidence from another source (give details from source)

+


e.g.

Source E can be supported by Source F

Evidence from Source F is they have been ill-treated in government camps with no basicfacilities. This means that the Sri Lankan Government has not took steps to improve thelife of the Sri Lankan Tamils and heightening the possibility of another conflict betweenthem and the government.

3 Source is not totally useful because it does not show(i.e. it does not give a completepicture. Other information were found in another source)

+

Cross-reference evidence from another source (give details from source)

+


e.g

Source E is not totally useful because it does not give a complete picture of the lives

of the Tamils after the civil war.Evidence of Source D is governments call for private-sector support to provideemployment to graduates of the rehabilitation process. This means that the Sinhalesegovernment has been active in addressing the needs of the Sri Lankans Tamils such asemployment so as to achieve peace in Sri Lanka after the civil war.


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Reliability

Keyword: Prove, Believe, Trust, Reliablee.g.

- How reliable in this source as evidence showing the possibility of peace in Sri Lanka after her civilwar? Explain your answer.

Format

Para What to write?

1 Who wrote this source? check provenance to test reliability (answer the question)

e.g.

Reliable

- This source is reliable because it written by a Sri Lankan Tamil but he is criticizing theTamil Tigers for their terrorist acts. (note: Tamil Tigers are formed by some SriLankan Tamils)

- This source is reliable because it written by an independent writer (e.g. Singaporean)

who is not directly involved in conflict the in Sri Lanka and is not taking anybodys side.He is only pointing out how the conflict is affecting all people.

Not reliable

- This source is not reliable because it written by a supporter of Tamil Tiger. He is onlypraising the Tamil Tiger and does not tell us anything negative about the Tamil Tiger.Hence, the source is biased.

OR

Language

Reliable- This source is reliable because it uses factual language like The conflict in Sri Lankan is

affecting both Sinhalese and Tamils. The author also uses a balance tone to state thefacts.

Not reliable

- This source is not reliable because it uses exaggerated language like All Tamils aresupporting Tamil Tigers. This is false as not all Tamils support the Tamil Tigers.

- This source is not reliable because it uses exaggerated drawing in the cartoon. Forexample, the cartoon shows President Rajapaksa drawn like a giant while the Tamils aredrawn like a dwarf to condemn the Sri Lankan Government for discriminating the Tamils

even after the Civil War. This is false as the government has worked with Sinhalesebusinessmen to help the former Tamil combatants.

- This source is not reliable because it uses biased or emotional language like The TamilTigers are depicted as monsters which devour human and leave behind their skeletonsto condemn the Tamil Tigers.

2 Yes, Source A is

reliable because it says (explain)

OR

not reliable because it says (explain)


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Not reliable

Source C is reliable as its claim that the army opened fire only after provocation isconfirmed by Sources B and E. Source B shows that the mop was throwing things at thesoldiers. Likewise, Source E shows a teenager confronting the Army with a weapon.

However, even though Source Cs claim is backed by 2 other sources, both these sourcesare from the British and may themselves be biased against the Catholic protesters. Hence,source C may not be reliable after all.

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