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 the message 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?

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Inference (answer the question) + Evidence (give details from source) + Explain (write “This means that…”)

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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 the audience to feel/think?” - I think the cartoonist/writer/speaker wants the audience to think or feel (e.g. evoke the feeling of…in order to…

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Comparison Keyword: similar, different, agree, disagree e.g. Question Answer / Format How similar are these sources?

How different are these sources?

How are the sources similar?

How are the sources different?

Similar and Different in Content + Similar in Tone + Similar in Purpose - For better time management, focus on Content and Purpose Similar and Different in Content + Different in Tone + Different in Purpose - For better time management, focus on Content and Purpose Similar in Content ONLY + Similar in Tone + Similar in Purpose - For better time management, focus on Content and Purpose Different in Content ONLY + Different in Tone + Different in Purpose - For better time management, focus on Content and 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 conflict while Source C did not think so). + Evidence (give details from source) + Explain (write “This means that…”)

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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? Explain your 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 Sri Lankan Tamils are living in horrible conditions which could lead to more conflict with the government.

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Cross-reference (i.e. Source can be supported by another Source) + Evidence from another source (give details from source) + Explain (write “This means that…”) 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 basic facilities”. This means that the Sri Lankan Government has not took steps to improve the life of the Sri Lankan Tamils and heightening the possibility of another conflict between them and the government.

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Source is not totally useful because it does not show…(i.e. it does not give a complete picture. Other information were found in another source) + Cross-reference evidence from another source (give details from source) + Explain (write “This means that…”) 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 “government’s call for private-sector support to provide employment to graduates of the rehabilitation process”. This means that the Sinhalese government has been active in addressing the needs of the Sri Lankan’s Tamils such as employment so as to achieve peace in Sri Lanka after the civil war.

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Reliability Keyword: Prove, Believe, Trust, Reliable e.g. - How reliable in this source as evidence showing the possibility of peace in Sri Lanka after her civil war? 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 the Tamil Tigers for their terrorist acts. (note: Tamil Tigers are formed by some Sri Lankan 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 anybody’s 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 only praising 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 the facts. Not reliable - This source is not reliable because it uses exaggerated language like “All Tamils are supporting 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. For example, the cartoon shows President Rajapaksa drawn like a giant while the Tamils are drawn 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 Sinhalese businessmen to help the former Tamil combatants. - This source is not reliable because it uses biased or emotional language like “The Tamil Tigers are depicted as monsters which devour human and leave behind their skeletons” to condemn the Tamil Tigers.

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Yes, Source A is • reliable because it says (explain) OR •

not reliable because it says (explain)

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Cross-reference (i.e. Source can be supported by another Source) + Evidence from another source (give details from source) + Explain (write “This means that…”) e.g. Reliable Source D can be supported by Source B. Evidence of Source B is “There is no fear in the minds of people, there is a sense of freedom and peace, and that is what is most striking about the overall atmosphere in Sri Lanka right now.” This means that all Sri Lankans including the Tamil minorities are enjoying peace and freedom. Not reliable Source D cannot be supported by Source F. Evidence of Source F is “ex-militants say they have been "tortured and beaten" in the centres.” This means that there will be no peace among the Sinhalese and the Tamils when there is such a treatment of the minority.

e.g. - Both sources give a different account of who initiated the bloody conflict. Does this mean that one of them is unreliable? Explain your answer. Format Para What to write? 1

Who wrote this source OR Language to test reliability. Say one source is more reliable than the other

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Yes, one source is more reliable than the other

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•

reliable because it says (explain)

•

not reliable because it says (explain)

Cross-reference (i.e. Source can be supported by another Source) + Evidence from another source (give details from source) + Explain (write “This means that…”) e.g. Reliable Source D is reliable as its claim that there was no provocation was supported by Source A which says ‘Not a soldier was bleeding when they nailed the coffin lids’. The Background info also mentions that the civil rights march was ‘peaceful’, thus further strengthening the reliability of Source D. As Source A is from a British singer, who is apparently impartial in putting the blame on the British army, this further enhances the reliability of Source D.

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Not reliable Source C is reliable as its claim that the army opened fire only after provocation is confirmed by Sources B and E. Source B shows that the mop was throwing things at the soldiers. Likewise, Source E shows a teenager confronting the Army with a weapon. However, even though Source C’s claim is backed by 2 other sources, both these sources are 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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