Comprehension and inference from a source

   

How to do this question:

This is one of the questions which need you refer to the PURPOSE of the source – remember that you will get this by looking at the provenance of the source (who wrote it, and when).  

It is usually some kind of propaganda, so explain how it was supposed to ‘work’, what effect it was supposed to have on the people and to what effect.

 

It also needs you to provide as much factual CONTEXT as you can – what was happening at the time that made it necessary to produce this?

Provide as much factual detail about the context (situation) as you can, but remember to explain why this led to the source being produced – why it made it necessary.

 

  

MARKSCHEME: How marks are allocated for this question

Target: Explanation of causation using source and own knowledge (AO 6.1 & 6.2)

 

 

Level 1: Simple statements drawing on general factual knowledge or purpose

e.g. using general factual statements such as ‘the men were away fighting’ etc., or referring to a general point such as ‘it was propaganda’

 

1-2

Level 2: Explains using purpose and/or specific factual knowledge

Explained answers which use either:

Context: specific factual context statements such as U Boat blockade, rationing, Dig for Victory campaign, establishes why there was a  need for the WLA,

or:

Purpose: explains the propaganda nature of the poster – e.g. how it was supposed to ‘work’: designed by the government to make it look pleasant, worthwhile, respected, rewarding, important for the country’s success etc.

 

3-4

Level 3: Multicausal answer using source and own knowledge

Developed answer, referring in detail to factual context WITH full explanation of propaganda purpose of poster.

5-6

 

So, for this question, you MUST:
1.   Write about the situation when this source was produced (cite specific facts) and USE these ideas to suggest reasons why it was needed.

2.   Write about the purpose of the source, and explain HOW it was supposed to ‘work’, and what effect it was supposed to have on the people.

  

 

  

Cool Sentence Starters:

 

1.       You can see why it was produced when you see who produced it …

 

2.       They were trying to …

 

3.       The idea of the source was that … and this would encourage people to …

 

4.       This was very much needed at this time because …

 

5.       At that time, …, and so …

 

  

  

Examples

(in the following examples, you can see the points which were ticked ü by the examiner, and - if you mouseover the maroon 'Mark ' at the end of each example - you can see what level and mark the answer got and why)

  

Task

All the following answers are actual answers by pupils in the 2005 examination.

  1. For each, study them with a friend and - using the markscheme - work out what mark you would have given the answer and why.   Then mouseover the maroon 'Mark ' at the end of the question and see what it actually got and why.

  2. When you think you have got the measure of 'what makes a good answer', try one of the two 'exam practice' questions at the end for yourself.   Show it to your teacher (or your friend) and discuss what level and mark your attempt would have got.

    The KEY question is: 'Is this in inference?', isn't it!

 

 

EXAMPLE QUESTION

   

Source F    Propaganda in the Second World War

                  A British government poster distributed during the Second World War

(b)    Why was the poster in Source F distributed in Britain during the Second World War?  

        Use Source F and your own knowledge to answer the question                                  (6 marks)

   

a.   This poster was distributed during the Second World War because after so many years women were able to be conscripted into war from aged 18 – 40.  It was also to perhaps give the women something to do while their husbands were fighting and their children were evacuated to countryside.

   Mark

   

b.   The poster was distributed during the second World War, because women became a major part of helping Britain in the war.    It was the first time women were allowed to do men’s jobs while the men fought.üL1    The government needed help so they asked the women to do men’s jobs.   Women worked in factories and many worked helping make machinery for the war.   The poster was distributed to ask women to play their part during the war because there was a shortage of workers.

   Mark

   

c.   This poster in Source F was produced because it was trying to influence women to help with the war effort and help them do the jobs men would usually do if they were at home.üL1    The sign ‘we could do with thousands more like you’ coming from a man at that time would have been a great compliment and that would help influence the women to join the women’s land army and help the war effort.üL1   

   Mark

   

d.   The poster was distributed during the second world war to encourage women to join the women’s land army.üL1    During that time many men went off to war, many jobs within the agricultural business had increased and the government realised they needed more workers to increased food supply in Britain.üL2    The government needed to reach out to thousands of women who were between ages of 20 – 30 to turn away from their home lives and work to safe Britain.   I know that during the world war women felt more equal to men and knew that they were contributing to the war effort.  The purpose for the poster was not only to tell women to join the ‘women’s land army’ but at the same time influence women with children / married to help.  I know that in my own knowledge many married women with children had to balance work as well as house, work and children to save Britain in the second world war.

   Mark

      

e   The poster in Source F was distributed to persuade more women to join the women’s land army.üL1    The WLA came at the time of the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign.üL2    With men away fighting it was the women’s job to help work the land and run farms to help feed Britain.   The poster shows a woman holding a horse looking happy as she is working. This gave the impression that joining the WLA was a worthwhile thing to do.üL2    The words ‘We could do with thousands more like you’ make the woman a role model for other British Women.   The poster’s main aim was to encourage women to join up.

   Mark

       

f.   During World War 2, propaganda played a huge part in getting people to do things that needed to be done.  This poster would have been issued to get women to join the British Land Army.üL1    As most of Britain’s men had been conscripted, there was a definite lack of farmers and the need for food was at an all time high with shipping’s conoys being destroyed.üL2   

     The poster would have been helpful for many reasons. Firstly it gave women something to do with their husbands away at war and their children evacuated it gave them a sense of pride and belonging in the war.   Also, the fact that everyone looks so happy meant that it seemed like a welcome invitation and something definetly worth doing.üL2

   Mark

   

  

    

 

  

  

   

EXAMPLE QUESTION TO TRY

    

2005

Source F         Government's attempts to influence people during the Second World War

                     A poster distributed in Britain during the Second World War

(b)    Why was the poster in Source F distributed in Britain during the Second World War?  

        Use Source F and your own knowledge to answer the question                                  (6 marks)

 

  

  


Answer a          Level: No level awarded          Mark: 0
•   This answer reveals a complete lack of understanding:

 - the poster was to persuade women to volunteer - conscription was where they were MADE to go into industry;

- to suggest that the WLA was to 'give them something to do is ridiculous.

•   This is a Grade u answer.  

Answer b          Level: 1          Mark: 1
•  
ü L1 is awarded for linking to the general information that the men were away fighting, but it is not explained 'fully-through' why this prompted the poster.

•   The second paragraph is about factories, not about the WLA.

•   This is a Grade u answer.  

 

Answer c          Level: 1          Mark: 2

•   ü L1 is awarded for linking to the general information that the men were away fighting, but it is not explained 'fully-through' why this prompted the poster.

•   ü L1 is also awarded for making the general point that the poster was designed to attract women by complimenting them.

•   This is a Grade E answer - note that getting TWO points, not one only, at L1 moves the answer from Grade u to Grade E!.  

Answer d          Level: 2          Mark: 3

•   ü L1 is awarded for linking to the general information that the men were away fighting, but it is not explained 'fully-through' why this prompted the poster.

•   ü L2 is awarded for explaining the purpose of the poster - 'the government realised they needed'.

•   Note that the last point about married women adds no mark - the poster is not explicitly aimed at them, so it is not a separate point: it just adds a little to the previous argument.

•   This is a Grade C answer.  

Answer e         Level: 3          Mark: 5

•   ü L2 is awarded for the specific factual-context reference to the 'Dig for Victory' campaign.

•   ü L2 is also awarded for explaining HOW the poster was supposed to work to attract young women (it was 'worthwhile').

•   and because the candidate has referred to factual context AND explained how the poster was supposed to 'work', this is a L3 answer!  

•   This is a Grade A* answer.  

Answer f          Level: 3          Mark: 5

•   ü L2 is awarded for the specific factual-context reference to convoys.

•   ü L2 is also awarded for explaining (especially well) HOW the poster was supposed to work to attract young women (it was 'worth doing').

•   and because the candidate has referred to factual context AND explained how the poster was supposed to 'work', this is a L3 answer!  

•   This is a Grade A* answer.