PAPER 2 A GUIDE TO THE ‘HOW USEFUL’ QUESTION

PAPER 2A GUIDE TO THE ‘HOW USEFUL’ QUESTION

Types of question - Reminder There are 4 different types of question in Paper 2: 1. How Useful? (5 marks) 2. Comparison (5 marks) 3. How Far? (10 marks) 4. How Fully? (10 marks) Please note that Paper 2 questions can appear in any order!!! The whole paper is worth a total of 30 marks.

How Useful Question5 Marks • Similarities to the Standard Grade type of question but worth 5 marks = 5 answers. • Always starts “How useful is the source as evidence of….”

O.P.C.R An easy way to remember how to answer a higher “How useful” question would be: • O = Origin, where is the source from and why is this good/bad ? • P= Purpose, why was the source written? • C= Content, what does the source say that is useful and give a wider explanation with recall. • R= Recall, what is missing from the source that would make it even more useful.

Using a source say if it is a good or bad source by discussing: • Always start by saying “This source is partly useful because….” • Origin & purpose = up to 2 marks for saying where the source comes from and why this is good/bad and the purpose of the source, why written, is important.

Evidence from the source = up to 2 marks for selecting at least 3 parts of the source and saying why their information make the source more useful, this will also involve recall. • What’s missing = up to 2 marks for including missing evidence that helps to decide if it is a useful source. • Give a conclusion to sum up your main points of why the source is useful/not useful.

Example Question 1 • Source A is from a letter written by Private Douglas Hepburn of the London Scottish Regiment to his parents in October 1915.

Source A My dear Mum and Dad, We have been in the trenches for ten days and had a very rough time of it coming out with only 160 men left in our battalion. The Germans at the point where we attacked were ready and too strong for us. As we rushed up to the edge the machine gun was turned on us and we suffered high casualties. In the morning we came back and the sight of the field was rotten. To see stretcher-bearers going here and there, doing their work and the wounded crying for the bearers was a sight that could not easily be forgotten on the grey, misty and damp morning.

The Question How useful is Source A as evidence of the experience of Scottish soldiers on the Western Front? 5 marks

Remember! In reaching a conclusion you should refer to: • The origin and possible purpose of the source • The content of the source • Recalled knowledge O.P.C.R

Introduction • Firstly, your answer should have a short introduction saying that the source has some use. No source is entirely useful but no source is entirely useless either: Source A is partly useful for finding out about the experiences of Scottish soldiers on the Western Front. However the source does have its limitations.

Origin The origin part should include: • - Who wrote the source? • - When was it written? • - Is the source Primary or Secondary? • - Why is this important?

Origin continued The source is part of a letter written by a Scottish soldier on the Western Front in 1915. This is useful as it is a Primary source which comes from an eyewitness who has been fighting in the trenches.

Purpose • The purpose part should say Why the source was written: The purpose of the source is therefore to let his parents know of his experiences at the front. The writer is likely to be telling the truth but may not say anything to worry his parents. Letters from the front were often censored but this one seems to be uncensored due to the detail that is given.

Content • You should now examine the CONTENT of the source but with a little of your own knowledge: The source gives some accurate detail about trench warfare. The source is correct to say that British casualties were high due to heavy machine gun fire. The British also attacked trenches when the Germans were ready and waiting. The Germans often dug deep trenches to shelter from heavy British artillery before a battle. Finally, the source is correct to mention that some battles were fought in bad weather. This caused the trenches to flood and made it even more difficult for stretcher bearers to tend to the wounded.

Recall • Finally, you now need your own RECALL. *Remember! The Recall should answer the question – ie. How useful is the source as evidence of the experience of Scottish soldiers on the Western Front? • Don’t simply write everything you know about the First World War. What does the source miss out about the experience of Scottish soldiers on the Western Front?

Recall continued • The source is limited however. There is no mention of some of the other problems of trench life such as lice, trench foot, disease, basic food, boredom and the shell-shock which soldiers suffered. There is also no mention of Gas attacks and the use of tanks.

Conclusion • Finally, give a very brief conclusion: In conclusion, the source is fairly useful as evidence of the experience of Scottish soldiers on the Western Front. But it is only one soldier’s experience from one letter. Much more would be needed to give a full picture.

PAPER 2 A GUIDE TO THE ‘HOW USEFUL’ QUESTION