Section 1: Identification & Evaluation of Sources
Requirements for Section 1 - 500 Words
clearly state the question they have chosen to investigate (this must be stated as a question)
include a brief explanation of the nature of the two sources they have selected for detailed analysis, including an explanation of their relevance to the investigation
analyse two sources in detail. With reference to the origins, purpose and content, the student should analyse the value and limitations of the two sources in relation to the investigation.
Rubric
1-2 mark = The question for investigation has been stated. The student has identified and selected appropriate sources, but there is little or no explanation of the relevance of the sources to the investigation. The response describes, but does not analyse or evaluate, two of the sources.
3-4 marks = An appropriate question for investigation has been stated. The student has identified and selected appropriate sources, and there is some explanation of the relevance of the sources to the investigation. There is some analysis and evaluation of two sources, but reference to their value and limitations is limited.
5-6 marks = An appropriate question for investigation has been clearly stated. The student has identified and selected appropriate and relevant sources, and there is a clear explanation of the relevance of the sources to the investigation. There is a detailed analysis and evaluation of two sources with explicit discussion of the value and limitations of two of the sources for the investigation, with reference to the origins, purpose and content of the two sources.
Tips for Formulating a Question
Command Term - Begin your question with either "To what extent" of "How significant"
Clarifying Terms - Makes sure to include specific dates, people, places, policy, etc... within your question
Concepts - try to include one of the key concepts within the question (Cause, Consequence, Change, Continuity, Significance, Perspective)
Focus the question - The IA should not be too big (ex. Hitler's anti-Jewish policy) but an extremely focused topic (ex. Nuremburg Laws)
Example Questions
"Event based"
To what extent is the My Lai massacre as evidence of American Experience in Vietnam?
To what extent was the Jewish State of Israel established through means of terrorism?
To what extent was the bombing of Dresden a necessary act of war?
Evaluate the impact of photos/photoshop on the consolidation of Stalin
Evaluate the Significance of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in terms of American Involvement in the Vietnam War
Examine the reasons for the abolishment of the slave trade
Evaluate the impact of the 1936 Berlin Olympics on Hitler's Aryan ideology
To what extent were the student riots of the 1980s in Korea the result of the policies of President Park?
"People based"
To what extent was Stalin's political cunningness responsible for his rise to power
Evaluate the portrayal of Rosa Parks since the Montgomery bus boycotts
To what extent is Hitler responsible for the German defeat in WW2
What was the historical significance of the sporting career of Muhammad Ali?
"Evidence based"
What are the values and limitations of the PC game 'Company of Heroes' to the Historian studying D-Day?
What are the values and limitations of the film "Amistad" to the historian studying the transatlantic slave trade?
How accurate is the depiction of the 'White Rose' in the film 'Sophie Scholl – The Final Days'?
How useful is "The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole" for an investigation of Thatcher's first administration?
How useful are declassified documents t for an investigation of the treatment of the Jewish Population of Vichy France?
To what extent are photographic sources of the Vietnam War more useful to the historian than written accounts?
How useful are visual sources in knowing what really happened during the 1984-5 miners' strike
Tips for Choosing Sources & Explaining the Relevancy
Primary & Secondary - Choose 1 primary and 1 secondary source for this, as this will ensure that the values and limitations are different
Explaining the source - identify how each source directly answers your research question; explain the different perspective in one sentence and why this relates to your question
Tips for Evaluating the Sources (OPCVL)
OPCVL - Make sure you are relying on the Paper 1 Skills we have practiced in class
FAQ for Section 1
How many words are Section 1? - There is no specific number, but aim for around 500 words
How many points is Section 1 worth? - 6 Points
How Many Sources do I analyze? - Make sure you fully evaluate 2 sources
How many values and limits do I need to include? - You should have a value and limit for each origin, purpose and content for 2 sources. That means 12 in total (6 per source)
What is the difference between a Primary & Secondary Source? - A primary source is a source from the period, such as a speech, photo, government regulation, newspaper, etc..., while a secondary source was written afterwards, usually by an historian
Student Exemplars - Section 1
Section1_ExemplarA copy.pdfSection1ExemplarB copy.pdf