Exam technique for transformation of surgery exam

Question one is an inference question

Think about what is suggested or implied by the source

Explain how the source helped you to make that inference

Don't just describe what the source shows

You must make at least two inferences

Support each inference

If it is a picture source try to find some key messages in the picture- don't simply decribe what you see

Don't copy out large chuncks of writing from a written source

Use words like suggests, infers, indicates instead of, this proves or demonstrates.

End the answer with a two line conclusion to summerise the key message.

eg. Clearly the cartoonist/ authors key message is that...

This is an analysis question

You need to explain the message the source is trying to give.

Think about why the source was created and how their creator get the message across.

Think about what has and hasn't been included and why

Identify the message of the source

Explain how the message is being given

For visual sources think about colours, posistions and the use of light.

For written sources think about the language used details given and the order they have been presented.

This is a cross referencing question

List the ways sources agree with eachother or support the statement

List the ways sources disagree with eachother or don't support the statement

Make an overall judgment about how far they agree

Explain how far sources agree and disagree

Explain you judgment in terms of both content and reliability

Underline all points that agree or disagree in different colours

Consider overall attitude of the source and why the may differ

Do you need to consider reliability

This is an usefulness or reliabilty question

Think about what information in the source is relevant to the topic of the question

Considering reliability- who created the source and why do you trust the source

Judge the usefulness of the content of each source, take into account how that is affected by the sources reliability

Judge which source is more useful- some sources may be mery useful in one way but not in another.

When explaining how useful sources are explain its revelance to the question

Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the source

This question is about evaluating a hypothesis

Carefully read the statement

Decide which sources agree and disagree with the statement

Give evidence from the sources and own knowledge

Think about the reliability

Use all the named sources

Weigh up evidence given in the sources and using your own knowledge draw up a conclusion

Content: What can you get directly from the source

Bias: A source is still useful even if it is biased because it can give someones opinion on an event.

Selection: What has been included in the source what has been left out. This is important for considering reliability, usefullness and purpose of a source.

Purpose: The reason the source was created could be a question but it is also useful to assess the reiliability of the source.

Origins: The caption should tell you who produced the source ad when- this will help you assess the reliabilty of the source.

Nature: What type of source is it? A diary, newspaper article, cartoon. This will help assess the usefullness and reliability of the source.