You are on page 1of 1

SKILL

Steps
Guide
to
answering
SBQ
1. Inference
What does this source tell
you about

1.
2.
3.
4.

Inference What is the source trying to say?


Clues Provide the evidence!! Singapore was
attacked by
Elaborate Use your clues to elaborate on your
inference. * In addition, provide your contextual
knowledge if possible.
Purpose Hw does he want the audience to react?

Explanation of steps
TIP! Have a good understanding of the background information or try and
recall what was happening during the time this source was written (this is
also known as CONTEXT).

INFERENCE CLUES ELABORATE

2. Purpose/Message

e.g What is the message of


this cartoon?
What is the purpose of this
Source?
Why did the author write
this?

1.
2.
3.
4.

***KEYWORDS: Why, purpose,


message, intention

Author - Who wrote the source?


Message What is the moral of the story? What does
he want to tell people? Give CLUES!!
Audience Who is the source for? Who do you think
will be reading the source? Explain why you think its
for that specific audience.
Outcome (AKA PURPOSE)- What is the impact
that the author wanted to produce on the audience?
Common vocabulary: Convince, persuade,
propaganda, warn, criticize, glorify, praise, condemn,
justify, blame, to gain support, change peoples
opinion about something

A majority of purpose/message skills revolve around political cartoons


or photographs
The best way to understand the source is to fully understand the
BACKGROUND INFO, only then can you understand what the source
s talking about. It will help you to answer steps such as Message,
Audience and Purpose.
For Outcome, remember that the author is trying to send a message
to PEOPLE!! So its not enough to say that the author wants to
criticize the govt. You also have to add on wants to influence
people to oppose the government or to go against the
government

AUTHOR MESSAGE AUDIENCE OUTCOME

3. Comparison

e.g. How different are


Sources A & B in telling you
about
How similar are the 2 sources
How far do these 2 sources
disagree/agree about

1.
2.
3.

Sweety Pie Cup of Tea Please

4.
5.
6.

4. Comparison
*Modified I
e.g Study sources A & B. the
2 sources have different
views. Does this mean that
one of them is
wrong/lying/incorrect/not
telling the truth?

Source Type: What kind of source is it? eg. Written,


textual, Oral, Pictorial
Provenance:- Who wrote the source/when or where
was it written?
Content Compare the content of the 2 Sources.
Start of with the basis of comparison first. E.g. The 2
sources are different in terms of performance. The 2
boys are different in terms of
intelligence/height/weight/etc.
If sources are different use linking words such as,
.whereas/however/while + Dont forget to give
clues
Tone Critical/Condemning/Praising/neutral
Purpose [Refer to the Outcome portion of the
Purpose/Message skill.]
Evaluate If possible

PROVENANCE - ISSUE TONE PURPOSE


EVALUATE
1. Provenance Compare who wrote the source.
2. Issue Compare the issues of the 2 sources in
relation to the QN.
3. Tone + Purpose Combine the 2 together, but keep
in mind, you are trying to figure out which source is
lying.
4. Evaluate Put yourself in the sources shoes
ISSUE X-REFERENCE TONE - PURPOSE

Whenever a question asks you to study 2 sources, you can almost be


guaranteed that you will be using the comparison skill.
Start with the default sentence for each paragraph, The 2 sources
are similar/different in terms of provenance/issue/tone/purpose
There should be a total of 4 paragraphs + 1 paragraph for your
conclusion
For issue if you come across similarities AND differences, do not be
afraid to give both, sometimes that is what the QN wants you to do
For EVALUATE, this is something you do at the end of ALL SKILLS
where possible. This is your last chance to give your two cents worth
about what the QN is asking. Try to look at the QN again and see if
you have answered the QN.

Provenance: A simple comparison of the authors will do, stating who


they are later will help you decide if they are biased later on.
Issue: Remember to keep the question in mind when comparing the
issue. You are comparing something specific that the QN is asking.
Tone + Purpose: Look at the tone and try to determine if any source
is lying. After you explain the tone of a sourceMr.
youFairoz/YHSS/2011
must give the
purpose of the source as well.
Evaluate: End of your answer by trying to understand why each
person said the things he said. In most questions, the ending is

You might also like