How To Answer Enquiry Skills Questions

What Are Enquiry Skills Questions? In standard grade history you have to answer SIX types of enquiry skills questions which will ask you to look at different types of evidence or sources.

Types of Questions ES1 - How useful/valuable/reliable is a Source? ES2 - Comparison of two sources ES3 - Identifying an attitude/opinion in a source

Types of Questions ES4 - Placing a source (s) in a wider historical context ES5 – Selecting and organising information from a source (s) ES6 – Writing a conclusion

ES1 – How Useful/Valuable/Reliable Is a Source? A useful MNEMONIC which can help you answer this question is: P urpose C onsistency A uthorship A ccuracy D ate B ias D etail L imitation E xaggeration PADD CABLE

Source C is from the ‘Oban Telegraph’, 10th September 1880 The year 1880 is a truly great one in the history ofOban. The arrival of the Callander and Oban Railway has brought great prosperity to the town. The opening of the rail route has increased trade and boosted local businesses, particularly our hotels and lodging houses. There has been no halt in the number of visitors and the cry is ‘they still come!’. How useful is Source C for investigating the impact of railways in Scotland?

I pick coal at the coal face. I have done this Source D is an extract from the 1842 Children’s Employment Commission Report I pick coal at the coal face. I have done this for six years. The seam is 26 inches high and when I pick I have to twist myself up. It is horrible sore work; none every come up for meals. Pieces of bread are taken down. Six of the family work with father below; when work is good he takes away £1 to £1.25 a week. How useful is Source D as evidence of working conditions in coal mines?

In Source A John MacDonald from the island of Borerary, near North Uist, speaking in 1914 describes his family’s decision to emigrate. My father died in 1912 probably from a stomach ulcer….there was no doctor on the island. My mother realised there was no future for the family on Borerary. We could not support ourselves from the croft. So it was decided to join Uncle Dan in Canada. In British Columbia we met many other emigrants from Scotland….all of them spoke of the better living prospects that life in Canada offered them.

How useful is Source A as evidence of emigration from Scotland in the early 20th century? Source A is useful as evidence of emigration from Scotland in the early 20th century. It is a primary source from 1914 when many Scots were emigrating to other countries (DATE). The source was produced by an eyewitness, John MacDonald who emigrated to Canada (AUTHORSHIP). In the source he describes his reasons for emigrating for example, his family could not support themselves on their croft (DETAIL). However the sources does not mention other countries which Scots emigrated to such as Australia and South Africa (LIMITATION)

ES2 – Comparing Sources This type of question will usually start with words like: To what extent do Sources D and E agree/disagree/differ about…..? Compare the points of view in Sources D and E about? How far do Sources D and E agree/disagree about…?

How To Answer This Question Read the sources carefully and look for: Points they agree on Points they disagree on Points only mentioned in one source. Quote from the sources to support your answer. Remember that two sources may make the same point but use different words. Give an overall conclusion.

ES3 – Explaining Attitudes in a Source This type of question will usually start with words like: Discuss the attitude of the author of Source B about…..? What does the author of Source A think about…..? What is the attitude of the author of Source B towards…?

How To Answer This Question In your own words, identify the main points in the source which show the author’s opinion. Finally in one sentence sum up what the author’s overall opinion is. Is it positive or negative and then explain why. Do not copy or quote from the source. You must only use the source to answer the question.

We, as women will do our share without Source A is from a letter by a woman, published in the Morning Post on 15th August 1917. We, as women will do our share without murmuring and without complaint. Send the pacifists to us and we shall soon show them. The common soldier who goes ‘over the top’ has the women of the British race behind him: reliable and dependent. What is the attitude of the author of Source A towards conscientious objectors during the First World War. (4 marks)

Sample Answer The author of Source A praises women for helping the war effort without complaining. She thinks that women can show the pacifists how to do the same. She supports the soldiers fighting in the trenches. Overall the author of Source A has a negative view towards conscientious objectors and is critical of them.

The British navy is to us a necessity, and, In Source B Winston Churchill considers the naval situation of both Britain and Germany. The British navy is to us a necessity, and, from some points of view, the German navy is to them more in the nature of a luxury. Our naval power involves British existence. It is existences to us; it is expansion to them. The whole future of our race and Empire would perish and be swept away if our naval supremacy was impaired. What is the attitude of the author of Source B towards the naval arms race (4 marks)

Sample Answer The author of Source B believes that the British navy is a necessity for the country but a luxury for the Germans. The author supports the view that Britain cannot exist without its navy. The author warns that the Germans want a navy to expand. He is concerned that Britain will perish if they did not have naval supremacy. Overall the author has a negative view of the naval arms race and believes Germany is a threat to Britain.

ES4 – Setting a Source(s) In A Wider Historical Context This type of question will usually start with words Like: How fully ……….. How far …………. To what extent. It will always be followed by the instruction…………… You should use your own knowledge and give reasons for your answer.

How To Answer This Question Identify the main points in the source relevant to the question. Use recalled knowledge to identify points which the source(s) do not mention about the topic. Answer the question!! You cannot get full marks without recall.

Source B is about changes to voting between 1850-1911 In 1850 only 5% of the adult population had the right to vote. Voting was not seen as a right but as a privilege. Between 1867-1885 a number of laws were passed which gave the vote to a large proportion of working class men. By 1885, around 66% of men now had the vote. In 1872 an act was passed which introduced voting by secret ballot. How fully does Source B explain the changes in voting introduced between 1850 and 1930? You should use your own knowledge and give reasons for your answer. (4 marks)

Sample Answer: Source B explains the changes in voting introduced between 1850-1930 to an extent. Between 1867- 1885 a large proportion of working class men got the vote (SOURCE). In total by 1885 66% of men could now vote (SOURCE). A secret ballot act was also introduced in 1872 (SOURCE). However the source does not mention that in 1918 women over 30 got the vote (RECALL) and ten years later in 1928 all women over 21 got the vote (RECALL).

After the National Health Service Act In Source A, a health visitor describes the impact of the National Health Service. After the National Health Service Act of 1948, dental care and glasses were provided free of charge. With the introduction of free hospitals and GPs, people no longer had to pay for medical treatment. How fully does Source A accurately explain the reasons why the health of the Scottish population improved in the twentieth century? You should use your own knowledge and give reasons for your answer. (4 marks)

Sample Answer: Source A explains why the health of the Scottish population improved to an extent. People received dental care and glasses free of charge (SOURCE). People no longer had to pay for medical treatment (SOURCE). They could visit their doctor and hospital free of charge (SOURCE). However the source does not mention that health also improved because sanitation improved and people had clean running water and toilets in their homes (RECALL).