1. Source Based Questions To What Extent Questions
To What Extent Questions

2. We are learning to… Analyse complex sources of information
Discuss how to reach a precise conclusion
Write exam style answers for “to what extent” style questions

3. Success Criteria
I will analyse sources by breaking them down into manageable chunks.
I will be follow the suggested answer structure for “to what extent” questions.

4. Source-based Questions
There are two different source based questions in the Higher Politics exam.
“Comparison” Questions
“To What Extent” Questions
Both questions are worth 8 marks (16 marks available overall).

5. To what extent… Questions
3 Statistical Sources
Asked to determine how accurate the provided statement is.
Overall evaluation is important.
To what extent Questions will only ever appear in Unit 3 - Political Parties and Elections

6. Marking Scheme
Analysis marks are awarded for correctly interpreting the electoral data (up to 6 marks)
Both parts of the statement must be analysed for full marks.
Final 2 marks are awarded for correctly evaluating how accurate the overall statement is.

7. Approaching the question
The first thing to do when answering this question is to split the statement up into 2 parts.
This will enable you to access all the marks and also point out what data in the sources is the most valuable.
I recommend using two different coloured highlighters – one for each part of the statement.

8. Approaching the question
Now you use the electoral data to decide how accurate each part of the statement is.
You should be looking to find roughly 3 pieces of information for each part of the statement.
“Across the city as a whole and in each of the five boroughs, both Michael Bloomberg in 2009 and Bill de Blasio in 2013, overwhelmingly defeated their opponents in the elections for New York mayor.”

9. “Across the city as a whole and in each of the five boroughs, both Michael Bloomberg in 2009 and Bill de Blasio in 2013, overwhelmingly defeated their opponents in the elections for New York mayor.”
In 2009 Michael Bloomberg only achieved 51% of the vote and there was only 5% of a difference between the 2 candidates across the city as a whole.
Michael Bloomberg won significant victories in Staten Island, Manhattan and Queens. In Staten Island he achieved twice as many votes as his opponent.
Thompson easily beat Bloomberg in the Bronx and also beat him in Brooklyn.

10. “Across the city as a whole and in each of the five boroughs, both Michael Bloomberg in 2009 and Bill de Blasio in 2013, overwhelmingly defeated their opponents in the elections for New York mayor.”
The winning candidate Bill de Blasio won with nearly 75% of the vote
citywide.
Joe Lhota defeated De Blasio in Staten Island.
Bill de Blasio secured massive victories in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

11. “In the 2013 mayoral election, Bill de Blasio comprehensively defeated his opponent in every section of society.”
Bill de Blasio easily defeated his opponent amongst all ethnic minority groups for example among blacks 96% voted for de Blasio and only 3% for his opponent. The results were closer between white voters (54%) for de Blasio and 43% for Lhota). However, he still beat him by 11 points.
In 2013, de Blasio easily defeated his opponent in all income groups, for example he achieved almost two thirds of the vote in the $100,000 income category. It was significantly higher in the other two income groups (with 86% in the less than $50,000 category and 75% in the $50,000-$99,999 group.
De Blasio defeated Lhota in every single age group by significant margins

12. Answering the question (stage 1)
Show your analysis of the data, using the wording of the statement to help you:
The view states that across the city as a whole and in each of the five boroughs, both Michael Bloomberg in 2009 and Bill De Blasio in 2013, overwhelmingly defeated their opponents in the elections for New York Mayor. Source A shows that Bloomberg, the winner in 2009 won with only 51% of the vote whereas in Source B De Blasio the winning candidate in 2013 won with nearly 75% of the vote.
In 2009 Bloomberg won by over 10% of the vote in 3 of the 5 boroughs but Bill Thompson beat him in 2 (the Bronx and Queens) and although De Blasio won big victories in 4 of the 5 boroughs his opponent won in Staten Island.
De Blasio did overwhelmingly defeat his opponent (73%-24%) whereas Bloomberg only narrowly won (51%-46%) and neither candidate won in each of the 5 boroughs.

13. Answering the question (stage 2)
Do the same again, for the 2nd half of the statement: The also view states that in 2013 Bill de Blasio comprehensively defeated his opponent in every section of society. Source C shows that de Blasio gained 96% of the Black vote compared Lhota who gained just 3% - de Blasio also won by significant margins in all other ethnic groups, even whites where he took an 11 point lead. Source C further highlights that de Blasio defeated his opponent in all income groups, particularly the under $50,000 bracket where he took more than 4/5ths of the vote (86%). De Blasio also defeated Lhota in all age ranges, securing more than two-thirds of the vote in every category.

14. Answering the question (stage 3)
Now you must evaluate how accurate the statement is overall. The easiest way to do “correct” what is wrong (use evaluative language):
Overall the evidence does not really support the view that both victors won overwhelmingly across the city and in each of the 5 boroughs. De Blasio did win easily across the city but not in every area and Bloomberg only very narrowly beat his opponent citywide and also did not win in each of the five boroughs.
However the evidence does appear to support the view that De Blasio comprehensively defeated his opponent in each section of society as he won every single age, race and income group. His smallest margin of victory was among whites but he still comprehensively beat his opponent by over 10% of the votes in this group.