Examiner’s Specific Advice

The Unit 2 Part (a) essay asks candidates to compare source material in order to evaluate a claim. This requires the following skills:

First, candidates need to comprehend the sources and understand the ways in which they support or challenge the view advanced in the question.

Secondly, candidates must compare details from the sources, drawing out points of similarity or difference.

Thirdly, candidates need to consider the provenance of each source, using this to explain the similarities or differences between sources and give weight to the evidence provided.

Finally, candidates must use this information to reach a judgement about how far the sources as a set support or challenge the view advanced in the question.

 

Exemplar Question

Study Sources 1, 2 and 3.

(a) How far do the sources suggest that ‘on the whole, male politicians were by no means opposed to some form of female suffrage’ in the period 1906–1914?

Explain your answer using Sources 1, 2 and 3. [20 marks]

 

Planning Your Response

As this is a comparison question, it is important to consider not only how far each source agrees with the statement in the question, but also how far the sources agree with each other. This requires careful planning.

The quotation is taken from Source 1. Therefore, it is advisable to start with this source when planning your response. Source 1 argues that women’s suffrage had supporters among all of the major political parties, especially among significant political leaders.

However, among these supporters there was no clear agreement on the form that women’s suffrage should take. Source 2 agrees with Source 1 that supporters of women’s suffrage were found in all political parties, but adds further evidence that their impact was weak. Source 3 claims that women’s suffrage had substantial political support, but agrees with Source 2 that these supporters had limited impact on the progress of reform.

One possible way of structuring an answer to this question would be:

• Introduction: summarise how far the sources agree with the statement in the question
• Ways in which the sources agree that ‘on the whole, male politicians were by no means opposed to some form of female suffrage’
• Ways in which the sources disagree that ‘on the whole, male politicians were by no means opposed to some form of female suffrage’
• Conclusion

 

View Exemplar Answer 1

View Exemplar Answer 2