Singapore Fireworks Festival Team FRANCE

This is the last of the Fireworks Festival. Will be back for more next year.

COMMON STEPS TAKEN TO ANSWER SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS

STEPS FOR ANSWERING INFERRING QUESTIONS

1) Find evidence from source.

Your evidence must be relevant to the topic required by the question.

2) Make conclusion based on the evidence you identified.

Your conclusion must be based on the evidence that you identified. Hence this conclusion should be relevant to the topic of the question.

3) Explain your conclusion with relevance to the question.

This explanation will link your conclusion to the question. Hence when you explain your conclusion, you are basically addressing the question.



STEPS FOR ANSWERING 'HOW USEFUL' QUESTIONS

This type of questions require you to assess the usefulness of the SOURCE given. That is, you are required to show the strengths and limitations of the SOURCE.

Simply put, does the source help you in your understanding of the topic. If it does, its useful. If it does not, it is therefore lacking in information which you can perhaps find in other sources like your textbook.

1) Identify the topic of the question.

Ensure that you know what is the key point required by the question.

2) Do a word splash once the topic is identified.

Write down in point form all the points that are relevant to the topic. These points are basically facts that were delivered in class and those that you have revised.

3) Locate the points (identified in word splash) from the source.

Try to link these points in the word splash to the source. That is, match word splash with source.

4) Assess the strengths and limitations of source.

If you are able to find points from the word splash in the source, it means that the source has provided you with information pertaining to the topic of the question. Hence the source is useful.

However, if you cannot find points from word splash in the source, it means that the source is lacking in those information. Hence the source is not useful.



STEPS FOR ANSWERING COMPARISON QUESTIONS

Basically this type of questions requires you to look for similarities and differences in how the source present the points to you. So you should be on the lookout for similarities and differences in contents, that is, do they show the same facts or different facts.
You should also be on the lookout for similarities and differences in terms of presentation. That is, a map or picture will be very different in the way the points are presented to you as compared to an article.

1) Identify the topic of the question.

Ensure that you know what is the key point required by the question.

2) Do a word splash once the topic is identified.

Write down in point form all the points that are relevant to the topic. These points are basically facts that were delivered in class and those that you have revised.

3) Locate the points (identified in word splash) from the sources.

Try to link these points in the word splash to the sources. That is, match word splash with sources.

4) Assess the similarities and differences of the Sources.

If you are able to find points from the word splash in BOTH sources, it means that the sources are similar. Once you identify that the points are similar, GIVE evidence from both sources to show their similarities.

However, if you cannot find points from word splash in ONE source but is able to do so in the other, it means that the sources are difference. Once you identify that the sources are different, GIVE evidence from both soures to show their differences.

More Fireworks By Team Caledonia

Singapore Fireworks Festival Team Singapore 8 August 2006

These are some of the highlights of the fireworks I saw at the Padang at 9 pm. You can still catch the action on the 11 August and 12 August at the Marina Bay. Dont miss it!

Answers for E Learning Source Based Questions

1a) From Source A, there are many natural geographical features like deserts and mountains such as the Taklamakan Desert and the Himalayas (evidence). This implies that these features might be obstacles/barriers for traders traveling along the routes (conclusion). This meant that the traders are forced to go around these features and hence used different routes (explanation).

In addition, Source A shows that there are many towns and cities along the Silk Road (evidence). This suggests that these towns and cities offered a wide variety of goods such as wine, spices precious stones (conclusion). This meant that the traders would have to use different routes in order to acquire different goods (explanation)

Source A also shows that the journey from Chang’an to Rome is very long (evidence). This infers that they would probably need to stop for rest and replenishment of supplies (conclusion). This meant that they would have to use different routes so that they could find lodging/shelter and supplies (explanation).


1b) Source B is useful in showing the contributing factors to the Golden Age of China. Emperor Mingdi was thought to have sent a representative to India to acquire scriptures of Buddhism. This suggests that the Han rulers encouraged the freedom of religious practices. This meant that the good governmental policies was crucial in ushering in the Golden Age of China.
In addition, Source B shows that five thousand foreigners resided in the city of Chang’an. This implies that there was racial harmony which was probably due to the freedom given to the people by the rulers. Hence Source B is USEFUL in showing that the government played an important role in bringing about a Golden Age.

On the other hand, Source B has its limitations in showing the factors. While Source B shows that the government encouraged freedom of religious practices, it did not state other kind of policies like the land equalization system which gave the people a means of livelihood. This is important as it led to peace which is a crucial factor for Golden Age.
In addition, Source B is not very useful in showing that as a result of what the government did for the people, there was peace and stability. It did not specifically show that the people actually benefit from the many policies implemented by the government. Hence Source B is not useful as it did not show that with peace and stability, a golden age was possible.


1c) Sources A and C are similar in showing that the name of the Silk Road is misleading. From Source A, the map shows that the Silk Road is not just one road but a series of routes that connects different towns/cities. This is also seen in Source C where its shows that no single route was taken but instead a northern route and southern route. Thus both sources are similar in showing that the name of Silk Road is misleading as it is made up of many different routes.
In addition, Source A shows many different towns and cities which suggests that different kind of goods could be found there. Similarly, Source C stated clearly that silk is not the only commodity traded along this road but many other commodities like spices and exotic goods. Hence both sources are similar in showing that the name is misleading as not only silk is traded but many other goods.

On the other hand, Sources A and C are different in their presentation of the facts. While Source C gives a more specific and detailed account of the reasons why the name is misleading, Source A is only a map which shows physical features like routes and names of towns. While Source A sought to explain the reasons for the misleading name, Source C is vague and does not provide any reasons. It did not give examples like the different goods that were found.

The Silk Routes

The routes also changed due to natural geographical barriers like mountains and deserts. The Himalayas and the Pamirs mountains and the Taklamakan deserts play a crucial role in forcing traders to use alternative routes as traders would have to avoid these obstacles. This resulted in the Silk Road branching into many routes.

Reading Topic for History Test 14 August 2006

The topic for this History Test on the 14 August 2006 is the Silk Road. The test will be Source Based Questions. Hence it will be useful to revise through the answer schemes that I have either given you in class or email to you. These answer schemes help you see the steps required in order to answer the questions.

To gain a better understanding of the topic, do key in "the silk road" in any search engines. You may want to read this website.

Click on the link http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~pamlogan/srart.html

Answers for the E Learning work will be posted next week once I have gone through with you in class. Do check this site regularly for more updates.