Historical Skills: SQA Higher History source and essay skills quiz quiz

The Scottish section

The British section

The European and World section

None of the sections

Length, language, layout and the date of publication

Origin, purpose, relevant content and omission

Title, author, page number, publisher and edition

Spelling, grammar, overall tone and chosen font

Bias automatically makes a source a more accurate and reliable record of what really happened

Biased sources are always primary sources written at the time by an eyewitness

It is strong evidence of the views, aims or propaganda of those who produced it

Bias means the source can be safely ignored because it has no value at all

Only from copying the wording of the source out in full without adding anything else at all

From describing the physical appearance, handwriting and layout of the source document

From simply comparing the source with a second source given elsewhere in the paper

From relevant points in the source and accurate recalled knowledge it omits

An overall comparison states their main views; a detailed comparison explains specific points of agreement or difference

An overall comparison simply has to be written at greater length, while a detailed comparison must always be kept much shorter than it

They mean exactly the same thing and the two terms can be used interchangeably without any change in meaning

An overall comparison ignores the sources completely and relies only on your own recalled background knowledge

6 marks

22 marks

9 marks

20 marks

A list of relevant dates and events set out in strict chronological order from start to finish

A long quotation copied directly from one of the sources provided in the examination paper

Your overall answer to the question, stated at the start and sustained throughout

The single final sentence of the essay, written only once you reach the conclusion

Introduce several brand-new factors and pieces of evidence that were never mentioned anywhere before

Quote the wording of the question word for word and then stop the essay

List every single date that has been used anywhere in the essay

Weigh the factors against each other and reach a supported judgement

Narrating the story instead of analysing the factors

Including far too much accurate and relevant supporting detail in each paragraph

Writing a clear introduction that sets out the line of argument

Reaching a well supported judgement in the conclusion

Because the wording of the enquiry actually changes who originally wrote and produced the source

Because a source useful for one enquiry may be far less useful for another

Because every source is always equally useful for all possible enquiries and questions

Because the named enquiry is not actually relevant to judging usefulness