SQA Higher Politics assignment and skills overview quiz quiz

10 marks

30 marks

80 marks

100 marks

A multiple-choice test sat under timed exam conditions

A group presentation given to the rest of the class

An independent research report on a chosen political question

A practical fieldwork task carried out outside the classroom

A focused, contestable question with genuine alternative views

A very broad topic that covers as much ground as possible

A question with only one possible answer and no debate

A purely descriptive title that needs no judgement at all

A written exam followed by an oral interview

A research stage and a controlled write-up stage

A group debate followed by an individual essay

A planning lesson followed by a homework task

Copying the source word for word into the report

Ignoring where the source came from entirely

Using only sources that agree with one viewpoint

Judging its reliability by origin, author, date and bias

To present a balanced view with evidence for and against

To make the report as long as it can possibly be

To avoid ever having to reach any conclusion

To prove that only one side of the argument is correct

Introduce brand new evidence not mentioned anywhere before

Avoid taking any position on the question at all

Reach a clear judgement justified by the evidence gathered

Simply repeat the question without answering it

Memorising the entire course specification word for word

Detecting bias and exaggeration in a source

Designing the layout of a printed newspaper

Writing computer code to analyse opinion polls

Reaching a supported judgement by synthesising two or more sources

Copying out the most colourful quotation from one source

Choosing whichever source is the shortest to read

Refusing to make any judgement about the evidence

Listing features without any judgement or weighing

Describing one institution in as much detail as possible

Copying the wording of the question into the answer

A weighed judgement with a sustained, supported conclusion

The question papers

The assignment on its own

A separate unit assessment

An external oral examination

By learning only one of the three sections in any detail

By avoiding past papers and marking instructions

By working from the course content and drilling command words

By memorising sources without learning to evaluate them