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Mr H · Site Admin Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 459

Interpretation

These questions are usually the last to be asked and carry the
most marks. You should be prepared to spend more time on these
questions. They will ask you to explain or make a judgement about the
past. You are usually required to use the sources and your own
knowledge.

1) The important thing to remember in answering this type
of question is to produce a balanced and well structured response.
You should also plan what you are going to say - again maybe in the
form of a table.

2) You should structure your answer like this:

- An opening paragraph which refers to the question and suggests
your opinion.
- Points from the sources and your own knowledge that support
the view in the question.
- Points from the sources and your own knowledge that oppose
the view in the question
- A closing paragraph, which again refers to the question and
sums up your opinion - a conclusion!

Mr H · Site Admin Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 459

Interpretation.

This requires you to assess how valid judgements about the past are.

INTERPRETATION = AN ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE / EXPLAIN /
MAKE A JUDGEMENT ABOUT THE PAST.

These are the higher mark questions - You must use both the sources and
your knowledge to answer the question. Try to fix in your mind the
judgement or interpretation that you are assessing the validity or truthfulness of by:

o Reading the sources carefully

o Reading the question carefully

o Making your answer well structured with an:
- opening paragraph
- supporting the judgement or evaluation
- arguing against the judgement
- making your conclusion well balanced about how valid the
judgement in the question is

o Make your first and last lines focus firmly on the question.