The 20-mark source question features in Paper 2 (you will attempt one 8-mark text based source question and one data handling question - the latter will be taught here).

The question appears daunting on first glance due to the amount of data that you need to process and analyse. Try not to let this phase you. You should devote around 55 minutes to reading and answering this question in the final examination.

Below is a step-by step approach to answering this type of question. The video above also takes you through the recommended approach and references the 20 mark question from the SQA 2019 Past Paper. You may wish to download and print this question so that you can go through it at the same time I am explaining it on the screen.

Technique

1.    Locate 5 different coloured highlighter pens.

2.    Identify the first part of the viewpoint.

3.    Identify the two or three component parts of the first part of the viewpoint.

4.    Assign a highlighter colour to each component part of the first part of the viewpoint.

5.    Identify the second part of the viewpoint.

6.    Identify the two or three component parts of the second part of the viewpoint.

7.    Assign a highlighter colour to each component part of the second part of the viewpoint.

8.    Underline the evaluation terms used in each component (eg: convincingly, significant defeat, significant margin, in all sections of society, in all regions, defeated in all areas, disaster, great success etc)

9.    Spend up to 15 minutes processing the information in the sources and assigning the relevant colour of highlighter (linked to each component part of the viewpoints) to the relevant data and/or textual information.

10.    Note the aspects that each source refers to. NB: each component of each part of the viewpoint (5 in total) will relate to up to four aspects (minimum number of aspects = 2 for a component part of the viewpoint). Aspects can be related to age, gender, ethnicity, year, region, income group, general election performance including vote share by constituency or Electoral College etc. The data will only relate to elections – these can relate to any election anywhere in the world. No background knowledge is required.

11.    Begin the write up. You will write 5 paragraphs worth 4 marks each:

NB: 

•    There will always be 5 components within the main viewpoint shown in the box.

•    There will always be between 2 and 4 aspects of data that relate to each component part of each viewpoint that you MUST identify. 

Marks are allocated as follows:

• If ONE aspect of data (out of a possible 2, 3 or 4 aspects) is identified = 1 mark
• If ALL aspects of data are identified correctly (the mark is the same if you have to write about 2, 3 or 4 aspects of data) = 2 marks
• If ALL aspects of data are identified correctly (the mark is the same if you have to write about 2, 3 or 4 aspects of data) AND if there is synthesis/a link shown between evidence = 3 marks
• If ALL aspects of data are identified correctly (the mark is the same if you have to write about 2, 3 or 4 aspects of data) AND if there is synthesis/a link shown between evidence AND the evidence is EVALUATED in relation to the viewpoint WITH justification = 4 marks.