Question Guidance: Are you surprised by this source... ?
This question will give you a source that might contradict your own knowledge, you need to say
what seems right with it and what seems to be wrong compared to what you thought.
Explain why you
are surprised by
the source
I am surprised by this source because…
Source Extract
Where it says “........”
Relevant own
knowledge which
supports Source
Extract
(Possible sentence starters: This is different from my own knowledge…)
Explain why you
are not surprised
by the source
However, I am not surprised by this source because…
Relevant own
knowledge about
another factor
(Possible sentence starters: This links to…/ I know from my own knowledge…/ This is
relevant to…/ This can be seen when….)
Overall
I am both surprised at this source but not completely because…
Getting the Marks
If you complete boxes 1 you will only get 1 marks
(E Grade)
If you complete boxes 1 and 2/3 you will get 2-3 marks
(D Grade)
If you complete boxes 1, 2, and 3 OR 4 and 5 you will get 4-5 marks
(C Grade)
If you complete all boxes you will get between 6 and 7 marks
(A-B Grade)
Example Question
Now, before I forget, I must give you a message from our Friend
Rasputin, prompted by what He saw in the night. He begs you to order
an advance near Riga, saying it is necessary, otherwise the Germans will
settle down very firmly. There would be endless bloodshed if we then
try to make them move.
A letter from the Tsarina to the Tsar, 28 November, 1915.
Are you surprised by this source? Use the source and your knowledge to explain your answer.
[7]
(Jan 2012)
Level 1 Answers that express surprise using surface features of source
e.g. ‘I am not surprised that the Tsarina was writing to the absent Tsar.’
1
Level 2 General claims about surprise / not surprised OR Context without surprised / not
surprised
2-3
e.g. ‘I am not surprised as the Tsarina listened to everything Rasputin said.’ ‘I am not
surprised Rasputin was referred to as a ‘friend.’
Level 3 Explains surprised OR not surprised In context
4-5
e.g. ‘I am surprised that the Tsarina is interfering with Russian military strategy by telling
the Tsar what Rasputin has been dreaming and that Rasputin was aware of such detail.’
OR
e.g. ‘It is not surprising that the Tsarina was communicating this information to the Tsar
because when the Tsar left for the front in 1915, he effectively left the running of the
government to the Tsarina and Rasputin. Rasputin was the guiding influence over
government policy and the thoughts of the Tsarina. The Tsar was equally impressed by
Rasputin and would have taken such advice albeit from a dream quite seriously. It shows
the level of inappropriate influence of Rasputin.’
Level 4 Explains surprised OR not surprised in context Both sides of Level 3
6-7