What this lesson teaches
I can explain how citizens and the government each bring something different when they work for the good of society.
Syllabus K230, Issue 1, Key Understandings. Both citizens and government can play complementary roles in working for the good of society.
Make a guess
In Question 5, a student uses four sources, all supporting the statement. How do you think the answer is capped?
- Level 3, because each source used comes from the case study.
- High marks, because four sources is a lot.
- At Level 2, because only one side of the statement is used.
Show the answer
At Level 2, because only one side of the statement is used.
Mark schemes reward both sides. Using sources that agree and disagree reaches Level 3, and marks rise with sources used.
Use sources on both sides, each named, quoted and explained. Marks rise with the number of sources, and testing one source earns a bonus.
Question 5 is worth 10 marks. It gives a statement and asks how far the sources support it. Mark schemes count sources. A common scheme: one side only caps you at Level 2 (about 2 to 4 marks). Both sides reach Level 3: 5 marks for two sources, 6 for three, 7 for four and 8 for five, if they are balanced across both sides.
Up to 2 bonus marks go to answers that test a source's reliability or usefulness, or add relevant contextual knowledge, on top of a good Level 3 answer.
Write one paragraph per source. Say whether it agrees or disagrees, quote a short piece of evidence, then explain the outcome: what that evidence shows about the statement. Bare letters ("D agrees") without evidence do not count as source use.
End with a judgement that answers "how far": to a large extent, to some extent, or only to a small extent, with a reason. For G3, aim for four or five sources. For G2, use at least two that agree and two that disagree.
- Counting
- Both sides needed. Two sources 5, three 6, four 7, five 8, plus up to 2 for testing a source.
- Per source
- Agree or disagree, short quote, explained outcome.
Worked example: How the source count changes the mark
Statement: "Volunteers matter more than the government in helping families in need." Six sources are given.
- Two agreeing sources only: Level 2, about 3 marks.
- One agreeing and one disagreeing source, each quoted and explained: Level 3, 5 marks.
- Two agreeing and two disagreeing: 7 marks. Three and two: 8 marks.
- Add a test of one source, for example "Source D is the group's own report to its funder, and Source E contradicts its claim", for up to 2 bonus marks.
Watch out for this
I should use every source on the side I agree with.
One-sided answers are capped. Use sources on both sides, then make your judgement in the conclusion.
Check your understanding
Under a counting scheme, which plan earns the most marks?
- Five sources agreeing with the statement, each one quoted in full.
- Two agreeing and three disagreeing, each quoted and explained.
- One agreeing and one disagreeing source, with a long conclusion.
Show the answer
Two agreeing and three disagreeing, each quoted and explained.
Right. Five balanced sources on both sides reach the top of Level 3.