Inference Skills for O level Social Studies

Source-Based Skills for O level Social Studies: Inferential Skills

Types of Social Studies O levels inferential questions include:

  1. What does it tell you…..?
  2. What is the message of the source….?

Example:  What is the message of source A?

Source A A cartoon drawn by a Tibetan living in Canada, published on his blog.

A format that can be used for the Social Studies O levels is as below:

Point (Answer the Question)

Evidence (Back it up with quotes from word sources and descriptions of pictorial sources)

Explain (Explain your evidence by linking your evidence to your inference i.e. point)

E.g. The message of the source is……………………………………. This is seen from the source where ……………………………..This implies………………………………………………………………………..

 

Types of inference of purpose questions in Social Studies O levels examinations include:

  1. What is the purpose………?
  2. Why is this source created…….?

In social studies, when we examine the purpose of the source, we seek to ask a few questions.

  1. Who is the creator of the source?
  2. To whom is the source addressed to? (Audience)
  3. What is the message of the source? (to Know)
  4. What kind of response/outcome does the creator hopes to evoke from the audience? (to Do)

We tend to use the acronym ACKD to help students to answer purpose questions more effectively.

E.g. The purpose of the source is to CONVINCE the…… audience….. to  let them know that ………(message)…….This is seen from the source ……..(evidence)………………….implying that ……..(explanation of evidence). Through this, the author hopes to convince the audience so that they will…….(response/outcome)….

 

Some tips from the GURU to score in the O level Social Studies examination:

  1. P.E.E. is crucial for all source based questions. Basically, the principles behind PEE is that you must back up your inferences (answers to questions) with evidence (explained) from the source)
  2. For purpose type of questions, do not be overly concerned about the ‘correct’ format. There is no 1-size-fits-all approach, just ensure that you answer the 4 questions regarding purpose of sources.

All the best for your O level Social Studies Examination revision!