Source-Based Questions

To What Extent – SBQ Question 4

  • differs from an essay in that the points should all flow together to form one weighted conclusion
    • in an essay, the points all stand alone
    • select information that can link together, don’t dump everything out

Two Approaches:

Strongest Point
Factor X
Weaker Point
Factor Z
Factor X’stronger point’
Factor Y
Factor Y
Factor Zstrongest point
Factor X

Example:

Strongest Point
Factor X
Stalin’s strengths → political cunning
Weaker Point
Factor Z
Factor X
Stalin’s strength → charisma, populist approach
’stronger point’
Factor Z
Trotsky’s poor luck – health → missed important meetings, Lenin’s funeral → viewed as untrustworthy/distrusted → became a handicap preventing his rise to power
Factor Y
?
Counter Trotsky’s poor luck (without contradicting!) → maintained a strong popular following – especially among youths + red army
OR Trotsky’s poor decision making – e.g. publicly criticising policy approaches in Pravda
Factor Z
Weakness of political opponents on the left & right
strongest point
Factor X
Stalin’s ability to destroy Trotsky’s support