Sec 3E Social Studies SBQ Guide
Basic Steps Upon Receiving SBQ Paper: IQU
Issue -> found above the background information
Question type -> indicate question type and formula
Underline -> draw t-table and underline the parts of each source that show which side of
the t-table it belongs to
In this set of notes:
1. Inference
2. Purpose
3. Comparison
4. Reliability
5. Study All Sources
Inference (IEE / AIREE)
Formula
● ATQ -> Issue -> Reason -> Evidence -> Explanation
Sample Questions
● What is the message of the source?
● What can you infer/learn/tell from the source?
Sample Inference Paragraph (from Ivory Coast SBQ Qn1)
Study Source A.
What can you learn from this source about the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast? Explain
your answer. [5]
I can learn from Source A [ATQ] that the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast [Issue from
question] is suffering because the government has not been successful in helping the
cocoa industry [Reason/Inference]. Source A depicts a farmer sitting beside unsold
bags of cocoa in a warehouse [Evidence]. Source A suggests that the farmer is not
getting any profits because he is unable to sell the cocoa beans [Explanation].
Things to note
● Inference must be in own words
● Evidence must describe the picture (what it depicts) or be a direct quote from the
source (what the source states “____”)
● Explanation must be in own words AND not repeat the inference
Purpose (AAMEMO)
Formula
● ATQ -> Action -> Audience -> Message -> Evidence -> Message Explained ->
Outcome
o Context (who/when) is before outcome
Keywords
“The intended message is…”
“The intended outcome is…”
Sample Questions
● What is the purpose of the source?
● What is the author’s intent/intention?
● Why was this source published?
Sample Purpose Paragraph (from Ivory Coast SBQ Qn4)
Study Source E.
Why do you think Source E was published? Explain your answer.
I think Source E was published (ATQ) to convince/criticize/persuade (action) the Ivory
Coast government (audience) that the government was not successful in helping the
cocoa industry because the government caused hardship for the farmers (message –
see issue). Source E states “the farmers are very fed up because this increase in price
was insufficient” (evidence). The intended message is that the government’s efforts are
not enough to benefit farmers (message explained – explain how quote supports
message). Source E is from Voice network which is a non-governmental organisation
working on sustainability in cocoa around the world so it has a political and
environmental motive in trying to convince the Ivory Coast government to help cocoa
farmers (context). Source E’s intended outcome is for the Ivory Coast government to
change its policy and raise the price of cocoa beans to help cocoa farmers (outcome).
Things to note
● Popular action words are convince (positive) and criticize (negative)
● Comment on the provenance (the line above the source which tells you where
the source is from) for context
● Message is taken directly from the issue and is what the source wants you to
know
● Outcome must be an action word and is about what kind of change of behaviour
the source wants from the target audience
● Target audience for outcome must be the same as the target audience in the first
line of the source
● Context is about analyzing WHO or WHEN. Look at the provenance (the line
above the source which tells you where the source is from) and consider what
kind of motive (political, commercial, personal etc) the author might have.
Examples of Action Words
Positive Negative Incorrect (DO NOT
USE)
Convince (very common) Criticize (very common) Show
Persuade Blame Highlight
Assure Mock Inform
Praise Tell
Comparison (Similar / Different)
Formula
● Similar: I1E2E1
● Different: MS+ I2E2E2
● Purpose: AAMO + AAMO [do not write unless very confident]
*remember to ATQ especially if there is a question issue (eg. question asks how far the
sources agree about the government’s policy in Ivory Coast). Similar = agree; different =
disagree.
Matching Statement + Differing Inferences
“Both sources are different in terms of…” + “Source B implies… but Source C
implies…”
Sample Questions
● How similar/different are the sources?
● How far do the sources agree/disagree?
Sample Comparison Paragraphs (from Ivory Coast SBQ Qn2)
Study Sources B and C.
How similar are Sources B and C? Explain your answer.
Sources B and C are similar (ATQ) in terms of the government being successful in
helping the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast (Inference). Source B states the government
is “making companies like Hershey pay more for cocoa beans as this increases the
income of farmers”. Source C states “in a new effort to help people get more benefits
from cocoa production, the government has built the country’s first chocolate factory”
(Evidence). This suggests that the government is putting in place policies which
improve the lives of the farmers (Explanation).
Sources B and C are different (ATQ) in terms of how the government is helping the
cocoa industry (Matching Statement). Source B implies the government is helping by
raising the price of cocoa beans. Source C implies by the government is helping by
constructing new factories (Inference). Source B states “we have implemented a
premium of $400 a tonne on cocoa beans because the cost has been too low”. Source
C states “the country’s first chocolate factory” has “created more employment
opportunities” (Evidence). Source B suggests that the government helps farmers to get
more income as the price of cocoa beans rises with the premium. Source C suggests
that the government helps the Ivory Coast people to get more jobs by creating a new
factory (Explanation).
Things to note
● Do your t-table. It will give you a free similarity or difference with the keyword
“whether”.
● If you are struggling to find the difference, use the 6W1H to analyse the sources
(who, what, when, where, why, whether, and how)
● Do not repeat the same words as your inference or evidence when explaining.
● You should have both sides (similar AND different) regardless what the question
asks .
Reliability (IEE + CR + IEE + L)
Formula
● Inference -> Evidence -> Explanation -> Cross-reference -> Inference ->
Evidence -> Explanation -> Link
Keywords
“I can confirm this by cross-referencing to Source X which tells me that…” OR
“This is supported by Source X which tells me that…”
“I can challenge this by cross-referencing to Source Y which tells me that…” OR
“This is challenged by Source Y which tells me that…”
“Since Source A confirms/supports Source B, Source B is reliable.”
“Since Source C challenges Source B, Source B is unreliable”
Cross-Reference
● Reliable / trust -> cross-reference to confirm
● Unreliable / do not trust -> cross-reference to challenge
● When confirming, inferences from the two sources are the SAME.
● When challenging, inferences from the two sources are OPPOSITE.
Sample Questions
● How reliable is the source as evidence about….?
● Can you trust this source as evidence that…?
● Can you believe what the source says about….?
Sample Reliability Paragraphs (from Ivory Coast SBQ Qn4)
Study Source D.
Can you trust this source as evidence that the government efforts to help the cocoa
industry in Ivory Coast were unsuccessful? Explain your answer.
I can trust Source D as evidence that government efforts to help the cocoa industry in
Ivory Coast were unsuccessful (ATQ) as Source D tells me farmers did not benefit from
the government’s premium (Inference). Source D states “many of our nation’s 800,000
farmers are struggling to sell cocoa beans” (Evidence). Source D suggests that the
price of cocoa beans was too high so farmers cannot profit (Explain). I can confirm this
by cross-referencing to Source E (Cross-reference) which tells me farmers did not
benefit from the government’s premium (Inference). Source E states farmers “saw a
loss of sales as well as payment delays by buyers” (Evidence). Source E suggests that
farmers have lower income because of the government’s policy (Explain). Since Source
E confirms Source D, I can trust Source D (Link).
I cannot trust Source D as evidence that government efforts to help the cocoa industry
in Ivory Coast were unsuccessful (ATQ) as Source D tells me the government has not
paid attention to the cocoa industry (Inference). Source D states “some farmers have
been so desperate that they even slept outside the government’s offices to demand for
action” (Evidence). Source D suggests that the government has not been responding to
farmers’ needs (Explain). I can challenge this by cross-referencing to Source C
(Cross-reference) which tells me the government has paid attention to the cocoa
industry (Inference). Source C states farmers “in a new effort to help people get more
benefits from cocoa production, the government has built the country’s first chocolate
factory to make products that fetch a much higher price than the bean” (Evidence).
Source C suggests that the government wants to improve the cocoa industry and has
developed infrastructure to help raise cocoa farmers’ incomes (Explain). Since Source
E challenges Source D, I cannot trust Source D (Link).
I cannot trust Source D as evidence that government efforts to help the cocoa industry
in Ivory Coast (ATQ) in terms of purpose. Source D is from an interview with Mr Koffi,
the Secretary General of Ivory Coast’s farmers’ group. Since he is the leader of the
farmers’ group, he has a personal and political motive (Motive) to fight for farmers’
welfare (Explain Motive). His intention is to convince (action) the Ivory Coast
government (audience) that the government is not successful in helping the cocoa
industry in Ivory Coast (message). The intended outcome is for the Ivory Coast
government to help farmers by lowering the price of cocoa (outcome).
Things to note
● Remember which source the question is asking you to study. That should be your
1st IEE for each paragraph.
● Within the same paragraph, for the 2nd inference, you may use the exact same
words as the first inference and tweak it depending on whether you are
challenging the first source.
● An inference is what the source is telling you. It must be in your own words.
● Do not repeat the same words as your inference or evidence when explaining.
● The inference used in paragraph 1 and 2 cannot be the same/opposite. You will
either contradict yourself. This is a wrong example that you should not follow:
o Paragraph 1: I can trust Source D as evidence that government efforts to
help the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast were unsuccessful as Source D
tells me farmers did not benefit from the government’s premium.
o Paragraph 2: I cannot trust Source D as evidence that government efforts
to help the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast were unsuccessful as Source D
tells me farmers benefited from the government’s premium. [DO NOT DO
THIS. WRITE A DIFFERENT INFERENCE INSTEAD]
● The evidence used in paragraph 1 and 2 cannot be the same.
● The cross-reference in paragraph 1 and 2 cannot be to the same source.
● Minimum two paragraphs for reliability questions.
Common Types of Motive
Type of Motive What is it
Political Related to politics /
government. Eg. political
leader wanting to gain
support for his policy or
party, organisation wanting
the government to change
its policy
Commercial / economic / Related to money. Eg.
business business wanting to attract
more customers and gain
more sales
Personal Related to one’s position
and the benefit they can get.
Eg. friend wanting to help
another friend, leader
wanting to keep his position
No hidden motive Does not have any political,
commercial, or personal
motive. Eg. Simply a
research paper publishing
facts.
Study All Sources (IEE X 3-5 + bonus)
Formula
● Inference -> Evidence -> Explain
o Inference can be broken down in AIR: Answer the Question -> Issue ->
Reason
o Altogether, your structure may be seen as “AIREE”
AIR Method (Sample from Ivory Coast SBQ)
● “I agree / disagree with the statement” (ATQ) + “that the government is
successful in helping the Ivory Coast cocoa industry” (Question issue) +
“because Source A implies/tells me…” (Reason)
Sample Questions
● “The government is successful in helping the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast.”
Using sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this
statement.
Sample SAS Paragraphs (from Ivory Coast SBQ Qn5)
Study all sources.
“The government is successful in helping the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast.” Using
sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement.
I disagree with the statement (ATQ) that the government is successful in helping the
cocoa industry (Issue) because Source E tells me that the government’s actions made
farmers angry (Reason). Source E states “farmers are very fed up because this
increase in price was insufficient” (Evid). Source E suggests that the government has
not done enough to benefit or improve the lives of farmers (Explain).
Evaluating Source E, Source E is unreliable in provenance and purpose. Source E is a
report by Voice Network, an independent network of non-governmental organisations
working on sustainability in cocoa around the world so it has a political and economic
motive (motive) in trying to convince the Ivory Coast government to increase the price
of cocoa and help cocoa farming to be more sustainable (explain motive/ intended
outcome).
I agree with the statement (ATQ) that the government is successful in helping the cocoa
industry (Issue) because Source B tells me the farmers’ lives have improved (Reason).
Source B states the government is “making companies Hershey pay more for cocoa
beans as this increases the income of farmers” (Evid). This suggests the farmers have
better pay because of what the government has done (Explain).
I disagree with the statement (ATQ) the government is successful in helping the cocoa
industry (Issue) because Source D tells me the farmers did not benefit from the
government’s actions (Reason). Source D states “we blame the premium for the fall in
sales of cocoa beans” (Evid). Source D suggests that farmers lost their profits because
the government implemented the premium (Explain).
I agree with the statement (ATQ) that the government is successful in helping the cocoa
industry (Issue) because Source C tells me the government has given jobs to the
people (Reason). Source C states the factory has “created more employment
opportunities” (Evid). Source C suggests that the government is taking action to make
sure workers have pay (Explain).
I disagree with the statement (ATQ) that the government is successful in helping the
cocoa industry in Ivory Coast (Issue) because Source A tells me the cocoa industry in
Ivory Coast is suffering (Reason). Source A depicts a farmer sitting beside unsold bags
of cocoa in a warehouse (Evid). Source A suggests that the farmer is not getting any
profits because he is unable to sell the cocoa beans (Explain).
*note that the paragraphs are not in alphabetical order but alternate between “agree”
and “disagree”
Bonus Paragraph
● Your bonus paragraph should comment on the reliability of the source in terms of
motive (look at the provenance – the line above the source which tells you WHO
said it and WHEN)
● OR say whether you agree or disagree with the statement based on an example
from your contextual knowledge [only do this if you are familiar with the topic]
● Do not write the bonus paragraph for the source you have already analysed in
the reliability question. You only need to write one bonus paragraph.
Things to note
● Do your t-table. Write your paragraphs in zigzag order across the t-table.
● Start from the source you are most confident in and want to write the bonus
paragraph on. After your bonus paragraph, you should continue as per normal
with the zigzag order.
● Your evidence should be what you have highlighted in the source to show why
that source belongs in that side of the t-table
● As with the other IEE structures, do not repeat the same words as your inference
or evidence when explaining.
● Use your own words for the inference / reason.
● Begin your paragraphs by saying “I agree / disagree with the statement” not
whether the source agrees or disagrees with the statement.
