Assertion Skill

Question 1

Based on these questions, conclude what question types these questions are.

“Individuals should be responsible for tackling haze in Singapore.” How far do the sources agree with the statement? Explain your answer. [10m]

“Globalisation of culture has positive effects.’ How far do the sources agree with the statement? Explain your answer. [10m]

“Introducing taxes on fatty food is the best way to make people eat healthily.”
How far do the sources agree with the statement? Explain your answer [10m]

Answer 1

Assertion question types.

Question 2

What do you need to achieve when writing SBQ assertion essay?

Answer 2

• understand the sources provided in the case study in relation to the assertion statement.
• organise and present these perspectives (sources) according to whether they agree or disagree with the assertion statement (Supported with evidence and explanation—-> by inferring from the source).
• (+2 marks) assess the reliability of any source (agree or disagree) in relation to the assertion statement.

Question 3

TIPS

Answer 3

• agree or disagree with the assertion statement, assess reliability

Understand the perspectives in sin the sources
- study each source- what can you infer from each source?
- does each source agree or disagree with the assertion statement?
- identify evidence from the source and explain how it agrees or disagrees with the assertion statement?
- does it give a reason why it agrees/disagrees with the statement?
- that reason is your inference

Organise and present the 5 sources according to whether they agree or disagree with the assertion statement.

Things to note
- answer the question!- state whether the sources agree or disagree with the assertion at the start of the paragraph with an inference why
- 1 source 1 paragraph
- inferences from sources on the same side cannot be the same
- each source can only be used once — if you have used it to agree with the assertion, you cannot use it to disagree.

Read the background information for context
Underline keywords so that you will link it back to the assertion question

Annotate the five sources before writing.
Do not lift (do not extract evidence or paraphrase from the source) from the source for your inference (point of your paragraph)

Phrasing for my answer:
Agree:
Source ___ agrees with the statement that (.. insert assertion statement…) because Source _____ says/implies/highlights that ______ (inference). Source ___ says, “Evidence”. This means that (explanation of evidence in relation to the assertion statement.

Disagree:
However, Source _____ disagrees with this statement because Source ____ says/implies/highlights that ______ (inference). Source ____ states, “Evidence” This means that (Explanation of evidence).

Question 4

What are the steps to writing reliability?

Answer 4

Bonus points— Assess the reliability of ONE source!

Look at the provenance of the source (show its origin,who wrote it and its context— setting)
- Who created it?
- What was happening at that point in time?
- Who is the intended audience and what is the desired outcome of the source? (1st outcome: action/reaction that the author wants to incite , 2nd outcome benefit the author)
- Does the creator of the source have a hidden agenda or vested interest in creating the source?—> makes the source likely more unreliable if there is a vested interest. However, a source will be more reliable if it is merely stating the facts and is trying to actually trying to unpack situations objectively (part of academia). TIP: easier to access unreliability and check reliability for a source that has the richest context.
- How does the creator of the source benefits?
- Based on these questions, is the source reliable?
- How would this affect your stance?

Basically,
Author
Verb (strong)
Audience
Message
Audience
Reaction
Context
Benefit
Tone
Evidence

Author
Purpose
- Target audience
- Message
- intended outcome
Context
Hidden agenda/vested interest
More reliable/less reliable?
Link back to assertion question —> what is your stand? (Agree or disagree)

Source _________ is a reliable/ unreliable support/opposing source. Source _____ was published by _______ [Author] and it has a vested interest as it wants to persuade/convince/inform (reliable) the _____ [Target audience] that ________ [message of source]. By doing so, ______ [target audience] will __________. [intended outcome] Since source _____ has a vested interest, this shows that it is unreliable.