GUIDELINES ON HOW TO

ANSWER HISTORY PAPER 1

QUESTIONS
A PRESENTATION BY R.M. SEREFETE

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 STRUCTURE OF HISTORY PAPER 1
SECTION A
 THIS SECTION CONSISTS OF TWO QUESTIONS FROM WHICH CANDIDATES ARE
OBLIGATED TO ANSWER EITHER QUESTION 1 OR QUESTION 2.
 EACH QUESTION CONSISTS OF TWO PART QUESTIONS: 1(A), 1(B); 2(A), 2(B).
 THIS SECTION OF THE PAPER CARRIES 10 MARKS WHICH TRANSLATES INTO 14.3%
OF THE TOTAL MARKS.
 CANDIDATES ARE ADVISED TO SPEND TWENTY MINUTES ON THIS SECTION OF THE
PAPER.

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 STRUCTURE OF HISTORY PAPER 1
SECTION B
 THIS PART OF THE PAPER COMPRISES OF SIX QUESTIONS FROM WHICH
CANDIDATES SHOULD CHOOSE THREE QUESTIONS.
 EACH ONE OF THESE SIX QUESTIONS HAS THREE PART QUESTIONS- (A), (B) & (C).
 THE CUMULATIVE/ TOTAL NUMBER OF MARKS IS 60 WHICH TRANSLATES TO 85.7%.
 CANDIDATES ARE ADVISED TO SPEND 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES IN THIS SECTION.

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 ANSWERING SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS
ANSWERING A PICTORIAL SOURCE
 CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CORRECT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE
SOURCE WHICH MUST BE SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE OR DETAILS FROM THE
SOURCE.
 CANDIDATES CAN ONLY ATTAIN THE FULL COMPLIMENT OF THE MARKS [4
MARKS] BY PROVIDING TWO CORRECT INTERPRETATIONS EACH ONE OF WHICH
SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY CORRECT EVIDENCE FROM THE SOURCE.
 CANDIDATES ARE ADVISED TO BEGIN THEIR ANSWERS BY STATING WHAT THEY
SEE IN THE SOURCE BEFORE PROVIDING THE CORRECT INTERPRETATIONS. IN THIS
WAY, CANDIDATES WOULD ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF FORGETTING TO
SUPPORT THEIR ANSWERS WITH DETAILS FROM THE SOURCE.
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 THE NEXT SLIDE SHEDS LIGHT ON THESE KEY PRINCIPLES.
ANSWERING A PICTORIAL SOURCE

WHAT DOES SOURCE A SUGGEST ABOUT

THE WAY OF LIFE OF THE SAN BEFORE
1800? [4]
I CAN SEE SAN MEN AND WOMEN IN THE
SOURCE WEARING ANIMAL SKINS. THIS
SUGGESTS THAT THE SAN MADE
CLOTHES OUT OF ANIMAL SKINS.
I CAN ALSO SEE WOMEN IN THE SOURCE
HOLDING DIGGING STICKS. THIS
INDICATES THAT THE SAN WERE
GATHERERS.

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 ANSWERING SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS
NB:
 A CANDIDATE WOULD NOT BE AWARDED EXTRA MARKS FOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
HISTORICAL INFORMATION NOR WOULD S(HE) BE PENALISED FOR PROVING ANSWERS DEVOID
OF RELEVANT HISTORICAL INFORMATION.
 LEVEL 1- [1 MARK]: PROVIDING SURFACE DETAILS, E.G., STATING WHAT YOU SEE IN THE
SOURCE.
 LEVEL 2- [2 MARKS]: CORRECT INTERPRETATION(S) WITHOUT EVIDENCE FROM THE SOURCE,
E.G., THE SOURCE SUGGESTS THAT THE SAN WERE GATHERERS.
 LEVEL 3- [3 MARKS]: 1 CORRECT INTERPRETATION SUPPORTED BY A CORRECT DETAIL/
EVIDENCE FROM THE SOURCE, E.G., I CAN SEE SAN MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SOURCE WEARING
ANIMAL SKINS. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE SAN MADE CLOTHES OUT OF ANIMAL SKINS.
 LEVEL 3- [4 MARKS]: 2 CORRECT INTERPRETATION SUPPORTED BY CORRECT DETAILS FROM THE
SOURCE, E.G., I CAN ALSO SEE WOMEN IN THE SOURCE HOLDING DIGGING STICKS. THIS
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INDICATES THAT THE SAN WERE GATHERERS.
 ANSWERING SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS
ANSWERING A TEXTUAL SOURCE
 CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CORRECT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE
SOURCE WHICH MUST BE SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE OR DETAILS FROM THE
SOURCE.
 CANDIDATES CAN ONLY ATTAIN THE FULL COMPLIMENT OF THE MARKS [4 MARKS]
BY PROVIDING TWO CORRECT INTERPRETATIONS EACH ONE OF WHICH SHOULD BE
SUPPORTED BY CORRECT EVIDENCE FROM THE SOURCE.
 INTERPRETATIONS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE FROM THE SOURCE IN
THE FORM OF A DIRECT QUOTATION FROM THE SOURCE AS SHOWN IN THE NEXT
SLIDE.

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 ANSWERING A TEXTUAL SOURCE
LONG TIME AGO, THERE WERE NO
PEOPLE ON EARTH. GOD,
UNKULUNKULU [THE GREAT ONE] THEN
CREATED MANKIND FROM THE REED.
AFTER GOD HAD CREATED HUMAN
BEINGS, HE GAVE THEM THE SUN AND
THE MOON TO BE THEIR LIGHT SO THAT
THEY COULD SEE. THEN GOD CREATED
CATTLE AND SAID, ‘LET THEM BE YOUR
FOOD, EAT THEIR FLESH AND DRINK
THEIR MILK.
ZULU MYTHOLOGY
WHAT DOES THE SOURCE SUGGEST ABOUT
THE BELIEFS OF THE ZULU PEOPLE?
SOURCE B SUGGESTS THAT THE ZULU
BELIEVED THAT HUMAN BEINGS WERE
CREATED BY A SUPREME BEING AS SHOWN BY
‘GOD, UNKULUNKULU [THE GREAT ONE] THEN
CREATED MANKIND FROM THE REED’.
FURTHERMORE, THE SOURCE SUGGESTS THAT
THE ZULU BELIEVED THAT THEIR SUPREME
BEING GAVE THEM DOMINION OVER FORMS
OF LIFE AS INDICATED BY ‘THEN GOD
CREATED CATTLE AND SAID, ‘LET THEM BE
YOUR FOOD, EAT THEIR FLESH AND DRINK
THEIR MILK.’ 8
 ANSWERING SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS
NB:
 LEVEL 1- [1MARK]: PARAPHRASING/ REWRITING THE SOURCE, E.G., THE SOURCE SUGGESTS THAT
UNKULUNKULU CREATED MANKIND,
 LEVEL 2- [2MARKS]: CORRECT INTERPRETATION(S) WITHOUT EVIDENCE FROM THE SOURCE, E.G., SOURCE
B TELLS ME THAT THE ZULU BELIEVED THAT HUMAN BEINGS WERE CREATED BY A SUPREME BEING.
 LEVEL 3- [3MARKS]: 1 CORRECT INTERPRETATION SUPPORTED BY A CORRECT DETAIL/ EVIDENCE FROM
THE SOURCE, E.G., SOURCE B SUGGESTS THAT THE ZULU BELIEVED THAT HUMAN BEINGS WERE CREATED
BY A SUPREME BEING AS SHOWN BY ‘GOD, UNKULUNKULU [THE GREAT ONE] THEN CREATED MANKIND
FROM THE REED’.
 LEVEL 3- [4MARKS]: 2 CORRECT INTERPRETATION SUPPORTED BY CORRECT DETAILS FROM THE SOURCE,
E.G., THE SOURCE ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THE ZULU BELIEVED THAT THEIR SUPREME BEING GAVE THEM
AUTHORITY OVER OTHER FORMS OF LIFE AS INDICATED BY ‘THEN GOD CREATED CATTLE AND SAID, ‘LET
THEM BE YOUR FOOD, EAT THEIR FLESH AND DRINK THEIR MILK.’
 EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THE PROVENANCE IS ALSO A PART OF THIS SOURCE AND CAN
THEREFORE BE USED TO INTERPRET THE SOURCE. 9
 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
FORMAT OF (A)- PART QUESTIONS
 STATE/ NAME/LIST ANY FOUR …

 DESCRIBE ANY TWO …

 DEFINE/ WHAT WAS THE …

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 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
STATE/ NAME/LIST ANY FOUR …
 QUESTIONS OF THIS NATURE ARE LOW ORDER QUESTIONS AS CANDIDATES ARE
ONLY REQUIRED TO RECALL INFORMATION.
 BE THAT AS IT MAY, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT CANDIDATES DISPLAY THE REQUISITE
SKILLS OF EITHER “STATING”, “NAMING” OR “LISTING” AS PER THE DICTATES OF
THE QUESTION.
 TIME MANAGEMENT IS ALSO KEY THEREFORE LITTLE TIME SHOULD BE SPENT ON
QUESTIONS OF THIS NATURE. CANDIDATES SHOULD LIST/NAME/STATE FACTORS
AS PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE QUESTION AS OPPOSED TO DESCRIBING
FACTORS.
 ALL CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED TO SCORE THE FULL COMPLIMENT OF THE
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MARKS!
 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
DESCRIBE ANY TWO …
 CANDIDATES’ RESPONSES SHOULD ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: “WHAT?”,
“WHO?”, AND ON RARE OCCASIONS “HOW?”.
 AT ALL TIMES, A MAXIMUM OF TWO DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE PROVIDED AS
SHOWN IN THE EXAMPLE:
DESCRIBE ANY TWO ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF THE SAN BEFORE 1800. [4]
THE SAN HUNTED A VARIETY OF WILD ANIMALS SUCH AS ELAND AND THIS WAS THE DUTY OF
MEN AND ADOLESCENT BOYS [LEVEL 2- 2MARKS].
THESE PEOPLE ALSO PRACTISED GATHERING WHICH WAS MOSTLY DONE BY WOMEN AND
CHILDREN AND IT WAS COMMON FOR THEM TO GATHER WILD FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
[LEVEL 3: 3-4MARKS]
NB: THERE IS A PROVISION FOR LEVEL 1 IN THE MARKING GUIDE: 1 MARK AWARDED FOR 12
STATING EVEN THOUGH THE QUESTION REQUIRED CANDIDATES TO DISPLAY THE SKILL OF
DESCRIBING.
 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
DEFINE THE OR WHAT WAS THE …
 A COMPLETE DEFINITION SHOULD SEEK TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
“WHAT; WHO; WHEN; WHERE OR HOW” AS ILLUSTRATED BELOW:
DEFINE THE BOER/ WHAT WAS THE BOER TREK? [4]
THIS WAS THE MOVEMENT OF ANGRY BOERS FROM THE CAPE COLONY INTO THE
INTERIOR OF SOUTHERN AFRICA DURING THE 19TH CENTURY (1835/6).

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 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
FORMAT OF (B)- PART QUESTION (APPLIES TO BOTH SECTIONS OF THE PAPER)
 EXPLAIN ANY TWO…
IN THIS PART QUESTION CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE RESPONSES THAT
WOULD ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: ‘WHAT/WHO; HOW; WHY’.
 THE QUESTION REQUIRES CANDIDATES TO PROVIDE A MAXIMUM OF TWO
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS.
A TYPICAL (B)- QUESTION IS SHOWN IN THE NEXT SLIDE.

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 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
(B)- PART QUESTION
 EXPLAIN TWO WAYS IN WHICH PASTORAL FARMING AFFECTED THE SOCIAL
ORGANISATION OF THE KHOIKHOI BEFORE 1800 [6]
THE KHOI WERE PASTORAL FARMERS WHO REARED LIVESTOCK SUCH AS CATTLE,
SHEEP AND GOATS. THESE ANIMALS PROVIDED THEM WITH FOOD IN THE FORM OF
MEAT AND MILK. AS FOOD WAS READILY AVAILABLE, THE KHOI TENDED TO HAVE
LARGE FAMILIES OR PAYMENT OF BRIDEWEALTH IN THE FORM OF CATTLE AND
SHEEP.
DURING DROUGHT PERIODS, THE KHOI SLAUGHTERED SOME OF THEIR LIVESTOCK
FOR CONSUMPTION. THE SKINS OF THE SLAUGHTERED ANIMALS WERE THEN USED
TO MAKE CLOTHES WITH WHICH THE PEOPLE COULD CONCEAL THEIR NAKEDNESS
AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEP WARM. 15
 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
SPREAD OF MARKS
 LEVEL 1:1- IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS, E.G., LARGE SETTLEMENTS, PAYMENT OF
BRIDEWEALTH, ETC.
 LEVEL 2: 2- DESCRIPTION OF FACTORS, E.G., THE KHOI TENDED TO HAVE LARGE
FAMILIES, THE KHOIKHOI PAID BRIDEWEALTH IN THE FORM OF LIVESTOCK, ETC.
 LEVEL 3: 3-4: EXPLAINS ONE FACTOR, E.G., THE KHOI WERE PASTORAL FARMERS WHO
REARED LIVESTOCK SUCH AS CATTLE, SHEEP AND GOATS. THESE ANIMALS PROVIDED
THEM WITH FOOD IN THE FORM OF MEAT AND MILK. AS FOOD WAS READILY AVAILABLE,
THE KHOI TENDED TO HAVE LARGE FAMILIES OR PAYMENT OF BRIDEWEALTH IN THE
FORM OF CATTLE AND SHEEP.
 LEVEL 4: 5-6: EXPLAINS TWO FACTORS, E.G., DURING DROUGHT PERIODS, THE KHOI
SLAUGHTERED SOME OF THEIR LIVESTOCK FOR CONSUMPTION. THE SKINS OF THE
SLAUGHTERED ANIMALS WERE THEN USED TO MAKE CLOTHES WITH WHICH THE 16

PEOPLE COULD CONCEAL THEIR NAKEDNESS AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEP WARM.
 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
FORMAT OF (C)- PART QUESTION
DO YOU AGREE/ HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE…/ RESTRICTED RESPONSE WHERE THREE
FACTORS ARE PROVIDED.
 IN (C)- PART QUESTIONS, CANDIDATES SHOULD FIRST TAKE A STAND WHICH COULD
BE A SIMPLE “I AGREE/ I DISAGREE; I AGREE/ I DISAGREE TO SOME EXTENT; ALL
FACTORS WERE EQUALLY IMPORTANT, ETC.
 IN AN INSTANCE WHERE FACTORS ARE ALREADY GIVEN, CANDIDATES SHOULD
CONFINE THEMSELVES TO THOSE FACTORS.
 AT THE END OF THE ESSAY, THAT IS, AFTER EXPLAINING ALL THREE POINTS, A
REASONED CONCLUSION SHOULD BE PROVIDED.
 CANDIDATES SHOULD PROVIDE ANSWERS THAT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THREE
CRITICAL QUESTIONS: ‘WHAT/ WHO; HOW; WHY.’ 17
 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
ANSWERING “DO YOU AGREE…” QUESTION
 TAKE A STAND SHOWING AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT.
 JUSTIFY YOUR STAND/ POSITION IN THREE DISTINCT WAYS. THE POINTS RAISED
SHOULD BE FULLY DESCRIBED AND EXPLAINED.
 PROVIDE A GOOD CONCLUSION. YOUR CONCLUSION COULD BE IN THE FORM OF A
SUMMARY WHERE YOU RESTATE YOUR STAND IN A DETAILED FASHION. A
CONCLUSION OF THIS SOUGHT WILL ELEVATE THE CANDIDATE TO LEVEL 5- 9
MARKS. ON THE OTHER HAND, A REASONED CONCLUSION WHERE THERE IS A
CLEAR INTERACTION OF FACTORS WILL ELEVATE A CANDIDATE TO LEVEL 5- 10
MARKS

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 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
ANSWERING “HOW FAR…” QUESTION
 TAKE A STAND SHOWING EITHER AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT
 JUSTIFY YOUR STAND/ POSITION IN THREE DISTINCT WAYS. ONE OF YOUR
EXPLAINED POINTS SHOULD EITHER BE IN FAVOUR OR AGAINST THE STAND THAT
YOU TOOK. ALL POINTS RAISED SHOULD BE DESCRIBED IN DETAILS AND ALSO
FULLY EXPLAINED.
 PROVIDE A GOOD CONCLUSION. YOUR CONCLUSION COULD BE IN THE FORM OF A
SUMMARY WHERE YOU RESTATE YOUR STAND IN A DETAILED FASHION. A
CONCLUSION OF THIS SOUGHT WILL ELEVATE THE CANDIDATE TO LEVEL 5- 9
MARKS. ON THE OTHER HAND, A REASONED CONCLUSION WHERE THERE IS A
CLEAR INTERACTION OF FACTORS WILL ELEVATE A CANDIDATE TO LEVEL 5- 10
MARKS 19
 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
ANSWERING RESTRICTED RESPONSE QUESTION
 TAKE STAND SHOWING EITHER AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT.
 JUSTIFY YOUR STAND/ POSITION BY USING THE FACTORS THE THREE FACTORS
ALREADY PROVIDED. ENSURE THAT THE DESCRIPTIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
PROFFERED A DETAILED.
 PROVIDE A GOOD CONCLUSION. YOUR CONCLUSION COULD BE IN THE FORM OF A
SUMMARY WHERE YOU RESTATE YOUR STAND IN A DETAILED FASHION. A
CONCLUSION OF THIS SORT WILL ELEVATE THE CANDIDATE TO LEVEL 5- 9 MARKS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, A REASONED CONCLUSION WHERE THERE IS A CLEAR
INTERACTION OF FACTORS WILL ELEVATE A CANDIDATE TO LEVEL 5- 10 MARKS

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 ANSWERING SECTION B QUESTIONS
LEVELS OF RESPONSE
LEVEL 1: TAKING A STAND- 1 MARK
LEVEL 2: DESCRIPTION OF FACTORS: 2-3 MARKS
LEVEL 3: 1 FACTOR EXPLAINED: 4 MARKS
LEVEL 4: 3 FACTORS EXPLAINED: 2 POINTS: 5-6 MARKS
3 POINTS: 7-8 MARKS
LEVEL 5: PROVIDES A GOOD CONCLUSION: 9-10 MARKS

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 ANSWERING (C) PART QUESTIONS
LEVEL 5: 9-10
 AS I HAVE ARGUED ABOVE, THERE IS NO DISPUTING THE FACT THAT THE OUT OF
AFRICA THEORY IS A MORE CONVINCING EXPLANATION ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF
PEOPLE. THE MULTI REGIONAL THEORY THAT ATTEMPTS TO DISPUTE THE OUT OF
AFRICA IS FAR FROM CONVINCING BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE
EXISTENCE OF THE EARLIEST FORMS OF HUMAN BEINGS WHO HAPPENED TO HAVE
BEEN FOUND ONLY IN AFRICA.
 FROM THE FOREGOING ABOVE, IT IS CLEAR THAT HUNTING, GATHERING AND
BARTERING EQUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAN. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FOOD ITEMS OBTAINED EITHER THROUGH HUNTING,
GATHERING OR BARTERING ENHANCED THE SAN PEOPLE’S CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.
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