How do I use evidence when answering a question?

It is important to remember when asnwering a question - especially a History question - that an examiner is not looking for the sheer amount of facts that you know, but rather they are looking for how you use what you know to inform your opinions and answers. You may be extremely clued up on information, but if you don't use it in the correct way then it won't be useful. When answering a question you must make sure that you don't try and 'fit a square peg in a round hole', simply put: if a piece of evidence is not relevent in shaping your argument, don't try to include it as it won't support the point you are trying to make.

There are many efficient ways of using evidence in an answer, one that I like to use is planning my essay in such a way that all of my points link from one to the next, allowing for my essay to flow well and be easily understood. This means that the argument I put forward appears coherent and considered, which means I am one step closer to convincung the examiner that I have justified my point of view. 

MG
Answered by Max G. History tutor

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