Inference

Step 1: Answer the question/provide the

inference.
-Essentially, your inference is the answer to
the question.
-Do NOT summarize the source.
-Do NOT lift or even paraphrase from the
source
-The words for inference CANNOT be found
in the source.
Source A is saying that (your own words).
Inference
Step 2: Back up your inference with
evidence from the source.
-Quote relevantly and coherently.
-Make sure that your quote makes
grammatical sense.
This is supported by quote from the
source. Therefore, this shows that
Inference
Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 again for
your second inference.
Step 4: Establish the perspective of the
source.
The perspective of the Source is ______
(one-sided/balanced). This is seen when it
says (quote from the source)
Inference
Step 5: Establish the Purpose by bringing
in the Provenance.
As the source is from __________
(provenance), therefore, its purpose is to
________ (promote, blame, criticize) so
that ___________ (they can improve the
system? Absolve themselves of blame?
Garner the support of the people?)
Compare and Contrast
Step 1: Establish the common criteria/which is
essentially the answer to the question, and your
interpretation.
Take a hint from the question itself, or the issue.
How similar: Give 2 similarities and 1 difference
How different: Give 2 differences and 1 similarity
In what ways similar: ONLY similarities.
Sources B and C are similar/different as they
both agree/disagree that ___________
(common criteria) (E.g. the Sinhalese are to
blame/the Singapore healthcare system has
been effective)

Compare and Contrast
Step 2: Give evidence to back up your
common criteria/interpretation
This is seen when Source B says that
(quote from source) Moreover, this is
reinforced/contradicted by Source C
(quote from source)
Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 for 2
nd

interpretation/common criteria.
Compare and Contrast
Step 4: Establish similarity/difference in
perspective/tone. Supported with evidence
from source.
The two sources are similar/different in
their perspectives/tone, as both are/one
is whereas the other is
This is seen when Source B says that
and Source C

Compare and Contrast
Step 5: Establish purpose by bringing in
provenance.
Sources B and C are similar/different in
their purpose as Source B is said by
and Source C by and therefore the
purpose of B is to . And the purpose of
C is to .
Hence, I can conclude that Sources B and
C are very similar/different
Reliability
Step 1: Establish your stand.
Checklist for reliability:
-Does it have a hidden agenda? No.
-Is it supported by the other sources? Yes
-Is it supported by my contextual
knowledge? Yes.
Then it is reliable.
Source D is reliable/non reliable (can be
trusted/cannot be trusted) Use the words
in the question.
Reliability
Step 2: Explain why the source is reliable/not-
reliable by looking at the source in question.
Give evidence
Source D is reliable because it provides a
balanced perspective/is supported by factual
information. This is seen when it says
OR
Source D is not reliable because it has a one-
sided perspective/is biased/exaggerates This
is clearly seen when it says
Reliability
Step 3: Cross-refer to other sources. (x 2)
-Look for words/phrases that support/contradict the
source in question.
Source D is reliable as it is supported by Source
__. Source D says that (quote from source)
and this is backed by what Source __ says
(quote from source). Therefore this tells me that

OR
Source D cannot be trusted as it is contradicted by
Source __. Source D says that and this
goes against what Source __ says I know
that Source __ is reliable because


Reliability
Step 4: Establish purpose of source by
looking at provenance.
As Source D is by ______ (provenance),
therefore it has a hidden agenda/no
hidden agenda. Its purpose is to _______
so that it can _______.
Therefore, I can conclude that Source D is
reliable/not reliable.
Utility
How useful as evidence. (bring in
reliability) Cross-refer to
sources/contextual knowledge


How useful in helping you to understand
(perspective) Contextual knowledge.
Utility
Useful.
Give evidence from source itself
Cross refer to back it up (1 source)

Limitations in utility
Give evidence from source itself (one-sided
perspective?)
Cross refer to challenge it. (1 source)

Conclusion: HOW useful. Small extent/large extent.
EXPLAIN
Utility
1) Look at the source in question to illustrate
utility:
Source A is useful as evidence as it
___________________ (provides specific
examples of how/examines the causes
of )
Quote from Source A to give evidence.
2) Cross-refer to another source to illustrate
utility:
Moreover, this is supported by Source B
which says (Quote from Source)
Utility
3) Look at the source in question to show
limitations in utility
However, Source A is limited in its utility as
(its perspective is one-sided/it has only
considered one cause, but not the others)
Give evidence from Source A (Quote)
4) Cross refer to another source to show
limitations in utility
Moreover, what Source A says is
contradicted by what Source C says and
this shows me that(Source A has only
considered one side but not the other and is
therefore limited in its utility)
Utility
5) OR cross-refer to contextual knowledge
for questions on how useful in helping you
to understand
Source A is limited in its utility as it does
not add on to my contextual knowledge
which identifies more complex factors
leading to (Give specific information
from contextual knowledge)
Conclusion
State your stand: Useful to large/small extent in helping
me to understand/as evidence
EXPLAIN why you say that.
Useful to large extent: Despite its limitations, Source A is
ultimately useful to a large extent as it provides me with
a fresh perspective from that of a _________ which I
was not aware of before
Useful to a small extent: Despite its utility, Source A is
ultimately useful to a small extent as evidence and it
cannot be trusted as it exaggerates/ not very useful in
helping me to understand as it does not add on to my
contextual knowledge (Please add in your own specific
arguments)