A multi-source answer is organised around claims, not around sources. The routine is group, claim, link.
This lesson closes the cluster on constitutional negotiations of 1957, after connecting provisions with stated purposes.
What is the group-claim-link routine?
- Group: put sources that support the same point together.
- Claim: write one sentence that states the point.
- Link: show how each grouped source proves it, then add your own knowledge.
The question decides the claims. If it asks “how was agreement reached”, your claims will be about discussion, demands and outcome.
Worked example with three sources
All three sources are original. Source A: “Representatives from different groups submitted written proposals to the commission.” Source B: “The draft was discussed and some changes were requested.” Source C: “After discussion, the groups agreed on one text.”
The question: “Explain how agreement on the constitution was reached, using the sources.”
Grouping: Source A shows views being put forward. Sources B and C show discussion and then agreement. So the answer has two claims.
Claim 1 (views were put forward): Source A shows that groups submitted written proposals, so the drafting began with the views of different communities. Your textbook adds which bodies received them.
Claim 2 (discussion led to agreement): Source B shows that changes were requested, which means the draft was not accepted as it stood. Source C shows that the groups then agreed on one text, so discussion ended in a shared outcome.
A closing sentence joins the claims: “Together the sources show a process of proposal, discussion and agreement.”
The mistake to avoid
The slip is to write one paragraph per source. It looks tidy but never answers “how”.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| “Source A says… Source B says… Source C says…” | “Views were put forward (A). Discussion led to changes (B) and then to agreement (C).” |
If your paragraph starts with “Source”, check whether it could start with a claim instead.
Check yourself
Using the three sources above, write the opening sentence of a paragraph on how the draft changed.
Answer
“The draft changed through discussion, as Source B shows when changes were requested before the text was accepted.”
The sentence begins with a claim, then names the source and the evidence. It can be extended with one sentence of textbook knowledge.
What to study next
Test the whole cluster with the practice set. Plan each answer with the evidence-to-explanation planner and track repeated slips in the mistake log.
For a teacher to help you restructure your answers, see online one-to-one Sejarah tuition.