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Important!

A new specification for Critical Thinking was introduced for first teaching in 2008 / 2009. Although the new course covers similar ground to the old, changes have been made, particularly to the structure of the AS units. The most significant change is that some content that was previously only in Unit 2 is now also in Unit 1, but please see OCR's guide to the changes for more detail.

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Q8c Balance of Evidence

The third question in Section C asks you to assess the balance of evidence. This simply means which individual witness support which side of the dispute. This question is worth 4 marks.

Question Format

“Identify the individual sources on each side of the dispute. Explain any problematic sources.”

Strategy

The best way to answer this question is with two lists, one for each side of the dispute.

First, clearly label the two sides. Make sure that you don’t just label them “For” and “Against”; state very clearly what each side of the dispute believes, referring to the beginning of Section C where it says “Come to a reasoned judgement as to whether…”. (The same comments about precision apply here as apply to the Reasoned Judgment question.)

Then read through the documents writing the name of each witness mentioned within a document on the side of the diagram that they support. Be careful not to miss minor witnesses; include everyone you can find. If any of the witnesses are problematic, not really supporting either side, then write this at the bottom of the diagram with a very brief explanation of why. Most sources will belong on one side or the other. If you’re not quite sure about a source, you should have a go and risk putting them in the wrong place on the diagram; that’s better than missing the witness out entirely.

Sample Answer

Sources claiming that Jesus really was raised bodily from the dead: Matthew; Mark; Luke; John.

Sources claiming that he wasn’t: Celsus; Bertrand Russell; Christopher Hitchens.

Problematic: The OT arguably has some hints that the resurrection will occur, but is at best rather cryptic.