AS History China Essay A Guide

What we do well … Subject knowledge is excellent Subject knowledge is excellent Good use of grammar and punctuation (generally) Good use of grammar and punctuation (generally) Essays do have an intro, argument and conclusion Essays do have an intro, argument and conclusion A view or argument is always made … A view or argument is always made … We complete 2 essays in 90 minutes We complete 2 essays in 90 minutes

What we need to do better …

PLAN You MUST plan answers – spend 5 minutes planning at the start of the exam. Never just get your head down and write You MUST plan answers – spend 5 minutes planning at the start of the exam. Never just get your head down and write Your plan should be clear and concise Your plan should be clear and concise You MUST stick to your plan (unless you have made a genuinely big error) You MUST stick to your plan (unless you have made a genuinely big error) READ THE QUESTION – what does it want you to do? READ THE QUESTION – what does it want you to do? Your plan should have a conclusion – what are you writing towards? Your plan should have a conclusion – what are you writing towards?

INTRODUCTION Your intro should be 6 or 7 lines long Your intro should be 6 or 7 lines long It should give a contextual background to the question It should give a contextual background to the question It should VERY CLEARLY identify the themes / areas you are going to discuss It should VERY CLEARLY identify the themes / areas you are going to discuss It should identify what the question is asking It should identify what the question is asking

INTRODUCTION 2 The introduction is absolutely vital, even though it is only 6 or 7 lines long (less than 5 minutes). It will set the tone for the whole piece and allow you to logically work through your arguments. It will act as a guide as you write, bringing you on topic and making sure you are tackling the question directly. A poor introduction inevitably leads to a poor essay The introduction is absolutely vital, even though it is only 6 or 7 lines long (less than 5 minutes). It will set the tone for the whole piece and allow you to logically work through your arguments. It will act as a guide as you write, bringing you on topic and making sure you are tackling the question directly. A poor introduction inevitably leads to a poor essay

Argument This is where you explain your answer to the question This is where you explain your answer to the question Themed paragraphs are needed – the themes you identified in the introduction Themed paragraphs are needed – the themes you identified in the introduction You need subject knowledge here to build your argument You need subject knowledge here to build your argument What we DON’T need is the story – we all know it already What we DON’T need is the story – we all know it already

Argument 2 Straight narrative is only worth 24/50 Straight narrative is only worth 24/50 You MUST analyse and explain that narrative in relation to the question (How successful was Mao’s aim of eliminating opposition in regard to the Cultural Revolution?) You MUST analyse and explain that narrative in relation to the question (How successful was Mao’s aim of eliminating opposition in regard to the Cultural Revolution?) You should always back up your argument with relevant EVIDENCE – give examples of how Mao eliminated opposition You should always back up your argument with relevant EVIDENCE – give examples of how Mao eliminated opposition DO NOT make unsubstantiated claims – that is Level IV work DO NOT make unsubstantiated claims – that is Level IV work

Argument 3 Your PLAN should help you to link your themes Your PLAN should help you to link your themes Try to introduce the next theme as you approach the end of the current one Try to introduce the next theme as you approach the end of the current one Making links between themes is a Level II and above skill Making links between themes is a Level II and above skill 3 themes is a good number for an essay of this type 3 themes is a good number for an essay of this type

Argument 4 AVOID rhetorical questions AVOID rhetorical questions DO NOT ARGUE with yourself – balance your argument, don’t contradict yourself DO NOT ARGUE with yourself – balance your argument, don’t contradict yourself Try to make judgements about the question as you go on … it will help with the conclusion and also show you are analysing and explaining, not just narrating Try to make judgements about the question as you go on … it will help with the conclusion and also show you are analysing and explaining, not just narrating Stick to 3 rd person if you can – it flows better Stick to 3 rd person if you can – it flows better

Conclusion Your conclusion should DIRECTLY answer the question and come to a judgement Your conclusion should DIRECTLY answer the question and come to a judgement It should tie together all the themes you have included in your argument It should tie together all the themes you have included in your argument NOTHING NEW should appear – if it is important enough to be in the conclusion it should be in the argument (your plan is again crucial here) – NO SURPRISES! NOTHING NEW should appear – if it is important enough to be in the conclusion it should be in the argument (your plan is again crucial here) – NO SURPRISES!

Conclusion 2 You can prioritise your themes in your answer (Mao’s elimination of opponents was more successful than his creation of new culture) You can prioritise your themes in your answer (Mao’s elimination of opponents was more successful than his creation of new culture) Conclude with a strong final sentence or two that definitively answers the question – balance is ok, fence sitting is not Conclude with a strong final sentence or two that definitively answers the question – balance is ok, fence sitting is not DO NOT add an irrelevant sentence at the end that undermines the clear judgement you have made DO NOT add an irrelevant sentence at the end that undermines the clear judgement you have made

RULES PLAN (Intro, themes, arguments, conclusion) PLAN (Intro, themes, arguments, conclusion) Clear, precise INTRO – contextual and outlining pathway Clear, precise INTRO – contextual and outlining pathway Well themed, clear ARGUMENTS that LINK together. FOCUSED on Q throughout Well themed, clear ARGUMENTS that LINK together. FOCUSED on Q throughout A CONCLUSION that brings together the themes (prioritising where appropriate) and makes a JUDGEMENT A CONCLUSION that brings together the themes (prioritising where appropriate) and makes a JUDGEMENT

Keys to Success … Substantiated arguments with good examples Substantiated arguments with good examples Well structured, linked paragraphs Well structured, linked paragraphs Clear explanation and analysis of the narrative – narrative not dominating Clear explanation and analysis of the narrative – narrative not dominating Clear, well sustained judgement with explanation Clear, well sustained judgement with explanation Good level of contextual subject knowledge to support ideas and themes through effective examples Good level of contextual subject knowledge to support ideas and themes through effective examples

What next? PRACTICE EVERYTHING! PRACTICE EVERYTHING! Essay planning (5 to 10 minutes) Essay planning (5 to 10 minutes) Intro writing (5 mins) Intro writing (5 mins) Linking themes in a plan (5 mins) Linking themes in a plan (5 mins) Writing well judged, well supported conclusions (5-10 mins) Writing well judged, well supported conclusions (5-10 mins) ESSAY WRITING (45 minutes) ESSAY WRITING (45 minutes)