How to write 02/03/04 (Essay) Questions on the A Level Stuarts Paper 1d)

What is being assessed? Section B will contain three essay questions of which students are required to answer two. But for your mock you will get two questions and do one. Each essay tests AO1 and is designed to test historical understanding over a broad chronology of approximately 20 years. The focus of these questions will be, as appropriate, on understanding causation, change, continuity, similarity, difference and significance over time. Consistent with the nature of historical analysis, a single question may require students to demonstrate understanding of more than one of these perspectives. Thus, questions with a narrow focus, such as those focused on specific events, will not be set. Each question in this section carries 25 marks.

How will it be marked? L5: Answers will display a very good understanding of the full demands of the question. They will be well-organised and effectively delivered. The supporting information will be well-selected, specific and precise. It will show a very good understanding of key features, issues and concepts. The answer will be fully analytical with a balanced argument and well substantiated judgement. 21-25 L4: Answers will display a good understanding of the demands of the question. It will be well- organised and effectively communicated. There will be a range of clear and specific supporting information showing a good understanding of key features and issues, together with some conceptual awareness. The answer will be analytical in style with a range of direct comment relating to the question. The answer will be well-balanced with some judgement, which may, however, be only partially substantiated. 16-20 L3: Answers will show an understanding of the question and will supply a range of largely accurate information which will show an awareness of some of the key issues and features, but may, however, be unspecific or lack precision of detail. The answer will be effectively organised and show adequate communication skills. There will be a good deal of comment in relation to the question and the answer will display some balance, but a number of statements may be inadequately supported and generalist. 11-15 L2: The answer is descriptive or partial, showing some awareness of the question but a failure to grasp its full demands. There will be some attempt to convey material in an organised way although communication skills may be limited. There will be some appropriate information showing understanding of some key features and/or issues, but the answer may be very limited in scope and/or contain inaccuracy and irrelevance. There will be some, but limited, comment in relation to the question and statements will, for the most part, be unsupported and generalist. 6-10 L1: The question has not been properly understood and the response shows limited organisational and communication skills. The information conveyed is irrelevant or extremely limited. There may be some unsupported, vague or generalist comment. 1-5

Things to consider when you first read the questions… To what extent were disputes over religion, in the years 1603 to 1625, due to James I? [25 marks] What type of question is this?? What skill are you being asked to demonstrate? Change and continuity over time? Causes of an event or trend? Similarity or difference of event/trend/individual? Significance of an event/trend/individual?

Things to consider when you first read the questions… This is the part of the question you are being asked to judge, it means how much or how far and you actually have to answer this part (I’d use the language in your answer to prove you have done it! – e.g. ‘to a large extent’ or ‘only to a small extent’) The focus of the question – you need to think about what disputes over religion there were and what caused them to answer this question. To what extent were disputes over religion, in the years 1603 to 1625, due to James I? [25 marks] This is the scope – it will be 20 years or more for a 1d) question. You need to stick in scope and make sure you know specific examples from this time period. This is giving you one side of the argument – disputes over religion 1603-25 WERE DUE TO JAMES – Start your essay with the evidence in agreement with this, then think of the other causal factors and create balance – not due to James (if not…what was to blame?)

Things to consider when you first read the questions… What are you being asked to judge? What is the focus of the question? To what extent were the claims of the early Stuarts to rule by Divine Right the most important reason for the breakdown of Crown and Parliament relations by 1629? [25 marks] What is the scope? What is the one side of the argument this question is giving you? So what could the other side be?

Things to consider when you first read the questions… Judgement – what is the answer? Balance – what are the two sides of the argument? (sometimes this means other factors, other times it means success/failure/positive/negative etc.) What points are you going to make? Evidence – what history do you have to support the two sides? Sustaining your judgement – how are you going to keep your argument clear even though you are showing balance? (this is where you need ways to knock down the other side…)

How to structure your answer Intro – little answer (your judgement) with the other factors/points you will discuss, but how they are related to your judgement Paragraph 1: on focus of question If you agree with it this should be a major point with well explained and convincing evidence If you don’t agree with it, you still need to explain why it could be an alternate view or why it could partially be the case Paragraph 2/3: any further points on the same side of the argument as the focus of the question If you have several points on this side of the argument keep them together Paragraph 2/3/4: balanced argument Then do all your points on the opposing side of the argument Keep these points together too Remember if you agree with the question, you need a way to show why you don’t hold these views – this is you knocking down the argument. If you are disagreeing with the point given in the question, you need to explain why one of these points or a combination of these point is more valid/important than the one that was the focus of the question. All of these paragraphs need to follow the structure: Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link The link means a link to your judgement in every paragraph what you are saying should be there to support your overall view, don’t throw it in just to show you know it. Conclusion: sum up and your killer point should explained and reconfirmed. No new evidence.

Use of Language and Style of Writing You should be formal at all times in your historical writing No personal pronouns please! You should aim to use nuanced language so that you don’t contradict yourself; ‘to some extent’ ‘fairly’ ‘for the most part’ ‘mostly’ ‘largely’ etc.