Essay Writing Skills Nat 5 Question To what extent were improvements in public health by 1900 brought about by improved medical knowledge?

8 Mark Essay At National 5 level you are required to answer an 8 mark essay. This type of question is asked only once in your exam. However, it can be asked in any of the 3 units covered at National 5. You will have to fully develop 5 or 6 points in an essay question. You also have to give a clear introduction and conclusion.

Like a sandwich!! A good essay is like a good Sandwich in many ways. The top of the sandwich (first slice of bread) is your introduction. The meat in the middle of the sandwich is your 5 or 6 developed points. The bottom of your sandwich is your conclusion.

How is an 8 mark essay marked? You will not get a Source to help you so you must learn all the factors. The essay will always start with “ To what extent did” a certain factor affect an event. You will be required to give a judgement on the importance of that factor along with all the other factors which affect the issue. You must make a balanced judgement with a balanced account of all the factors.

How is an 8 mark essay marked? Up to 5 marks can be given for relevant, factual, key points of knowledge used to support factors. 1 mark will be given for each point. If only 1 factor is presented, a maximum of 3 marks might be given for relevant points of knowledge. A further 3 marks can be given for providing the answer in a structured way and coming to a reasoned conclusion.

What about the meat in the middle? The middle of your essay should contain 5 or 6 fully developed points across 3-4 paragraphs. Please note you can not just list points as you will not get full marks. Also, do not waffle! Be clear and concise. However, never be scared to put down a point you believe to be relevant to your essay, even if you cannot develop it.

Conclusion A good conclusion recaps all the points covered in the essay. Then as a good historian you should state your own personal judgment. Decide whether you think the given factor in the question is the key or whether one (or more) of the others is more important. By that I mean pick a point or reason out of the six you believe is the most important and state why.

Structure 1. Introduction 3 things 1. Make the question a statement 2. What factors you will argue 3. The order you will argue ( The first paragraph should be the one given in the question.) 2. Main Body 3 things 1. Statement 2. Explanation and Evidence of all the points relevant to that factor 3. Link sentence For each paragraph 3. Conclusion 2 things 1. Sum up the argument 2. Answer the question

1. Make the question a statement with the given factor Introduction 1. Make the question a statement with the given factor Improvements in public health by 1900 were brought about by improved medical knowledge, 2. What you are going to argue and the order Better living conditions, A cleaner water supply and Government action by Public Heath Acts

Main Body Factor: Medical factors Statement Medical factors were important in improving public health up to 1900. As germ theory came to be better understood, doctors were able to cure more diseases. They were able to prevent diseases by vaccinating people against such diseases as smallpox. Surgery came to be better understood and with Anaesthetics such as Chloroform and Joseph Lister’s stress on Antisceptics fewer patients died. Also with qualified midwives there was better care for mothers and babies. Points and Explanation with Evidence The improvement in medical care was not the only reason that health improved as better living conditions were also important. Link

Factor: Better living conditions. Main Body Factor: Better living conditions. Statement As the century progressed, the way people lived improved. Points and Explanation with Evidence There were improvements to houses as windows allowed more light in, cavity wall and damp proof courses allowed the houses to stay dry inside and slate roofs kept out rain. Better sanitation with flushing toilets and the ability to keep drinking water and sewage apart helped and as people’s working conditions improved they were able to afford the rents for these better houses as well as a better more varied diet The ability to keep drinking water clean also affected the health of the population. Link

Points and Explanation with Evidence Main Body Factor: Cleaner Water. Statement The ability to separate drinking water from sewage was also important in improving public. Points and Explanation with Evidence Being able to pipe water directly into people’s houses rather than use a public pump in the street removed much of the threat of Cholera and Typhoid. As local authorities realised this they bought fresh water supplies such as Loch Katrine by Glasgow and Saint Mary’s Loch by Edinburgh. Link The Government also got more involved as the century wore on.

Factor: Public Health Acts Main Body Factor: Public Health Acts Statement The Government passed various Public Health Acts to improve health. Points and Explanation with Evidence In 1848 they passed an Act which allowed Local Authorities to appoint a Health Board to monitor conditions in their area and in 1875 they passed another Act to enforce minimum health conditions around the country.

Conclusion Sum up the argument Although medical advances were important in improving public health, better living conditions and less poverty were equally important in allowing people to be able to pay for the new technological advances, the improvement in diet and drinking water was also important as was the Government intervention in first allowing then enforcing minimum standards. Answer the question Although medical factors and the other technological factors were important the main factor was the decrease in poverty as the century wore on which allowed people to take advantage of the various technological advances .