Mark scheme - Essays

For Paper 1 Section A/B, Paper 2 Section B & Paper 3 Section B/C

Russia revolution 100 anniversary

Russia revolution 100 anniversary

With the commemoration of the Russia revolution approaching there is lots of media to explore.


1. Article to read

Guardian website: Why does the Russian revolution matter?

Places the revolution in context of current events.


2. Exhibition to visit

British Library. Russian Revolution: Hope, Tragedy, Myths

Includes Lenin's application to be a reader at the British Library!


3. TV to watch

Lucy Worsley's programme 'Road to Revolution'

Useful for revision to summarise the key events.

What does it mean to use 'criteria'?

Establishing and using criteria

On the mark schemes for all the new Edexcel A-Level papers, there is a requirement to establish and use criteria in your judgements. This just means showing the examiner how you can measure the extent of something.

But this is not hard to do - it simply means being clear about the reasons for the judgements you make!

Here are some thoughts for how you can do this…….

Change/Continuity, Significance, and Similarity/Difference criteria (to judge the extent)

• Amount of people affected – consider social class, geographical spread, age and gender
• Length of change or impact – short or long term?
• Deep difference or lots of progress compared to previous situation – eg: in attitudes or policies
• Speed or pace – happened quickly or slowly over time?
• Effectiveness – accepted or resisted?
• Level of threat to the status quo

Consequence criteria (to judge the most significant consequence)

• Speed or pace – effects happened quickly or slowly over time?
• Effectiveness – accepted or resisted?  Achieved aims?
• Coherence/consistency – stayed the same or adapted?
• Lead to or connected to other effects

  

Causation criteria (to judge the most significant cause)

• Connections to other causes
• Presence in a range of factors
• Level of threat to the status quo
• Trigger – present for a short time, but without it the event or change may not have happened when it did
• Underlying – present for a long time and created the conditions for an event or change to happen

The criteria you use will depend on the conceptual focus of the questions and the topic focus

Don’t overdo it – keep to around 3 criteria for any one question

For some questions, you could structure your answer around the criteria  

In reaching a judgement, you should also evaluate the relative significance of criteria – for example in judging the extent of change you might conclude that something which affects all social classes is more significant than something that lasts a long time (or vice versa!)

  

15 History work ideas for independent learning and revision

15 History work ideas for independent learning and revision

1. Go through the textbook and find the period we have just studied, create mind maps or flash cards on this.
2. Go through the textbook and do any tasks in textbook we have not done in class.
3. Write essay plans for possible essays (look in the revision guide, on exam board website or in textbook for examples).
4. Make a key word list for a topic you have studied with definitions.
5. RAG your notes, any that are red or amber improve using textbook, information sheets or books from reading list.
6. Rewrite a piece of work you have had feedback for taking into account feedback and seeing how else it could be improved.
7. Practice exam questions and review mark scheme to give yourself a mark.
8. Create a quiz and swap with a friend (make sure you make the answer sheet).
9. 5-5-1. Review a topic in 5 lines then 5 words then 1 word.
10. Create acronyms for topics especially those you find hard to remember.
11. Create a timeline of the course or module you are studying. Colour code different areas (e.g. political, economic, social, cultural, religious).
12. Make speed dating cards for any important individuals with their name, important dates, significance, death on them.
    
13. Go through handouts – highlight key terms, ideas dates. Make a poster with these key terms.
14. Use the online log in in your textbook to access the exam website.
15. Research topics using the internet.

Quizlet Russsia

Quizlet Russia

Nicholas II rule

1905 revolution

End of Romanov rule

PG and opponents

Who is who?