Planning an essay 2011 Higher Level Pre & Early Christian Comparison Question

The construction techniques used in pre-Christian burial sites show some similarities with those of early Christian architecture. Discuss this statement with detailed reference to similarities in materials and techniques between one named pre-Christian example and one named early Christian example and Discuss briefly the different functions of the examples you have chosen Illustrate your answer

First thing to do is to turn the statement into a question. The construction techniques used in pre-Christian burial sites show some similarities with those of early Christian architecture. Turns into What are the construction techniques used in pre- Christian burial sites show some similarities with those of early Christian architecture? Now you what they are really asking you, so what’s the answer? A: Corbelling!!!!

Next you can highlight the important key words of phrases from the question The construction techniques used in pre-Christian burial sites show some similarities with those of early Christian architecture. Discuss this statement with detailed reference to similarities in materials and techniques between one named pre-Christian example and one named early Christian example and Discuss briefly the different functions of the examples you have chosen Illustrate your answer

…. construction techniques used in pre- Christian burial sites ….some similarities with … early Christian architecture ….detailed reference to similarities in materials and techniques ….one named pre-Christian example ….one named early Christian example ….different functions of the examples

Construction techniques used in pre- Christian burial sites Summarise this era, include dates and building techniques 7,000BC – 2,000BC Dolmens Court Cairns Passage Graves

Some similarities with … early Christian architecture As well as discussing the similarities between the construction techniques, also give a summary of this era including dates and some examples of early Christian architecture. C. 450AD to 1000AD Gallarus Oratory Skellig Michael St. Sionnach Macdara’s Church

Detailed reference to similarities in materials and techniques The key word here is DETAILED. Make sure that you give sufficient detail as you COMPARE & CONTRAST the materials and techniques used in both eras in the examples that you chose.

One named pre-Christian example Newgrange is the obvious choice as this is an example from the Pre-Christian era that uses corbelling. Materials Greywacke Quartz Granite Technique Corbelling on the roof of the cairn

One named early Christian example You can chose from the beehive huts of Skellig Michael or the upturned boat-shaped Gallarus oratory or even St. Sionnach Macdara’s church as they all use corbelling. Whichever you chose make sure to compare the materials with Newgrange and when writing about how the building was corbelled, make sure that you are constantly comparing the technique of corbelling in this instance with how it was used in Newgrange. What was different if anything?

….different functions of the examples Once again the key is to be DETAILED when describing the different functions. Newgrange – winter solstice ritual & calendar etc. Early Christian – church/oratory/place of prayer within a monastery

Writing the introduction An introduction briefly and succinctly answers the question. So do just that! Don’t just repeat the question. Use you plan to address the key phrases by listing what you plan to write about them in the introduction. This shows the examiner that you understand the question and know the information. Finally if you say you are going to discuss a topic in the intro, make sure that you actually remember to discuss it in the essay text.

Sample Introduction In the following essay, I am going to discuss how similarities in construction techniques from the pre-Christian period – in particular the technique of corbelling – continued to be utilised well into the early Christian period. In order to do this I will use the Neolithic site of Newgrange in Co. Meath as a fine example of corbelling in the pre-Christian era and I will compare and contrast the method of corbelling used in its construction with the corbelling of the churches – sometimes built many hundreds of years later - from the early Christian period. I will particularly focus on Gallarus Oratory in Co. Kerry, with its upturned boat-shape. I will also present a comparison of the different functions of both buildings, contrasting Newgranges function as a calendar, and a pagan ritual site which has its zenith on the 21 st of December with the role of Gallarus oratory as a place of prayer and retreat or potentially an early B&B for weary pilgrims!