1. How to incorporate A+
You now need to incorporate 3 pieces of A+ in your essay to achieve 6/6 for analysis. These should be marked clearly on your revision cards and decided before hand.

2. ASSESSMENT QUESTION
It is relatively straight forward to incorporate A+ in an assessment essay. These essays are asking you to weigh up to what extent something was achieved OR not achieved. In essence you are Praising and Criticising.
Every time you develop your analysis by incorporating balance into your argument -by showing contradictions or inconsistencies you will be awarded A+

3. Issues which ask you to assess
BRITAIN
Issue 2: How democratic was Britain by………Democracy ?
Issue 5 : How effective/successful were the Liberal Reforms ?
Issue 6: How effective/successful were the Labour Welfare Reforms ?
RUSSIA
Issue 1: How secure was the Tsar before 1905 – DO NOT DO THIS!
Issue 3: How effective were the attempts made to strengthen the Tsarist State between ?

4. Phrases which help you achieve balance in an assessment essay
On the one hand , (LINK TO QU)/ this has been praised/ this was successful/ effective because ……..
On the other hand – it could be argued that this was not successful/effective(Link to Qu)/ been criticised/ there were many drawbacks with this reform/these measures because… DON’T JUST SAY “HOWEVER” AND EXPECT THE MARK

5. Group Task Each group will be given an ASSESSMENT issue to revise.
You are expected to produce a poster which highlights 4 possible A+ examples for that essay.
You must indicate what factor /paragraph it relates to
You must link it to a piece of KU
You must give a balanced explanation ( Praise and Criticism)
Your group will present your poster to the class.

6. ISOLATED FACTOR QUESTION
Achieving A+ in an isolated factor question is definitely more challenging. These questions are asking you to explain the reasons WHY something has happened and to weigh up the importance of different factors which led to this event/development.
Achieving basic analysis in these essays is really straight forward. The easiest way to do it is simply to say. This was important because….
There are a number of ways to achieve A+ - but they definitely require planning and thought.

7. Isolated Factor Issues
RUSSIA
Issue 2: An evaluation of the REASONS WHY there was a revolution in 1905
Issue 4: An evaluation of the REASONS WHY the Tsarist State collapsed in Feb ie..Why there was a revolution on FEB 1917…
Issue 5: An evaluation of the REASONS WHY there was a revolution in OCTOBER DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!!
Issue 6: An evaluation of the REASON WHY the Bolsheviks won the Civil War
BRITAIN
Issue 1 : An evaluation of the REASONS WHY Britain became more democratic DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Issue 3 : An evaluation of the REASONS WHY Women won the vote.
Issue 4: An evaluation of the REASONS WHY the Liberals introduced social welfare reforms.

8. Establishing contradiction or inconsistencies within factors
To achieve A+ in this way you must have firstly said why this factor WAS important.
EG - It could be argued that this was important in (Link to Qu) because ……………….
On the other hand however, it could also be argued that ( this factor) did not play an important part because …..

9. Linking Between Factors
You can also achieve A+ by showing the relationships between different factors. It is important that the examiner recognises however that this is a link between factors or you will just be given basic analysis.
Eg compounded/ complemented/ worked together with / added weight to ………
This factor led to that factor. OR At the same time there was also...

10. Historiography
You can use historiography to back up/ or contradict a point which you have already made.
Eg X was important in ……………. because…… (YOU NEED TO THE MAKE THE POINT FIRST)
This view is endorsed/supported by historian B who is of the opinion that…………….. ( either paraphrase OR Quote to show he shares this opinion) OR
‘Nicholas was the source of all problems’ – Figes argues that he was the main reason for revolution.
X would contradict this view/ argue that this was not the case because …………( either paraphrase OR Quote to show disagreement)

11. Specific Examples of A+

12. Issue 4 Liberal Motives Analysis and Analysis +
Booth and Rowntree
The social investigations of Booth and Rowntree were important in the Liberals passing reforms because they provided the government with statistical evidence that poverty was not the fault of the individual but due to factors out with their control such as old age, sickness, unemployment and low wages. However, although booth and Rowntree provided clear evidence showing poverty, they were not powerful politicians and there reports were not endorsed by the Government. Therefore they were not in a position to direct government policy, therefore weakening the importance of their social investigations in the Liberals passing reforms

13. Issue 4 Liberal Motives Analysis and Analysis +
Fears of National Security
Fears of National Security caused by recruitment for the Boer war were important in the liberals passing reforms as it gave the Liberal government evidence of the poor health of nations fighting stock and showed that reform had to be introduced to fix this. However, fears of National security caused by the Boer War were not of major importance in the Liberals passing reforms as the war ended in and no major social reforms related to the health of children were passed until If it had been such a concern then the Conservative government who were in charge during the Boer War would have passed reform to improve the health of the male population.

14. Issue 4 Liberal Motives Analysis and Analysis +
Rise of Labour
The rise of Labour was important in the Liberals passing reforms because the Liberals passed social reforms to prevent a loss of working class voters and to win elections. However, it can be argued that Labour was not an important reason for the Liberal reforms and were not a threat as the number of Labour MP’s only increased from 29 in 1906 to 42 in 1910 highlighting their insignificance in comparison to the number of Liberal MPs.

15. Issue 4 Liberal Motives Analysis and Analysis +
New Liberals
The New Liberals were important in the Liberals passing social reforms because if it had not been for a change in thinking from power and influential politician’s that poverty was not the fault of the individual then reform would not have been so rapid during the Liberal government However, it is naïve to argue that the Liberals solely passed reforms due their own personal desires to help the poor. These were astute politicians who passed reforms to keep working class voters, appease the threat of working man’s Labour party and hold onto their own political dominance.

16. Issue 2 Russia- Why was there a 1905 revolution
Peasant Discontent
Discussion of Land Hunger/Resentment of Redemption Payments/ High Taxation all leads to discontent amongst peasantry which was directed at Tsar
On the other hand however, Indoctrination by Orthodox priest meant many peasants still thought of the Tsar as their ‘Little Father’ who was not to be questioned- suggesting this factor was not overly important.(A+)
A + - The historian Robert Service shows the significance of peasant discontent in causing the revolution ‘The peasantry had not been much slower to move against the authorities than the workers.’ –A + -

17. Issue 2 Russia- Why was there a 1905 revolution
Mistakes of Tsar
Over time, both peasants and workers started to become angry at the Tsars because of his reliance on repression, violence and use of Russification
A + - ‘Tsars’ reluctance to introduce reforms to improve conditions turned a ‘political crisis’ into a ‘revolutionary crisis’’ Orlando Figes
A + - The reliance on repression and violence went hand in hand with his lack of willingness to change working and living conditions AND shows that both political and economic factors worked together in causing the 1905 revolution.(link between factors)

18. Issue 2 Russia- Why was there a 1905 revolution
Bloody Sunday
A – Father Gapon’s peaceful march on the Winter Palace was fired upon by the Tsar’s troops. The image of the Tsar as the ‘little father’ was destroyed and people of all classes begin striking and marching in protest.
A + - ‘Bloody Sunday was an overwhelming display of tsarist incompetence’ – Richard Pipes
A + - ‘the popular myth of the Good Tsar which had sustained the regime through the centuries was suddenly destroyed’ Orlando Figes

19. Issue 4 : Why was there a feb revolution 1917 Defeats
Issue 4 : Why was there a feb revolution 1917 Defeats? Problems in war using historiography / counter- arguments
A – Early defeats played a big part as the Russian army was poorly equipped with too few rifles. This led Russians to blame the Tsar and increased discontent making revolution more likely.
A+ - Alternatively Orlando Figes argues that the Russian army was well equipped for the expected short war but poorly prepared for what WW1 became.

20. Issue 4 Economic and Social problems/ using historiography / counter- arguments
A+ - Orlando Figes “the revolution was born in the bread queues”. This suggests that the domestic discontent was the most important factor in starting the revolution in February 1917.
A – Food shortages caused by food building up at rural stations caused discontent to grow.
A – Strikes and industrial discontent caused supply problems in which led to further demands for change.
A+ - On the other hand some historians like Norman Stone point out that Russian weapon production matched Germany by 1916 and the Russian war effort was not a disaster. They suggest it s problems are exaggerated.

21. Issue 4: Decisions of the Tsarusing historiography / counter- arguments
A - Decision to become commander in chief increased the demand for revolution as the Tsar was now personally associated with each defeat.
A+ On the other hands there is a problem with this view as the Tsar taking over was effective and stopped the Great Retreat of 1915 – it stopped the German advance into Russia and allowed the Tsar some breathing space that slowed down the demand for revolution.
A+ Figes – ‘Nicholas was the source of all problems’ – Argues that he was the main reason for revolution.

22. Issue 4: Social and economic Problems on the Homefront –the peasants in countryside
Problems with land and farming still remained with the peasantry – Many of the conscripts in the army were peasants and horses were requisitioned by the army (KU)
This led to problems with farming – amount of produce dropped because there was not enough men to farm – Led to major shortages of food and money/ increasing discontent towards the Tsar(A)
As well as these economic issues, the defeats and casualties in WW1 impacted the peasants the most and many peasant soldiers deserted the army –it is clear then that both economic and military factors worked together in turning the Russian peasantry towards revolution. (A+ - Linking factors)

23. Issue 4 :Social and economic Problems on the Homefront – the towns/cities
WW1 made living and working conditions even worse than they were before . Major food shortages due to breakdown of transport system (KU) – Many were angry at Tsar because food was available but nothing was being done to solve the problem.
Inflation (rise in prices of food – quadrupled) made money worthless and affected all classes (Economic)
All of this leads to numerous strikes – eg.Putilov Engineering, female textile workers. Showing again that economic and social problems led directly to political problems. (A+ Linking factors)
Overcrowding became even worse as the Great Retreat caused a flood of refugees from the East as the German army invaded . This shows that again military factors exacerbated existing economic problems and together they contributed to revolution.(A+ - Linking factors)

24. Issue 4: Bourgeoisie (Upper Class) discontent
Tsar is not doing a good job of running the war effort – Prince Lvov and other nobles set up Zemstvo Union – Town councils that run the war effort in Russia and set up soup kitchens to help those starving in the cities. (KU)
This showed that the Tsar and his system was ineffective and undermined the Tsars authority – (A) Further evidence of the Tsar losing support of nobility when Brusilov ( his top military general) speaks out about him being incapable (A+ - Linking factors)

25. Issue 4 :Mistakes of the Tsars/links between factors
Can be threaded into any section/factor ---- for link between factors– make sure it is absolutely clear though.

26. Issue 6 :Civil War Leadership of Trotsky
Commissar of War – In charge of creating and leading Red Army. Recruited 50,000 ex-Tsarist officers and introduced conscription in (KU)
This led to the Reds having a large, well trained army with experienced officers (A)
However, Mawdsley argues that this was the idea of another general, Bonch, and therefore Trostky was not as important as many state. (A+ - Counterargument)

27. Civil War Leadership of Lenin
Lenin Introduced War Communism – Took control of industry and made sure that all efforts went towards the war effort . His decisive leadership also had an impact on other factors because he made sure the Red’s continually had superior resources (A+ - Linking factors)
On the other hand, it could be argued that this policy was not as important as it turned many of the peasants against the Bolsheviks and led to them losing a lot of support during the Civil War (A+ Counterargument)

28. Civil War Foreign Intervention
Whites rely heavily on foreign intervention from France, Britain and America – guns, troops, etc. Allied enthusiasm drops massively when Germany surrender in 1918 – Many foreign troops left by 1919.
This failure of foreign intervention is a key reason why the white’s were defeated.
Mawdsley argued that ‘foreign intervention was half hearted and militarily ineffective’. This is further evidence that limited foreign intervention was a key reason why the Reds won. (A+ - Historiography)