1. What you need to do for the Assignment
Higher History
What you need to do for the Assignment

2. What is the Assignment? Extended research based essay worth 30 marks
Higher out of 90 in total.

3. Choosing an issue
Don’t simply choose the essay you have scored well in.
Choose a topic you think you’d research effectively
Strongly encourage a topic you are studying/have studied/will study

4. Issues in Essay topics Britain European and World
Causes of growth of democracy
How democratic Britain became
Causes of political equality for women
Reasons for Liberal Reforms,
Success of Liberal Reforms
Success of Labour Welfare reforms,
How secure was Tsarism before 1905
Reasons for 1905 Revolution
Effectiveness of attempts to secure Tsarism after 1905
Causes of February Revolution
Causes of October Revolution
Reasons for Red Army victory in Civil War

5. Coming to a question
Evaluation essays should have the stem ‘How important…
Make the named factor the factor you will argue for… (I think)
Bad Questions
Describe the growth of democracy in Britain (Not able to get any analysis/ev marks)
Why did Britain become democratic (Not able to get Ev marks)
Good Question
3. How important was social and economic change in making Britain more democratic between 1850 and 1928?

6. Section A: Placing the issue in context (3 marks)
This is your introduction. It’s not much different from an essay introduction, but we need more context.
Suggested 3 sentences for context
Outline your argument IN TERMS OF ISOLATED FACTOR
Give a list of other factors (at least 5 paragraphs- you’ll see why later)

7. Section A Marking Instructions
3 marks: At least 2 points of background, at least 3 different factors AND connected to a line of argument 2 marks: At least one point of background AND identifies at least 2 factors OR connects this to a line of argument 1 mark: At least one point of background OR identifies at least 2 factors OR connects this to a line of argument 0 marks: No context or factors

8. Section B: Analysis
Try to make your essay as analytical as you can, lots of counter-arguments and links between factors
Show why the knowledge in your essay is relevant to the historical development
Make higher analysis obvious
“There is a limitation to this argument, because…
“There is a clear link to … and …. here, because…

9. Section B Marking Instructions
Up to 4 for Lower Analysis
Up to 3 for Higher Analysis (links between factors, counter arguments etc)

10. Section C: Evaluation (5 marks)
This will ideally be at the end of each paragraph (but make it evident throughout). You should come to a judgement based on the evidence in your paragraph
Be careful that you don’t mix up analysis and evaluation…
Also, you need to make sure you bring something ‘new’ to your evaluation.
NOTE: It’s very difficult to get into the 4 or 5/5 for this section. It requires you to really show both sides of an argument, but consistently and effectively use rebuttal to show why your argument is stronger than the counter argument.

11. Evaluative comments may include, for example:
The extent to which the factor is supported by the evidence
eg This evidence shows that X was a very significant area of impact. (Maximum of 2 for continually doing this)
The relative importance of factors
eg This evidence shows that X was a more significant area of impact than Y.
Counter-arguments including possible alternative interpretations
eg One factor was ….. However, this may not be the case because …
Or However, more recent research tends to show that ….

12. Other ways to evaluate
The overall impact/ significance of the factors when taken together.
eg While each factor may have had little effect on their own, when we take them together they became hugely important.
The importance of factors in relation to the context
Eg Given the situation which they inherited, these actions were more successful than they might appear.

13. Section C Marking Instructions
5 marks: The candidate connects their evaluative comments to build a consistent line of argument that recognises the topic of the issue and takes account of counter- arguments or alternative interpretations (This is VERY difficult) 4 marks: The candidate connects their evaluative comments to build a line of argument that recognises the topic of the issue and takes account of counter- arguments or alternative interpretations. 3 marks: The candidate connects their evaluative comments to build a line of argument that recognises the topic of the issue. 2 marks: The candidate makes isolated evaluative comments on different factors that recognise the topic of the issue. 1 mark: The candidate makes an isolated evaluative comment on an individual factor that recognises the topic of the issue. 0 marks: No evidence of a judgement being made on the factors.

14. Section D: Using information from sources
Firstly, sources should be quotes and interpreted, rather than simply quoted. Therefore, don’t quote evidence that we already know. Don’t quote evidence that is a fact, like ‘women got the vote in the UK in 1918’. We want to see opinion, interpretation and comments.
This caused problems last year (see how to reference on next slide)
Sources should be referenced in resource sheet AND essay.
Top essays will show awareness of historical debate, showing why one historian’s opinion is more accurate than another interpretation. It will use this as part of, rather than separate from, your overall argument.

15. How to reference
Primary sources must show person and year the quote was said e.g Lloyd George said in 1914 that “….” Secondary sources must show author, year and book name “Orlando Figes claimed in ‘A People’s Tragedy (1997) that “…” Web resources should show full URL then date accessed “Churchill was the best Prime Minister that the UK has ever had” ( accessed 13 January, 2017)

16. Section D Marking Instructions
1 mark for each historical source used (don’t double up).

17. Section E: Knowledge (8 marks)
Has to be
Relevant
Accuarate
Detailed

18. Section E Marking Instructions
1 mark for each point.

19. Section F: Coming to a conclusion (3 marks)
More difficult than introduction, so make it longer
Make sure that you acknowledge both sides of the debate with evidence
Show why one side of the argument is stronger than the other arguments
“Factor A is more important than factor B because…..EVIDENCE FROM ESSAY. Factor A is also more important than factor C because… EVIDENCE. Finally, factor A is more important than factor D because…”

20. Section F Marking Instructions
3 marks: There is an overall judgement between different factors in relation to the issue and the candidate explains how this arises from their evaluation of the presented evidence. 2 marks: There is an overall judgement between the different factors in relation to the issue. 1 mark: There is an overall judgement which directly answers the issue in a summary. 0 marks: No judgement