Theme Essay Paper 1, 2 and 3

What are concepts in history?

Cause, consequence, similarity/difference, continuity/change, significance

Causation questions

The question might pose a possible main cause - like the causes of rebellions - which you will have to examine against other issues and conclude on which was the main cause

Consequence questions

Consequence questions will often give you an event too - like the dissolution of the monasteries - but unlike cause questions, they will ask you what the biggest consequence of that event was. They might pose a possible consequence as the greatest - like economic issues - and you will have to weigh that issue against others and conclude on which was the main

Similarity/Difference

Similarity vs difference questions will ask you to compare two things, looking for elements that make them the same, and elements that stand them apart.

Change/Continuity

Continuity and change questions will likely give you something to look at across two or more time periods. You will then need to say whether more things about that issue changed than stayed the same.

Significance

If an essay question does not fall into any of the above categories, we would default it into significance. They tend to be yes vs no arguments. It will be your job to then construct a balanced argument between those two stances.

What should be included in an introduction?

• Identify the concept

• Identify the key issues

• State criteria

• State judgement

Paragraphs

• Point about theme

• Evidence and examples

• Explain evidence and why this is important

• Counter argument

• Link - interim judgement

How many theme paragraphs?

Three

Judgement paragraphs structure

• In judgement the view that… can be agreed with to a great extent/cannot be agreed with

• Relative significance; apply criteria; overall summary

• Overall, it can be seen that…