how to write AICE History paper 2

How to answer Paper 2 essay questions:

Understanding the wording of the question:

Question (a) you will be asked to explain an event or why something happened.

Question (b) you will be asked one of the following.

• To make a judgement about the causes or consequences of an event

• To consider to what extent or how far a particular factor was the most important in bringing about an event

• To make a judgement about a particular government or president

(a) Explain why the civil war lasted for four years.

• What are two reasons the war last four years?

• Why are these reasons important?

• Which one is more important than the other

• What is your overall view on why these reasons made the war last four years?

(b) How far had the position of ex-slaves improved by 1877?

• What parts of the Reconstruction improved their situation?

• How much did their position actually improve?

• Situations that didn’t improve their position

• What is your evaluation? Did the improvements outweigh the non-improvements?

• Overall view on each situation and how it dictates your stance on the question.

Avoid irrelevance

• Look carefully at the wording of the question

• Avoid simply writing all you know about the question

• Revise to avoid writing out responses that you don’t have all the information relevant to the question

Paper 2 short answers (explain questions)

• Very important you write analytically in answering both questions. The short answers are not asking to describe an event but how that event answers the questions.

Avoid descriptive answers.

• This is when an answer has relevant supporting knowledge, but it is not directly linked to the actual question.

• You must write analytical answers and not simply just tell the story. Keep referring to the question.

Example How successful were Theodore Roosevelts Progressive reforms?

• What were his progressive reforms?

• What were the aims of these reforms?

• Were these reforms successful and how?

• Which ones failed?

• Break them down to political, business, or social reforms

• Then does the success how weigh the unsuccess and how it affects your stance

Opening sentence sets the tone

• A good opening sentence will offer a view or an idea about an issue relevant to the question. This will avoid a narrative approach

Conclusion:

• Should come to a judgement that is based on what you have already written and should be briefly supported. Do not introduce new ideas. If they were important they should have been discussed earlier.

• Make sure you don’t leave the argument open or start a new argument. It called a conclusion for a reason.

• If it calls for it makes sure you give your judgement in the conclusion paragraph. The reader should know exactly where you stand.