Explain the story: chroniclers tell the story; historians tell the story & explain why it happened the way it did
Write a structured essay
Thematic approach preferable… but not necessary to reach higher markbands (mark 13-15 level descriptor: “Answers are structured (either chronologically or thematically) using relevant evidence to support historical arguments.”
Support knowledge claims & analytical assertions w/reference to specific historical knowledge
Be comprehensive
Give multiple interpretations—need not be historiography: e.g. Korean War as both civil war & limited war
Advise students w/ less developed skills to answer more specific questions & avoid more general questions
Assume No Prior Knowledge:
“Russia was expected to take six weeks to mobilize according to the Schelliffen [sic] Plan masterminded by Germany to win a two-front war. It banked on a quick defeat of France by concentrating German forces on France, and after defeating them within six weeks, moving the majority of forces to the Eastern Front to fight off the Russians who supposedly would have just mobilized.”
Thematic Approach:
“Mussolini was able to ascend to his dictatorship due to the support of the people and traditional elite, the weakness of his opposition, his presidential position and the crisis of Matteotis’s [sic] murder.”
Support w/Specific HK:
“The containment policy was made as a result of George Kennan’s Long Telegram, in which Kennan claimed that the Soviet Union was an aggressive expansionist…
The Long Telegram was written by the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, George Kennan. In his telegram Kennan described the Soviet Union as aggressive, oppressive and would take advantage of any weak links and turmoil in the democratic world to expand communism. Kennan concluded that though the Soviet Union seemed strong, in reality America was more powerful and should actively stand up to the Soviets. These thoughts developed into the Containment Policy. “
Explain the Story:
“The German Blockade was set up by Britain to stop Germany from importing raw materials and war supplies. Germany depended heavily on raw materials imported from its colonies. Thus the blockade was one of the deciding factors of Germany’s defeat in WWI. However, Germany also depended on imports to feed its population. The British enforced blockade disregarded the survival requirements of the Germany population and vicariously targeted civilians, it is estimated that around 750,000 Germans died of starvation caused by the blockade. It is unlikely that Britain did not anticipate the devastating results the blockade would have on German civilians so another viable explanation of the blockade was enforced intentionally to wreck Germany’s power to continue resistance. This means that World War I was a total war in which Britain did not differentiate between civilian and military targets in order to totally destroy Germany.”
Writing an essay based only on key words from a question, i.e. Hitler
Waste time on historical information outside the boundaries of the question, especially chronologically
Long introductions—exam essays do not use same format as formal essays
Assume reader/examiner knows what is meant—students responsibility to demonstrate his/her understanding
Sweeping generalizations
Stand alone historical knowledge: i.e. Austria’s ultimatum to Serbia
Using metaphors—obscures understanding for this type of essay
Using historiographical terms without demonstrating understanding
“He [Mao] controlled propaganda and proscribed what was allowed to be said and what wasn’t. He therefore also manipulated the Chinese people into supporting him, since he made everything sound and look nicer than what it really was in reality.”
Stand Alone HK:
“Mao’s ideology was Maoism, also referred to as Marxist-Leninists. It focused on peasantry and industrial development.”
Social & Cultural Questions
Guerilla Warfare
Nature of Warfare (air, naval, technology)
Role & Status of Women
Ideology
Economic Questions
Propaganda Questions
Less Directed Questions (quagmires for weaker students)
How to unpack a question
Demand specificity when students speak
Teach thematic approach to writing (no later than second year of IB)
What is a relevant response
Focus on explaining, analyzing, identify cause/effect
