History: RevolutionsExam Preparation
Revising for the exam:
⢠You should have already started revising for both your PRACTICE exam and therefore, the November exam
⢠If you havenât, I strongly encourage you to do so. You may find the following advice handyâŚ
ADVICE for REVISION:
Now
⢠Complete course (CHECK!)
⢠Organise course notes
⢠Be sure to focus on BOTH revolutions and not just Russia (or France!)
Late September
⢠Revision notes
⢠Dot point summaries
⢠Mind maps
⢠Hint sheets
⢠Read regularly (France too!)
⢠ATTEND revision classes/lectures
⢠Nail the recipe of answering the questions
End of October
⢠Practice tasks â exam timing â you can NOT do enough of these!
⢠More reading
⢠List areas of concern
⢠Come in to see us for help ANYTIME
⢠Scheduled classes will still run for Year 11s
Last Days
⢠Practice tasks
⢠Avoid urge to CRAM
⢠Stay focussed â eat and sleep well
⢠Review best responses/models
Develop good revision notes:⢠Organised
â Sub-headingsâ Highlight quotes
⢠Chronology⢠Know the story but move beyond to prove your depth of knowledge⢠Events
â Key playersâ Datesâ Ideologyâ Outcomesâ Evidenceâ Views
⢠Historians⢠Contemporary views
Other TechniquesâŚTables â for different groups (ie; Liberals, SRs, SDs =
Bolsheviks/Mensheviks)⢠Origins⢠Dates⢠Supporters⢠Aims⢠Tactics⢠Activities⢠Signs of support in 1905 and then in 1917GO BEYOND THE STORY â SEE THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF AN EVENT⢠Consequences⢠Outcomes⢠Rationale behind activities
THE EXAMThursday 12th November, 11.45am â 2.00pm
Two hours, plus 15 minutes reading, thinking, choosing and planning time
50% of study score
SAC marks 50% study score, moderated by examination and GAT
2 hours of writingâŚnot typing!
⢠Legibility
⢠Clarity
⢠Size
⢠Speed
⢠Practice
⢠Practise
Understanding the Challenge
⢠No place to hide! Need clear, precise, accurate, specific knowledge of revolutionary Events, Leaders, Ideas, Movements
⢠Four different and distinct tasks to do in 2 hours plus 15 minutes
⢠Assessors (examiners) reward clarity and conciseness
Know what the exam looks like!⢠Your practice exam will be the best guide, as
we are working with a new format, but be familiar with PAST EXAMS (use your REVISION pack)
⢠VCAA website: past exams, assessorsâ reports⢠Layout: be familiar with the structure,
sequence, space provided ⢠Types, and wording of, questions in each
section⢠Types of documents, images, essay questions
Avoiding DISASTER
⢠ONE revolution for ALL of Section A: Parts 1 and 2 (FRANCE)
⢠A DIFFERENT revolution for ALL of Section B: Parts 1 & 2 (RUSSIA)
⢠Keeping to time limits. 30 minutes for each of the 4 sections
⢠Never go more than a few minutes over 30 in any section â ideally you want to give yourself 35 minutes for the short essay (final section)
⢠Do not write in pencil. Black or DARK blue pen.⢠Learn the correct spelling of key terms, events and
people
EXAM FORMAT
You must answer the following:
Section A (FRANCE)⢠Part One = 10 + 10 Marks = Two extended response
questions (Revolutionary ideas, leaders, movements and events)
⢠Part Two = 20 Marks = Analysis of Document, Commentary, VISUAL or Interpretation (Creating a New Society)
Section B (RUSSIA)⢠Part One = 20 Marks = Analysis of Graphic, Commentary or
Interpretation (Revolutionary ideas, leaders, movements and events)
⢠Part Two = 20 marks = Short Essay (Creating a New Society) Question will be specific to Russian Revolution
FORMAT
The exam is organised into two sections, one section for each of the two revolutions studied.
In Section A the Part 1 and Part 2 questions for France will be grouped together.
In Section B, Part 1 questions are indicated by page number in Part B âindexâ and then all essay questions are together.
You will be asked to nominate on the front cover of the question and answer book the revolution you have used to answer the questions in Section A and the revolution you have used for Section B.
Part 1: Revolutionary Ideas, Leaders, Movements & Events
⢠Two questions 18-20 lines of writing ⢠25% of marks; spend maximum of
30 minutes (15mins x 2) including proof reading time
⢠âWhy did revolution occur?â (What ideas, leaders, groups and events were MOST important and how did they contribute to the outbreak of revolution?)
Dates for Short Answers
⢠France 1781 â 4th August 1789
⢠You need to ensure that you adhere STRICTLY to the dates in both the AOS and the question â no marks awarded for any information given outside of these constraints
Section A: Part 1 QuestionsRevolutionary ideas, leaders, movements and
eventsThese questions are now grouped together.
Simply turn to the page as indicated on the âindexâ. Examples:
Question 1How did conflict between the estates contribute to the development of a revolutionary situation in France in 1789?
Question 2How did failure to reform contribute to a revolutionary situation in France by July 1789?
Section A Part 2: Evidence AnalysisCreating a New Society
⢠âIdentify from the extract two âŚâDemonstrate understanding of source (evidence)Identify features that support your interpretation(2 + 2 = 4 marks)
⢠âUsing your own knowledge and extract explain âŚâPlace the evidence in context and link it to other events, ideas, leaders. Show precise knowledge of what was happening, before, during, and after, the creation of the source.(6 marks)
⢠âExplain the strengths and limitations of this extract to explain âŚâEvaluate the source as a piece of evidence in terms of accuracy, completeness, compared evidence, contemporary opinion and âmodernâ historians opinions (10marks)
Evidence to be Analysed
France: New society - 1795
⢠Note: it could be a primary source (such as the Declaration of War April 1792 or an extract from Louisâ trial) or historiansâ interpretations of events (such as what Pipes or Doyle say about the Terror)
Section B: Second Half of Exam
⢠We complete this section on RUSSIA
⢠Section B Part 1: Analysis of an image, or document (primary source or historianâs interpretation), or commentary â This is USUALLY a graphic
⢠Section B Part 2: Write a short essay (extended response) on the ânew societyâ created by the revolution
Section B Part 1Analysis, (probably) of Representation/Graphic
⢠Dates of focus: Russia 1905 â October 1917⢠Similar questions as for Section A:
a. âIdentify two features in the representation ⌠& (âfeaturesâ = âwhat you can see in the graphic b. and what does that symbolise?â)c. âUsing your knowledge, explain âŚâ (Placing
the image in context)d. âExplain to what extent this representation presents a reliable view of âŚâ AND âRefer to
different views of âŚâ
âHistoriansâ viewsâ
⢠Knowledge of historiansâ views required
⢠Comparing and assessing the viewpoint in the image with other named historiansâ viewpoints
⢠High standard example: look on the VCAA site and in your revision book
⢠âReliable viewâ? Image is only ONE source and it IS a viewpoint/interpretation
Conflicting Evidence & Interpretation
⢠âNo historical judgement is beyond disputeâ (Doyle)
⢠Historians differ about MANY significant aspects of the Revolution:
⢠Stages, features, significance, who benefited, role of leaders groups and ideas, key changes and continuities, nature of Revolution, statistics, key crises, etc!
⢠Study the evidence and arguments presented by historians and reach your own conclusions
Section B Part 2: Short Essay âExtended Responseâ on :Creating a New Society
⢠Present an argument; donât tell the story
⢠Do not refer to the âold regimeâ; focus only on the ânew societyâ
Russia Nov.1917-1924 death of Lenin
Expect to write about 2 â 3 pages in exam booklet
Tips for Exam â Short Answers⢠Read question carefully: highlight, underline key words, terms, dates
Do not write beyond the dates. Answer question immediately in first sentence
⢠Do not repeat the question (unless it is explicitly part of your answer)
⢠Must address the question â explain how⌠contributed toâŚ
⢠Plan your answer, in date sequence, (incl. summing up) in 4-5 dot points
⢠Write concisely; answer in space provided, avoid large writing
⢠Include 4-5 relevant points, with specific events, dates, people, places, documents, short quotes
Short Answers continuedâŚâ˘ You can use signposts â firstly, secondly, thirdly,
furthermore, in additionâŚâ˘ Include your opinion on the relative significance of event,
person, group, idea, tension, conflict in contributing to a revolutionary situation
⢠Use words that highlight causal role of event, person etc: âcatalystâ, âhighlightedâ, âintensified dissatisfactionâ, âpolarisedâ, âpopularisedâ, âarticulatedâ, âstimulatedâ, âled toâ, âcontributed toâ, âcrucial factor inâ
⢠You may use one or two short quotes⢠Stay within timeframe⢠Use commas or semi-colons to help list evidence⢠Evidence demonstrates understanding DATES / NAMES
/ PLACES / LAWS / POLICIES will help significantly⢠Refrain from narrative and irrelevant info
Tips for Section A: Part 2 Analysis
⢠Key focus question for this Area of Study is: âWhat was the new society like, and how was it formed?â
⢠Remember that ânew societyâ refers to all aspects of the revolutionary regime, including political, economic and social aspects.
⢠You also need to know about and form a viewpoint on the role of the revolutionaries who influenced the new society, the challenges they faced, how they responded to these challenges, and the extent of changes and continuities.
Tips and Advice continuedâŚ
⢠Plan your answer. Make dot point notes on spare paper, especially for longer answers.
⢠Show your understanding of the source. Extract evidence and ideas from it. Avoid using any (none?) but the shortest quotes from the document.
⢠Show additional relevant knowledge to that included in the source. Place it in context.
⢠Critically evaluate/challenge the interpretation presented: strengths? Limitations? accuracy? completeness?
RECIPE
Questions A and B⢠If you are asked to LIST/NAME do JUST
THAT â be sure to know what the question is asking though â ie; details/features that representâŚ/social groups etc
⢠Quotes from documents are okay as long as they answer the question
⢠Nothing wrong with very short answers as long as they ANSWER THE QUESTION!
Question C
⢠MUST quote, paraphrase or refer to the extractâ As the representation suggestsâŚâ As portrayed in the representation byâŚ
⢠MUST introduce information NOT in the source
⢠EXPLAIN why â need to put in context
Question D⢠Read the question CAREFULLY to determine
what ASPECT of the document/graphic youâre discussing
⢠Need to EVALUATE and say why itâs usefulâ What can you seeâ What is NOT THEREâ Different historical views
⢠You can compare the piece with other documents or representations of the time
⢠Need to MEASURE the viewpoint against that of others
⢠How valid is it?⢠Try to include name/source with quotes â donât
need to cite statistics
Sentence starters:
⢠This document is useful becauseâŚâ˘ This event marked the beginning of the
revolution becauseâŚâ˘ This was a catalyst in the revolution becauseâŚâ˘ This extract provides only a partial account ofâŚâ˘ This representation is broadly correct,
howeverâŚâ˘ This is one historians view. By contrast, others
argue⌠such asâŚâ˘ The validity of this extract could be challenged
asâŚ
Short Essay⢠Do not use prepared essays. DO prepare by locating
and learning a range of evidence; including key dates, significant statistics, and historiansâ views
⢠âUse of evidenceâ is the key skill required.⢠Choose your topic in reading time and start to PLAN the
essays THEME⢠Underline key words and terms in question; consistently
reuse these in your response⢠Produce a brief skeleton plan, at least; with the with key
areas/focus of each paragraph listed⢠Avoid a ânarrativeâ introduction. State your main
argument immediately⢠Structure essays chronologically or thematically; though
the highest scoring essays tend to be thematic
Short Essay
⢠Produce well structured logically organized sequence of paragraphs (2-3 pages in exam booklet). Always leave time for a clear, thoughtful and relevant conclusion
⢠Begin each paragraph with clear topic sentences⢠Include specific, well selected, accurate relevant
EVIDENCE (âmemorised!â). Relevant facts, statistics, dates, short quotes, names, examples.
⢠Correctly spell terms, events, leaders etc⢠Include reference to historiansâ interpretations and their
evidence⢠9/10 Essay: clear strong argument, sophisticated, with
complexities of the questions fully addressed
More on the essayâŚâ˘ Use a RANGE of evidence and back it up with VIEWS
â Quotesâ Statisticsâ Dataâ Evidenceâ Datesâ Names
⢠Discuss and explain the relevance of these facts as you raise them â do not assume that they speak for themselves
⢠The question may quote an historian but this is not inviting a long historical DEBATE. You need to:â Provide a strong, clear argumentâ Use good evidence to support viewsâ Fully address the complexities of the question
Types of Questions⢠Key focus of this time period is âWhat was
the new society like, and how was it formed?â
⢠So questions will test knowledge and depth of understanding of:
the revolutionaries and their ideas, the challenges and obstacles they faced, how they responded to these, and the outcomes of the revolution (extent and nature of change)
Examples of Essay QuestionsEssay questions are likely to be focussed on a quote followed by a question.
Focus on what the question is asking â what aspect of the new society is it addressing?
âThe crises experienced by the revolutionaries ensured that their aims would not be achieved.â Provide evidence to support your answer.
âViolence and force were as much a part of the new society as in the old regime. Discuss providing evidence to support your answer.
And finallyâŚ
⢠Donât forget to EAT and go to the toilet before the exam â it goes over lunchtime
⢠Use the READING TIME â you need to look at what each question is asking and can spend any âspare timeâ planning your essay in your head
⢠Do NOT use dot points⢠Write in BLACK or DARK BLUE pen â no pencil⢠Handwriting is key â if they canât read it they
canât give you marks
Remember:
There is NO SUBSTITUTE
for HARD WORK!!!!