Tuesday, 19 May 2015

AS History Russia (OCR) Last Minute Tips

1.       There are 4 main topics that you need to know and could be asked a question on;
2.       You will only be question on three
a.        The Tsars


                                                               i.      social, economic, political policies, opposition and unrest, (1894-1905/1905-1914)
                                                             ii.      1905 revolution – causes and consequences, stability/restoration of authority between 1905-1914 (remember this stability was more apparent than real)
                                                            iii.      Reasons for abdication
                                                           iv.      Role of world war I

b.      The Provisional Government

                                                               i.      Impact of World War I
                                                             ii.      Weaknesses or reasons for failure of provisional government
                                                            iii.      Assess the reasons for the March/October 1917 revolution
                                                           iv.      Strengths of the Bolsheviks
                                                             v.      Role of the Peasants

c.       Bolsheviks/Communists

                                                               i.      Why where they able to seizure power in October 1917
                                                             ii.      Strengths of the Red/Trotsky/Red Army
                                                            iii.      Lenin’s strengths and weakness
                                                           iv.      War communism
                                                             v.      NEP
                                                           vi.      Lenin’s consolidation of power
                                                          vii.      Lenin and Red Terror
                                                        viii.      Why they were able to win the civil war?  Strength of Reds, Lenin/Trotsky/Red Army/ Weakness of Whites and Greens, unpatriotic, Role of foreign intervention
                                                           ix.      Assess reasons for why the won the … Civil War, October Revolution etc..
                                                             x.      How they consolidated power
                                            
d.      Stalin

                                                               i.      Rise to power
                                                             ii.      Leadership debate
                                                            iii.      Stalin’s consolidation of power
                                                           iv.      Great terror
                                                             v.      Stalin’s economic policies – 5 year plans, collectivisation
                                                           vi.      Show trials
                                                          vii.      Social costs of Stalin’s economic policies.
                                          

3.       Remember you only have 45 minutes so use your time wisely

a.       Plan your essay within 5 minutes
b.      Leave 5 minutes at the end to read through
c.       You have 35 minutes to write the full essay
                                                               i.      So spend 5 minutes on your introduction
1.       Define any key terms
2.       Explain what they main arguments are offering a balanced overview
3.       Make a judgement
                                                             ii.      Spend 5 minutes on each paragraph
1.       Remember to PEEEL your arguments and sustain your analysis and evaluation throughout.
2.       Remember to evaluate the usefulness of the point you are making with a different point or interpretation and repeat for each paragraph.
3.       Then link back to the question at the end of each paragraph in your mini-conclusion, suggesting which is the most credibly, persuasive and compelling argument and why.
4.       In your first paragraph tackle the most significant factor
5.       Discuss the less significant factors in your other paragraphs and make that explicit
6.       If there is a trigger or catalyst factor, or short-term factor, please explain that.
7.       If there is a longer-term factor that is secondary but was deeply significant factor, explain that.
8.       Have 4/5 paragraphs in your main body, each paragraph tackling a different factor
9.       DO NOT SAY ALL FACTORS ARE SIGNIFICANT, THEY CANNOT BE

10.   Don’t forget to write a conclusion, recap on the main issues and answer the question with your judgment.  Remember there is no right answer.

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