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Writing like a historian: explain and judge
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Most GCSE History marks come from writing. The best answers make a point, back it up with precise detail, explain it, and reach a judgement.
Describe, explain, analyse
Describe: say what happened. Explain: say why or how it happened. Analyse: weigh up and connect causes or consequences.
Higher marks need explanation and analysis. A useful test: does your sentence answer 'why?' or 'so what?'
Higher marks need explanation and analysis. A useful test: does your sentence answer 'why?' or 'so what?'
PEEL paragraphs
Point: answer the question in one sentence.
Evidence: give precise detail: names, dates, numbers, places.
Explain: show how the evidence proves your point.
Link: connect back to the question.
Precise beats vague: 'The Gunpowder plotters were hanged, drawn and quartered in 1606' is better than 'they were punished badly'.
Evidence: give precise detail: names, dates, numbers, places.
Explain: show how the evidence proves your point.
Link: connect back to the question.
Precise beats vague: 'The Gunpowder plotters were hanged, drawn and quartered in 1606' is better than 'they were punished badly'.
Reaching a judgement
'How far do you agree?' questions need both sides and a judgement.
Give a criterion for your judgement, such as 'which affected the most people' or 'which lasted longest'.
Use specialist terms correctly (for example 'monarch', 'Parliament', 'propaganda'); spelling, punctuation and grammar earn extra marks on some questions.
Give a criterion for your judgement, such as 'which affected the most people' or 'which lasted longest'.
Use specialist terms correctly (for example 'monarch', 'Parliament', 'propaganda'); spelling, punctuation and grammar earn extra marks on some questions.
Improve this vague sentence: 'Things in medicine got better because of new ideas.'
- Make a clear point: Medicine improved in the 19th century because of the germ theory.
- Add precise evidence: Louis Pasteur published his germ theory in 1861.
- Explain: it showed that microbes cause disease, so doctors could look for ways to stop them spreading.
- Link back to the question.
Answer: A precise point, a named and dated example, an explanation, and a link to the question.
Describe = what; explain = why or how; analyse = weigh and connect. PEEL: point, evidence, explain, link. Use precise detail. Judgements need both sides and a clear criterion.
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