UNIT 1: ESSAY QUESTION STRUCTURE

1. UNIT 1:ESSAY QUESTION STRUCTURE Year 12

2. Unit 1 Exam Question Structure 40 MINUTES in total to answer the question. (Plan your answer) – 2 MINUTES • Brief Introduction: Outline your line of argument. 2 MINUTES • Argument: Address the factor asserted in the question (3 points of evidence). 8 MINUTES • Counter-argument1: Alternative factor (3 points of evidence). 8 MINUTES • Counter-argument2: Alternative factor (3 points of evidence). 8 MINUTES • Conclusion: Explain precisely the relative importance of the three factors, how they work together to explain the phenomenon discussed and which is the most important factor and why. You must say whether you agree or disagree with the assertion made in the question, explaining the role and significance of the ‘argument factor’. 8 MINUTES

3. R1 + R2 IC + R3 C Your answer should have 5 paragraphs: introduction (about 80 words); 3 middle paragraphs (argument, 1st counter argument, 2nd counter argument – each about 200 words); conclusion (about 100-150 words). Each middle paragraph should be organised according to the structure to the left. Unit 1 Exam Question Structure

4. How to organise each middle paragraph Topic of paragraph. Reason 1 – Statement, Evidence & eXplanation. Reason 2 – Statement, Evidence & eXplanation. Intermediate Conclusion. Reason 3 – Statement, Evidence & eXplanation. Conclusion. What to include in each paragraph: • Introduction - approx. 80 words: argument & 2 counter-arguments outlined • Middle paragraphs - 200-250 words: 3/4 dates; 3-5 individuals, events or organisations given as examples • Conclusion - approx. 100-150 words

5. You can think of the whole essay as following this overall structure Argument Counter 1Counter 2 R1 + R2R1 + R2R1 + R2 IC + R3IC + R3IC + R3 IC + IC + IC C

6. Example Middle Paragraph Nicholas II showed himself to be an incompetent ruler throughout his reign, but especially during the crisis of the First World War. He never fully supported his two most talented ministers, Witte and Stolypin, in their attempts to modernise the Russian economy and state, first during the great Economic Spurt in the 1890s and after the crises of the Russo-Japanese War and the 1905 Revolution when Stolypin introduced his agrarian reforms and tried to work with the Duma after 1906. When Stolypin was assassinated in 1911, Nicholas made no attempt to replace him with anyone of similar ability, overlooking Witte right up to his death in 1915. Instead Nicholas relied increasingly on repression, as shown by the killing of the miners during the Lena Goldfield Strike in 1912. Thus, even before the World War Nicholas had shown his inability to adapt to Russia’s modern problems. During the war he took over the army leadership. From September 1915, even though the generals still made most military decisions, Nicholas was increasingly blamed for Russia’s poor performance in the war. He only made the situation worse by leaving the Tsarina in charge of the civil government, instead of sharing power with the Duma. She proved to be equally incompetent and was tainted by her connections with Rasputin and Germany. Nicholas’ actions and decisions had undoubtedly made the problems Russia faced in the early 20th Century much worse and had made the outbreak of revolution much more likely.

7. 1881 – 1924: Topics for Argument & Counter-Argument Paragraphs • Social & economic backwardness of Russia (& economic progress 1891-1902 (Great Economic Spurt - Witte); 1906-14 (Stolypin); 1921-1924 (N.E.P.) • Incompetence of Tsar Nicholas II/Conservatism (reactionary character) of Alexander III • Rise of opposition movements (Liberals & Revolutionaries) – their strength or weakness • Legacy of the 1905 Revolution (limited compromise/concession including October Manifesto; Fundamental Laws; Duma; Stolypin) • Reliance on terror/repression/loyalty of army by Tsar/Communists • First World War (& Russo-Japanese and Civil Wars) • Weakness of the Provisional Government • Temporary weakness of the rival parties compared to the Bolsheviks in 1917 • Political ability of Lenin (and the Bolshevik leadership – e.g. Trotsky during Russian Civil War) • Organisation of Communist State Dictatorship 1917-1924

8. 1924 – 1953: Topics for Argument & Counter-Argument Paragraphs • Social & economic backwardness of the USSR (1924-1928 - Continuation of N.E.P.; initial shortcomings of Five Year Plans 1932-1937) • Social & economic transformation of the USSR (Collectivisation 1928-1933; Five Year Plans 1928-1941; War Production & Post-War Reconstruction) • Stalinist regime’s reliance on terror/repression/loyalty of army (Legacy of Tsarism & Lenin – OGPU; Dekulakisation & removal of NEPmen 1930 onwards; The Purges 1934-1938; NKVD during WWII; Leningrad Affair 1949, Jewish Doctors’ Plot 1953) • Second World War aka Great Patriotic War 1941-45 (fear of invasion 1924-1941 by Capitalist powers; devastation of war; organisation of war production; extension of Stalin’s & USSR’s power & prestige - creation of satellite states to serve Soviet state) • Use of propaganda to support Stalin & his policies (‘Socialism in One Country’; campaigns against rivals 1924-1928; Cultural Revolution 1928 onwards, including Cult of Personality; wartime propaganda 1941-45) • Political ability/personality of Stalin (ruthlessness; position in party; paranoia; political alliances) & other members the Communist leadership – Trotsky & others underestimation of Stalin; reliance on Zhukov in WWII

9. How to organise the conclusion paragraph It is clear that…FACTOR IN QUESTION…was / was not the main reason why…ASPECT OF RUSSIA 1881-1953 IN QUESTION. The main factor was…MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR…because it…EXPLANATION OF WHY THIS FACTOR WAS THE MAIN CAUSE FOR why…ASPECT OF RUSSIA 1881-1953 IN QUESTION. The…OTHER FACTOR 1…made this SITUATION/CRISIS/FAILURE worse by…EXPLANTION OF FACTOR. The…OTHER FACTOR 2…was now able to take advantage of the weakness/strengthened regime of the TSAR/REVOLUTIONARIES/PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT/OTHER PARTIES/HIS RIVALS/THIS CRISIS/THIS REVITALISED/CENTRALISED /MODERNISED STATE/etc. because… The…FACTOR IN QUESTION…was therefore important in causing why…ASPECT OF RUSSIA 1881-1953 IN QUESTION...in that WITHOUT IT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE OR IT SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERMINED/ STRENGTHENED THE TSARIST/COMMUNIST REGIME AT THIS CRUCIAL POINT OR IT GAVE LENIN/STALIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEIZE POWER/CONSOLIDATE THEIR POSITION AT THIS CRUCIAL POINT, ALTHOUGH ITS EFFECT DEPENDED UPON WIDER CHANGES/GREATER CRISES IN RUSSIA AT THE TIME.