GCSE History Paper 1 Answer Technique

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GCSE History Paper 1 - Answer Technique
One hundred and eighty!
Cold War 1945-1991
USSR 1928-1991
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GCSE History Paper 1 - Essays
Key to success - Answer the question - Below are
the usual question stems
In what ways? Explain what happened during an
event or a particular policy
How did it contribute? Looking at consequences
of a particular event or policy
Why? The causes of an event/ reasons it happened
Describe the key features..? Brief summary of
cause Explain most important aspects of
event/policy Brief summary of consequences
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Mark Levels

• A/A target is level 3
• Knowing your facts is vital!
• Organising your answer is a necessity!
• Only write down material that directly answer the
  questions - for why dont say what the
  consequences are

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Level 1

• Why did the USSR put missiles on Cuba in 1962?

Simple statement - point/reason
The USSR put missiles on Cuba as they wanted to
balance the arms race.
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Level 2

• Why did the USSR put missiles on Cuba in 1962?

Developed statements - point/reason evidence
The USSR put missiles on Cuba as they wanted to
balance the arms race, because the USAs nuclear
missile arsenal outnumbered the USSRs. This
missile gap was humiliating for the USSR
leadership.
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Level 3

• Why did the USSR put missiles on Cuba in 1962?

Developed explanation - point evidence
explanation
The USSR put missiles on Cuba as they wanted to
balance the arms race, because the USAs nuclear
missile arsenal outnumbered the USSRs. This
missile gap was humiliating for the USSR
leadership. Therefore placing missiles on Cuba
gave the USSR first strike capability against
many major US cities, and being so close to the
USA diminished Americas numerical superiority.
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TOP Level 3

• Why did the USSR put missiles on Cuba in 1962?

As level 3 but with precise, detailed facts!
The USSR put missiles on Cuba as they wanted to
balance the arms race, because the USAs
long-range nuclear missile arsenal outnumbered
the USSRs. US missiles on Turkey also presented
a local threat. The USSRs strength in IRBMs
(Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles) was
ineffective. Therefore placing IRBMs on Cuba
gave the USSR first strike capability against
many major US cities, and being so close to the
USA diminished Americas numerical superiority.
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TOP Level 3

• Why did the USSR put missiles on Cuba in 1962?

As level 3 but using long/short term to
distinguish change
The USSR put missiles on Cuba as they wanted to
balance the arms race, because the USAs
long-range nuclear missile arsenal outnumbered
the USSRs. US missiles on Turkey also presented
a local threat. Therefore placing IRBMs on Cuba
gave the USSR first strike capability against
many major US cities, and being so close to the
USA diminished Americas numerical superiority.
This was another chapter in the long-term
struggle for military superiority between the two
superpowers.
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TOP Level 3
Thats right PEE on the page

• Paragraph Structure

Point (what the
paragraph is all about)
Evidence (key facts
supporting your point)
Explanation (showing how the point
is relevant to the question)
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Arranging Paragraphs

• Paragraph Order

Level 1 sentences
Flogging
Level 2 paragraphs
C/B
Level 3 explanation
A/A
Level 4 argument
King of History!
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Arranging Paragraphs

• Paragraph Order - What do you need for A/A?

Level 3 explanation
Level 4 argument
Paragraphs listed in sequence of occurrence i.e.
chronological order
Hierarchy - most important factor/ reason
Conclusion
Long/ Short term
Linking paragraphs together
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Arranging Paragraphs

• Level 2 Structure - key features

What were the key features of the Five Year
Plans? (10)
Why level 2?
The 5 year plans were for a centrally planned
economy. Production targets were set in all key
areas by Gosplan (State Planning Commission).
Statistics were published to show targets and
Stalin made regular announcements on progress.
Paragraphs are not given any particular order
The five year plans were designed to make USSR
industrialise quickly and catch up the western
capitalist countries whom Stalin feared were
planning to attack. This was because the USSR was
100 years behind developed capitalist countries.
No links are made between paragraphs
The 5 year plans turned the USSR into a modern,
industrialised country, because it was strong
enough to resist the German invasion of 1941.
But it failed as they often missed targets which
had been set.
No explanation/ sense of long/short term
This central planning led to massive social
change in the USSR. This was because the numbers
of industrial workers doubled with new cities
being built, often in the East for protection
e.g. Magnitogorsk.
No sense of hierarchy
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Arranging Paragraphs

• Level 3/4 Structure - key features

What were the key features of the Five Year
Plans? (10)
The five year plans were designed to make USSR
industrialise quickly and catch up the western
capitalist countries whom Stalin feared were
planning to attack. It also allowed him to end
the NEP and create his own vision for the USSR.
There were 3 5-year plans, the first two aimed at
heavy industry while the third aimed to increase
consumer goods.
Order Cause Event Consequence
A key economic feature of the 5 year plans was
that it represented a centrally planned economy.
Production targets were set in all key areas by
Gosplan (State Planning Commission). All private
property was now nationalised. Statistics were
published to show targets and Stalin made regular
announcements on progress. This ensured Stalin
had complete control over the whole process.
Links
This central planning led to massive social
change in the USSR. The numbers of industrial
workers doubled with new cities being built,
often in the East for protection e.g.
Magnitogorsk. Whole communities were uprooted to
live in these cities sited in isolated areas.
This was accompanied by massive construction of
infrastructure. This included new ship canals,
railways, oil fields, hydroelectric dams and the
Moscow underground (Metro). This allowed the 5
year plan to function
Explanation Short and long term
In the long-term, the 5 year plans turned the
USSR into a modern, industrialised country, which
was strong enough to resist the German invasion
of 1941. However in the short-term most targets
set were optimistic and not reached. Managers
lied about progress and deficiencies were blamed
on capitalist wreckers and spies (or
Trotskyites). Few consumer goods actually
produced and what was produced was of poor
quality.
Conclusion
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Arranging Paragraphs

• Level 2 Structure - why questions

Why did Khrushchev carry out a policy of
de-Stalinisation after he became leader of the
Soviet Union?(10)
Why level 2?
Khrushchev also wanted to improve relations with
Eastern European countries because many were
unhappy in the mid-1950s. East Germany had seen a
revolt in 1953 and Stalin had fallen out with
Yugoslavia and its leader Tito.
Paragraphs are not given any particular order
One reason Khrushchevs personal distaste for
Stalinism, which had increased since World War 2.
This was because since then Stalin had become
more paranoid than before. 12 million people were
sent to the camps and used as slave labour to
rebuild the USSR. The cult of personality
remained and was strengthened.
No links are made between paragraphs
Khrushchev wished to introduce new industrial and
agricultural policies without undermining faith
in communism. Stalin had left the USSR with
chronic inefficiencies and low living standards.
Khrushchev wanted to introduce regional councils
and the Virgin Lands policy.
No explanation/ sense of long/short term
Khrushchev also wanted to consolidate his
position in the USSR after becoming undisputed
leader in 1956. It was only with difficulty that
he had removed his principal rivals Beria and
Malenkov, and he was not popular in all areas of
the USSR. He was also reliant on the army.
No sense of hierarchy
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Arranging Paragraphs

• Level 3/4 Structure - Why questions

Why did Khrushchev carry out a policy of
de-Stalinisation after he became leader of the
Soviet Union?(10)
Explanation Short and long term
A long term reason was Khrushchevs personal
distaste for Stalinism, which had increased since
World War 2. This was because since then Stalin
had become more paranoid than before. 12 million
people were sent to the camps and used as slave
labour to rebuild the USSR. The Party was purged
once again and the cult of personality was raised
to greater heights. Khrushchev wished to
dismantle this oppressive system and make the
USSR a more open society.
Khrushchev also wanted to consolidate his
position in the USSR after becoming undisputed
leader in 1956. Although he was rejecting
Stalins methods he still expected obedience. It
was only with difficulty that he had removed his
principal rivals, and he was not popular in all
areas of the USSR. This short-term political
reason allow him to purge old-style supporters of
Stalin. He could also remove from the records his
own involvement in the purges and his failure to
reform agriculture following the war.
Links
Order Reasons in chronological sequence
Khrushchev also wished to introduce new
industrial and agricultural policies without
undermining faith in communism. Stalin had left
the USSR with chronic inefficiencies and low
living standards. In order to make the economy
work better Khrushchev wanted further reforms of
the communist system. By attacking the record of
Stalin personally, Khrushchev could blame the
failings of the 1930s on Stalin and not on the
communist system itself.
Overall, while de-Stalnisation was due to
Khrushchevs personal position, but more
importantly it was also to allow the reform the
USSR. Khrushchev was dedicated to Soviet
communism, but felt it could only be made to work
if Stalins policies were reversed. He could
only do this if he challenged the uncritical
obedience to Stalin which had been part of the
USSR since the 1930s.
Conclusion/ hierarchy