Coursework

see below for key documents relating to history COursework. You will also find links to useful reading materials.

•20% of the A level qualification

•A piece of extended writing (3000-4000 words)

•Independent research, planning and writing up

•Combines the skills of essay writing, source evaluation and interpretation evaluation

•Out of 40. 20 = essay writing, 10 = source evaluation, 10 = interpretation evaluation

•Coursework guide

•Final deadline: 2 weeks before the Spring ½ term

•Marked by St Bart’s History teachers

•Reviewed by OCR

You need to consider the personal desire of the Tudor monarchs against other factors.

•Personal desires (eg Anne Boleyn, Henry and Elizabeth, Margaret Tudor).

•Dynastic alliances (foreign policy)

•Dynastic Security/ Faction.

•Royal authority/ Political Considerations

Points of analysis:

•What was the purpose of royal marriages?

•Remember to look beyond the marriages of the monarchs themselves. How significant were the marriages of the king’s family?

•How significant were the different personalities of the two monarchs in determining marriages?

You need to consider several factors that looks at both security and key threats.

Factors to consider:

•Dynastic legitimacy (heredity and heirs)

•Claimants and pretenders

•Control of the nobility

•Royal authority- rebellions

•Foreign Policy- Dynastic alliances

Points of analysis:

•Were there any moments of crisis?

•Was there underlying strength or weakness to Tudor royal authority?

•Did the “Kings Great Matter” form a turning point, and did this increase or decrease security?

Factors to consider:

•Political- succession between monarchs and continuity of central authority,

•Political- royal authority (rule by a minor and a woman).

•Economic/ social issues, including enclosure, debasement and agriculture.

•Religious upheaval

•Rebellions (this could be considered within the above factors).

Points of analysis:

•What does a crisis look like for  Edward and Mary? A difficult time, but was is a crisis? Context of the time – was it any more troublesome than other periods around this time? Did a sense of crisis change over the mid-Tudor period?

Factors to consider:

•Political- weaknesses of the constitution

•Political instability- armed uprisings and coups.

•Economic- hyperinflation and the Golden years

•Foreign Policy- desire for revenge. Treaty of Versailles, Dawe’s plan, invasion of Ruhr.

•Social- the reaction of different groups to Weimar and quality of life.

Points of analysis:

•The Weimar republic was set up after WW1 and failed when the Nazis came to power January 1933 and then the Enabling Act was passed in March 1933. Were there changes over this time period?

•Did Germans support the new democratic system of government?

•Was there an inevitable failure?

•Golden Years – evidence that it was not doomed?

Factors to consider:

•Political status and involvement in political decisions.

•Economic status and work

•Social status- the role women played within society and the family

Points of analysis:

•Status improving in the 1930s and 40s – what would this actually mean? What does having status in Nazi Germany mean? Complete equality is not realistic for this context.

•How did the status of women change compared to Weimar Germany

•Nazi Germany – aims and policies

•The experience of different groups within Germany.

•Impact of WW2 on women’s status

Factors to consider:

•Political- the authority of the Tsar, reform & autocracy

•Political opposition- liberals, revolutionaries, nationalities, the military

•Economic- growth and industrialisation

•Social- urban conditions, peasantry, workers

Points of analysis:

•Stability in Russia – what would this look like? Context of early 20th century Russia. 1905 had been very unstable.

•Is there underlying support for the regime, or is there demand for change?