Paper 2: The rise and fall of fascism in Italy, c1911-46

Paper 2 is a written examination, lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. Marks available: 40. Students answer two questions: one from Section A, one from Section B. Section A assesses your ability to analyse and evaluate source material (AO2). Section B assesses your understanding of the period in depth (AO1).

The Italy course is broken down into four key topics:

Key Topic 1: The liberal state, c1911-1918

Key Topic 2: The rise of Mussolini and the creation of a fascist dictatorship. 1919-26

Key Topic 3: The fascist state, 1925-40

Key Topic 4: Challenges to, and the fall of, the fascist state, c1935-46

Section A: requires students to answer a question about the utility (value) of two primary sources for an enquiry (investigation) into a specific event in Italian history.

The question is always structured:

How far could the historian make use of Sources 1 and 2 together to investigate….

Writing Structure

Rather than writing about the sources in succession (one after the other), the best way to focus on how the sources can be used together is to pick out themes from the source and focus on them in detail. In order to do this the following writing structure can allow you to consistently cross reference. It also means that you are not risking running out of time and only analysing one source.

CAT = Comprehensive, Accurate, Typical

DAMMIT = Date, Author, Medium of Communication, Message, Intended Audience, Tone

Introduction

Brief summary of how the sources can be used together

Highlight the ways the sources can be used

Emphasise the relative weight in coming to a judgement (e.g. is one more useful?)

Paragraph 1

P - Point (What is the main focus of Source 2)

I – Inferences from the Content (2/3 x QUOTE + EXPLANATION)

P - Provenance (DAMMIT)

K - Knowledge (CAT test – Comprehensive, Accurate, Typical?)

X – Cross-Reference (explain areas of difference/similarity with the other source)

L - Link

Paragraph 2

P - Point (What is the main focus of Source 2)

I – Inferences from the Content (2/3 x QUOTE + EXPLANATION)

P - Provenance (DAMMIT)

K - Knowledge (CAT test – Comprehensive, Accurate, Typical?)

X – Cross-Reference (explain areas of difference/similarity with the other source)

L - Link

Conclusion

Emphasise the two main themes raised by the sources

Evaluate the relative weight of both sources for the enquiry

Section B

Introduction: CUTS

C

Context

Explain what the key issues relating to the question are in one sentence!

U

Unpack the question

Define key terms and valid criteria for judgement

T

Thesis statement

Clearly state your argument (be nuanced – measurement language

S

Structure

Explain your three paragraphs and why you will focus on these factors

Paragraph structure - PEAEL (3 factors ideally, but 2 if you’re short on time)

P

POINT

Clearly state the factor and its importance to the question

E

EVIDENCE (x2-4)

(Try to inter-weave your specific evidence and analysis together, rather than writing in blocks). Give a fact, explain it, give another, explain it – and so on

A

ANALYSIS (x2-4)

E

EVALUATION

You must always devote the bottom third of your paragraph to evaluating your answer – this means considering any counters to your POINT, and comparing/connecting to your other factors

Sentence starters:

Although……… Nevertheless…….

Without….

Ultimately….

Despite….

L

LINK

Clearly and decisively state the importance of the factor to your answer

Conclusion

R

Restate

Restate your argument clearly

W

Weigh up

Explain each key factor and weigh up their importance

K

Killer Evidence

Use a piece of ‘killer evidence’ to back up your argument to finish