IB Paper Two

History Essay Test Taking

Agenda

• What is Paper 2?
• Paper 2 tips & tricks.
• General Essay Exam tips

Paper 2: What is it?

• Students are given 5 minutes to read before time starts
• Two essays in 90 minutes
• One from each topic area (Cold War & CPE of War)
• Each topic has 6 questions:
• 3 on named people, themes, or events listed in the syllabus
• 2 open-ended: you can choose your own examples
• 1 addresses social, economic, or gender issues
• at least 1 will require material from 2 different regions
• The question asked must be answered in terms of the Topic the question falls under

Paper 2: Some tips

• If the question asks you to talk about a plural (ie “popular movements”), limit yourself to 2 or 3
• If you use more, your paper will lack analysis.
• DO NOT skip analysis:
• don't just list the causes of something
• explain why they were important causes
• Don't let your facts be implicitly connected to the question: be explicit
• Begin your response by defining what the question is asking
• EG: define Total War, define NonAligned

Paper 2: Higher Scoring

• Structure is important
• Points are expertly organized and written
• includes handwriting!
• Continuous linkage back to the question
• makes for repetitive writing, but is totally acceptable
• Understanding of historical process
• show the relationship of factors
• eg: how events happen and then the effect they have on topic

Paper 2: Historiography

• Evaluation of Different Approaches:
• looking at different historical/ideological perspectives
• not necessarily historiography, but it can be
• really just try to look at the different ways two countries would look at the same event
• eg: USSR & US approaches to the causes of the Cold War
• an easy way to highlight this is in the introduction

Deconstruct the Question

• There is nothing superfluous in an exam question
• Command Terms
• What is my answer expected to do?
• CIRCLE THEM
• Key Terms:
• What overall issue or topic must my answer focus on?
• UNDERLINE THEM
• Parameters
• What dates, regions, categories must my answer address?
• BRACKET THEM

DeconFuntion!

• Deconstruct the following sample essay exam prompts:
• Examine the role militarism, political ideology, and the pre-war diplomatic alliances played in [delaying the outbreak of war.]
• Discuss how [World War One] could be considered a total war.
• To what extent do you agree with the claim that [in 1914] states went to war due to fear rather than motives of gain?

Key Terms & Quotes

• Key Terms
• Most of these are on the course vocabulary handout given at the start of the course
• Sometimes they need defining in order for your answer to make sense
• Quotes
• if your prompt contains a quote, you will need to break it down in the same way you break down the question
• “No one power alone bears the chief responsibility for the causes of the First World War.” With reference to two countries, to what extent do you agree with this statement?

Planning

• You need a clear argument sorted out in your head
• define this argument in your intro & conclusion
• Planning lets you see if your argument will work
• do you have enough evidence to support it?
• Sort out key points & put them in order
• Will make writing your essay faster
• YES IT WILL
• Will cut out waffle and repetition

Introduction

• Show that you understand the question
• could include referring to dates or events
• put things in historical context
• explain any key concepts
• Indicate the scope of your essay & line of argument
• the roadmap for the reader
• Tell the reader your answer
• the introduction can make or break a paper
• don't expect the reader to have to search through the paper or wait until the conclusion to know your answer...suspense will kill your authority
• Includes your thesis statement
• thesis is not a substitution for an introduction

Point Paragraphs

• Most Paper 2's will have 3-6 Point Paragraphs
• A clear opening sentence
• links to the question
• states the key point or argument of the paragraph
• Evidence supports the point given in the first sentence
• Explanation makes it clear why that piece of information supports your claim-don't leave it for the reader to work out
• A final sentence that sums up the argument of the paragraph
• link back to the question
• it isn't pretty, but it is clear

Sequence of Paragraphs

• Should lead the reader through a clear line of argument
• Demonstrates analysis (rather than just describing or telling a story)
• Different types suggest different structure
• Why? (examining essays)
• long term to short term -or-
• prioritize the reasons -or-
• thematic (SPERM)
• To What Extent? (how far essays)
• present one side first, then the other
• ALWAYS start with the side presented in the question
• finally a judgement
• also given in your intro and conclusion

Sequence of Paragraphs

• Compare & Contrast (comparative essays)
• compare THROUGHOUT your essay
• DO NOT write about one, then the other
• thematic
• same & different in each paragraph
• same and different in separate paragraphs

Historiography

• Don't use quotations just to try to create the impression that you know more than you do!
• It is good to show knowledge of historical debate
• however your essay is not about historian's views
• use historical debate as evidence for your own argument
• Treat as you would any piece of evidence
• carefully selected
• clearly connected/supported

Conclusion

• Remind reader of your point
• Reference historiography here if possible/what are possible differing points of view/meaning
• Apply your findings to your main point and argument
• Link back to the question
• DO NOT introduce any new points or evidence in your conclusion
• If pressed for time, and ONLY if pressed for time, use bullet points
• you'll get points for clarity and evidence
• you'll lose points for writing style

Do's and D'oh'n't's

• NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS
• Avoid colloquial language or slang
• Use dates to show understanding of chronology
• Use only official abbreviations (WWI)
• Be careful with metaphors, similes, and other colorful language devices