starter activity

1
? starter activity
Your teacher will give you some information about
the Tsarist Russia. There are 8 facts to learn by
the end of this session. On each slip of paper is
a question and an answer. Go up to someone in the
class and ask them your question. If they dont
know the answer tell them. They will do the same.
When you have finished swap papers and repeat
this process with someone else. By the end you
should know the answers to all 12 facts.
2
What will I be studying this year?
? Aims

• To find out what I will be studying for AS
  History
• To define key words used during the course
  create a glossary
• To create a timeline of events, ideas and
  individuals

3
? Your task
What will I need to do to be successful at A
level history? Make a list of ideas, share your
ideas with your partner and add any new
suggestions to your list. I will ask you how many
of these things you have done throughout the
course!
4
Possible answers

• Keep well-organised notes
• Develop systems for memorising key facts (dates,
  names, events etc.)
• Independent study techniques
• Use school public libraries
• Keep up to date with latest research in history
  journals
• Watch TV films (History Channel, UK History
  etc.)
• Use the new departmental website
  (www.studyhistory.co.uk)
• Visit museums (Imperial War Museum, Science
  Museum)
• Meet homework deadlines

5
How will I be examined?

• 2 units at AS, 2 units at A2
• AS 50 total marks
• Unit 1 Historical Themes in Breadth
• Unit 2 British History Depth Studies
• Written exam 1 hour 20 minutes
• 2 questions, 30 marks each
• Russia in Revolution, 1881-1924
• Pursuing Life and Liberty USA 1945-68

6
Grade boundaries
7
? Your task

• Look at the example of a past paper. With your
  partner write some tips for fellow students on
  how to ensure exam success with this paper.

8
Hints on exam success

• Read rubric carefully
• Look at the marks available for each question
• Plan your answer carefully
• Focus on the question set NOT the one youd like
  to answer
• Structure your ideas
• Support your ideas with detail factual evidence
• Structure your revision If you fail to plan,
  your planning to fail

9
? Your task

• It is important you keep a glossary of keywords
  that you come across during the course. Your
  teacher will give you a pile of key words. Try to
  match them against a definition. Create a
  glossary page in your notes and copy down the key
  words.

10
? Your task

• It is useful when studying such broad periods of
  time to keep a timeline of key events. Use Lynch
  p.1-3 to create a timeline and explain what
  happened on these dates
• 1881
• 1890s
• 1905
• 1914
• 1917
• 1918
• 1919
• 1924

11
Timeline

• 1881 Russia was an empire ruled by autocratic
  Tsar
• 1890s Great Spurt, economic expansion
• 1905 Revolution duma introduced
• 1914 outbreak of war
• 1917 February October Revolution
• 1918 Dissolution of Constituent Assembly
• 1919 Comintern created
• 1924 Formation of USSR Death of Lenin

12
?

• Read Lynchs on determinist and non-determinist
  interpretations of Russian history.
• What do these phrases mean?
• What evidence is there for each view?
• Which do you feel is most accurate?