Unit 3 Part BThe Controversy

Question Advice from the chief examiner

What is the Controversy Question?

The maximum mark for the Controversy Question is 40 (24 for use of the sources and 16 for own knowledge)

15 minutes planning and 50 minutes writing

You should aim to write 800-1000 words

What is the Controversy Question?

Requires you to make and support a judgement about a historical interpretation (causes, consequences or key features)

The 2-3 secondary sources provide evidence of differing views

How to use the sources

Source-led analysis (24 marks)

Content Cross-referencing Evaluation of historical claims

How to keep the Examiner happy

Clear structure

Source-led analysis

Short quotations from the sources

How to keep the Examiner happy

Own knowledge used to supplement source-based arguments and introduce new issues

Focus on interpretation NOT historiography

An explicit judgement

How to annoy your Examiner

‘Stream of consciousness’

Source by source summaries

Failure to include quotations from the sources

Over-reliance on either sources or own knowledge

How to annoy your Examiner

Memorised perspectives

‘Name-dropping’

Failure to reach a judgement

Use sources 7, 8 and 9 and your own knowledge.

How far do you agree with the view that the development of the Cold War in the years 1945-48 owed more to Soviet expansionism than to the USA’s economic interests?

Explain your answer, using sources 7, 8, 9 and your own knowledge of the issues related to this controversy.