well brilliant! i’m studying medicine, weimar germany; american west and elizabethan england so pretty much the same
i haven’t been given th best guidance either but still managed to do well on these types of questions.
with a 4 marker you want to be looking at features of something - such as a plot or breakthrough or whatever it might be. and then you want to describe. i really overthought this one, but it’s only 4 marks and the 4 marks are there for 2 developed reason!
12 markers require a bit more thought and structure. for the question, try and come up with 2/3 big ideas. the answer should still be relatively short, so a short introduction, your big ideas, and a conclusion that links the ideas together and answers the question.
16 markers are the worst!
in fact, i struggle with them because i’m not entirely sure of how to structure them. essentially these are your typical essay question where you’ll have your introduction, paragraphs on the different things you want to talk about in response to the question (i usually go for 4) and then the conclusion.
i’m also aware there’s source enquiries etc. and i think the question styles for american west are a bit different.
obviously this advice is just a bit all over the place, but i’ll go and look around/ do some research for you and hopefully come back with some better advice if you still need it?!