A-Leve Ancient History

Hello everyone,

I have just started studying A-Level Ancient History online at Oxford College. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I never got to compete school when I was younger, (now 26) and I now would love to become a Historical researcher. I have never written an Essay before, (I only have my English GCSE) and would really appreciate some tips and guidance on how best to get a good grade, so I can go to university.

Thank you
Paige

Reply 1

sunflowers!

Hi Paige ^^ I'm Edwin, I'm doing an Ancient History A-Level at my local college 🙂 Here's the structure my history teacher taught us for 30/32-mark essays:

1. Introduction
a. Answer the question, using the EXACT WORDING of the question
b. State your argument
c. State what your three paragraphs are about in order of importance
d. State anything else of note.

2. Paragraph structure
Repeat the following three times:
a. Say how important this factor is, with the EXACT WORDING of the question
b. State your argument
c. Repeat the following three times (so nine times in total)
i. What is your point?
ii. What facts support it?
iii. What source supports it?
iv. Evaluate the source
d. Why does this factor go where it does in the order?
e. Re-emphasise what you said in step a.

3. Conclusion
a. Repeat your answer to the question
b. Repeat anything of note - whatever you said in 1d.

Yes, it's complicated, but it's basically the only essay structure you need to learn and it gets you the marks 😆 Don't worry about practicing essays yet though, for now your focus should be on knowledge.

There's a youtuber called Alcibiades isace who does great videos on bits of the spec, and the website Massolit provides podcasts to learn while you're on the go. For later on when you're learning how to do exams, exam boards publish past papers and reports on how the students went - have a go at some past questions and read those reports thoroughly to get tips on how to up your grades.

Hope this all helps!! :smile:

Reply 2

Paigey98

Hello Edwin,

Thank you so much for this, it has been truly helpful. I will definitely be looking at both the YouTuber and pod cast. Great! I will look at the past papers too.

Thank you so much for this. Really appreciated.

Original post

by EdwinDeRozarieux

Hi Paige ^^ I'm Edwin, I'm doing an Ancient History A-Level at my local college 🙂 Here's the structure my history teacher taught us for 30/32-mark essays:
1. Introduction
a. Answer the question, using the EXACT WORDING of the question
b. State your argument
c. State what your three paragraphs are about in order of importance
d. State anything else of note.
2. Paragraph structure
Repeat the following three times:
a. Say how important this factor is, with the EXACT WORDING of the question
b. State your argument
c. Repeat the following three times (so nine times in total)
i. What is your point?
ii. What facts support it?
iii. What source supports it?
iv. Evaluate the source
d. Why does this factor go where it does in the order?
e. Re-emphasise what you said in step a.
3. Conclusion
a. Repeat your answer to the question
b. Repeat anything of note - whatever you said in 1d.
Yes, it's complicated, but it's basically the only essay structure you need to learn and it gets you the marks 😆 Don't worry about practicing essays yet though, for now your focus should be on knowledge.
There's a youtuber called Alcibiades isace who does great videos on bits of the spec, and the website Massolit provides podcasts to learn while you're on the go. For later on when you're learning how to do exams, exam boards publish past papers and reports on how the students went - have a go at some past questions and read those reports thoroughly to get tips on how to up your grades.
Hope this all helps!! :smile:

Reply 3

sunflowers!

Original post

by Paigey98

Hello Edwin,
Thank you so much for this, it has been truly helpful. I will definitely be looking at both the YouTuber and pod cast. Great! I will look at the past papers too.
Thank you so much for this. Really appreciated.

You're very welcome ^^ Feel free to PM me via my profile if you've got some questions I could answer or something lol