ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Humanities => VCE Arts/Humanities/Health => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE History: Revolutions => Topic started by: osgood on October 29, 2012, 07:54:59 pm
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Hey Historians!
With the exam literally two weeks away and the anniversary of the Bolshevik coup three days ago, I thought it would be a choice time to initiate some revolutionary discussion!
How is everybody's study going?
Are there any areas that you may need clarification which other members may aid you with perhaps?
General thoughts on the exam ect.?
Allons- y citoyens!
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Hey!
Good idea :) Well I seem to be going through stages of relative peace, anxiety and just plain terror, much like the French Revolution itself hah. I'm struggling with being confident in what I do know, and consolidating what I do not. Just going through past exams, memorising quotes/stats etc. How about you?
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I'm both nervous and sort of excited to get it all over with! I've done a few practice exams and plan to do 11 more before the real exam, so hopefully that'll help consolidate things. Going over historians for France and Russia, reviewing dates and whatnot. OH, and practising neat handwriting ;)
No major panic attacks...yet. Although I have come down feeling quite nauseous with nervousness a couple of times.
I must say - listening to La Marseillaise and Boney M's Rasputin can be quite therapeutic :D
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I most definitely understand the feeling- I can't wait for all this study to cease but yet cannot really envision a life without revs..hmm..!
Don't worry e.claire, I don't expect to ever feel absolutely confident with Revs- I'm constantly finding new 'pockets' of information which I've overlooked/ have not really revised..*cough* Thermidor! *cough!*
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I'm so excited for revs! Now English is over I can study for it and there is so much to study! But it's awesome to learn :p
And osgood I was talking to my teacher today and we call that the 'messy area' of France... Cannot remember what is what
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Remember for Revolutions, your focus is on the cause/effect and then action/reaction!
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Right on Werdna.
Say, how do you all go about structuring 10 marker responses? I tend to split 'points' or 'arguments' via historians, stating an opinion then evidence and then contrasting it or developing it with another opinion and complementing evidence. I do wonder if it is effective however in distinctly outlining arguments..also wastes a fair bit of room on historiography..
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So excited and nervous for Revs!
Boney M's Rasputin is very contagious indeed.
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Can't wait for Revs, let myself down in the English exam, won't happen for my favourite subject at all.
If anybody likes their metal, may I suggest TURISA's cover of Rasputin? Ha
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Right on Werdna.
Say, how do you all go about structuring 10 marker responses? I tend to split 'points' or 'arguments' via historians, stating an opinion then evidence and then contrasting it or developing it with another opinion and complementing evidence. I do wonder if it is effective however in distinctly outlining arguments..also wastes a fair bit of room on historiography..
That's pretty much what I do! I'm finding memorising the historians + the essay to be the points of the exam which are causing me the most bother atm.
Also, what is considered to be a high mark on the history exam overall? I'm rather confused as to whether I should be feeling good about my trial results or not :/
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According to our teacher (he's an exam marker) he usually sees a couple of 80/80 per year, but anything above 70 is doing pretty well (38+ study score kind of range). It does vary a bit from year to year though, he said.
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Yeah how do you guys structure your extended response?! (Sec A q1/2)
And yeah how many marks can you afford to lose to get 40+!? I never new revs was so hard to scre high in
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Ah for extended responses, I just have a topic sort of sentence, then firstly, secondly, thirdly. Stats and dates, with a primary quote or two if it suits. Then a sentence at the end to tie it back to the question. Haha yeah I didn't know how hard revs was until every person kept telling me how scared I must be feeling for the exam eep
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I love revs, although haven't studied for it yet but when it comes closer I will begin. I'm using my timeline I have created to study and just keep reading them over and over. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE RUSSIAN REVS IS ABOUT, IT'S SO HARD AND DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND :(. For french I pretty much know everything really really well and I am very confident 100% for French in the exam :). The essay is which what I am scared about the most, the rest of the questions are not to difficult to answer hehe
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Ah for extended responses, I just have a topic sort of sentence, then firstly, secondly, thirdly. Stats and dates, with a primary quote or two if it suits. Then a sentence at the end to tie it back to the question. Haha yeah I didn't know how hard revs was until every person kept telling me how scared I must be feeling for the exam eep
Ooooo quotes!? Like historians of historical figures!? Yeah I do it kinda the same
I love revs, although haven't studied for it yet but when it comes closer I will begin. I'm using my timeline I have created to study and just keep reading them over and over. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE RUSSIAN REVS IS ABOUT, IT'S SO HARD AND DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND :(. For french I pretty much know everything really really well and I am very confident 100% for French in the exam :). The essay is which what I am scared about the most, the rest of the questions are not to difficult to answer hehe
Omg serious!? France is soo dense I'm spending all this week going over it
I'm doing the essay for Russia coz its pretty straightforward
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Haha, I've finally found another person who finds France more manageable than Russia! I'm crossing my fingers that the October Revolution won't be on this year's exam since it made an appearance last year..!
But like Saheh, I'm doing the essay on Russia- couldn't imagine compacting the new French society into a two-three page essay 0_0
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Wow see I'm the exact opposite haha! I love Russia, not so keen on France, so good on you, osgood and dejan! Saheh, I'm with you ;) and yeah, like primary quotes from the people at the time, I just shove them in whenever I can haha
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Haha, I've finally found another person who finds France more manageable than Russia! I'm crossing my fingers that the October Revolution won't be on this year's exam since it made an appearance last year..!
But like Saheh, I'm doing the essay on Russia- couldn't imagine compacting the new French society into a two-three page essay 0_0
Yes even my teacher says she can't understand how I am unable to understand the more less complicated revolution like Russia. If it appeared last year I'm sure it won't show again. Definitely my plan is to answer Russia and then the French :D. I really need to know events before the feb rev and how those events caused the revolution :(
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Ah for extended responses, I just have a topic sort of sentence, then firstly, secondly, thirdly. Stats and dates, with a primary quote or two if it suits. Then a sentence at the end to tie it back to the question. Haha yeah I didn't know how hard revs was until every person kept telling me how scared I must be feeling for the exam eep
Ooooo quotes!? Like historians of historical figures!? Yeah I do it kinda the same
I love revs, although haven't studied for it yet but when it comes closer I will begin. I'm using my timeline I have created to study and just keep reading them over and over. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE RUSSIAN REVS IS ABOUT, IT'S SO HARD AND DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND :(. For french I pretty much know everything really really well and I am very confident 100% for French in the exam :). The essay is which what I am scared about the most, the rest of the questions are not to difficult to answer hehe
Omg serious!? France is soo dense I'm spending all this week going over it
I'm doing the essay for Russia coz its pretty straightforward
Yeah!, I love the french rev the most, Russian seems really dry and boring to me tbh. I probably know more about the French rev than all my class mates in History I really feel haha but i'm not sure of this. My teacher even suggested I help my class mates with French :P. It's going to be so hard to remember the dates and historian views :(
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Any of you guys know the A+ cutoff for last years exam? Very curious to know
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It was 118/160..which makes 59/80 if my poor math skills serve me correctly :)
Cannot decide if that is ample or little room for error..
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Not to bad, assuming how hard the exam is, I want a 40+ in this but my SAC's are really poor :(
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hmmm I'm so confused still, as to how I am faring with my scores for trials... Revs is such a hard subject to feel confident about haha
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Yeah I'm the same e.claire
I haven't gotten marks on my trials, just feedback where to improve so I have no idea what marks I'm sitting on :/ now idea if I'm in the 40 range or not... Do you guys know what marks are roughly needed for 40+
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Yeah I'm the same e.claire
I haven't gotten marks on my trials, just feedback where to improve so I have no idea what marks I'm sitting on :/ now idea if I'm in the 40 range or not... Do you guys know what marks are roughly needed for 40+
GA 1: 85/100 A+, 88/100 A+, GA3 118/160 A+ so this what you need in for 40+
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Geez that's hard work :/ eeeep!
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I know ayy, my sacs are like C to B weep :(, no way getting 40+ :(
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Is the above for 40+ or just the bench mark for A+'s though? This is where I get confused :P And even though I've been getting marks back, I still don't know how good they are in comparison to the rest of the state etc. I guess thats just when you have to try your best and hope for the best in return
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Is the above for 40+ or just the bench mark for A+'s though? This is where I get confused :P And even though I've been getting marks back, I still don't know how good they are in comparison to the rest of the state etc. I guess thats just when you have to try your best and hope for the best in return
Just the cut off sorry for not mentioning it, Yeah that's all we can do and mostly study our bums off.
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Interesting, only 1% of people score full marks for the essay :o
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How do you all fare in terms of timing in practise exams?
I've mainly been working through individual questions and have only done one timed practise exam with about ten minutes to spare but Section A Q 1 and 2 always go overtime, as does the essay if the question focuses on ideals. I'm a big worried about balancing timing with content- any hints on writing concisely?
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I suck at timing too.. Hence why when I do do trials, leave my extended responses til last coz they're worth the least marks
Yeah any tips would be great
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I have no done an exam fully so i won't know how much time I will have to spare or know how to waste. Although I have a time plan to follow, 28 minutes to answer each question with this there will be 8 minutes to spare
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Timing is tricky but I've managed to condense mine to have a few minutes to spare. osgood, I also find Section A Questions 1 and 2 the longest, as well as the essay. I start with the 2 extended responses, and then do the essay, and then proceed to do the two analyses of representations. Somehow doing this has helped me reduce the amount of time I need for extended responses and essay :)
I wonder what makes a 100% essay. I've looked at exam assessment reports but I do wish they'd put an example of a perfect essay up. But that would be difficult because essentially essays are very very similar with every topic
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Just curious, with the essay, if the question is something about changes in political authority in the new society, for Russia are you able to reflect on the differences between the new and old regimes even if that brings in stuff from outside the aos? If that makes sense haha
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Just curious, with the essay, if the question is something about changes in political authority in the new society, for Russia are you able to reflect on the differences between the new and old regimes even if that brings in stuff from outside the aos? If that makes sense haha
On a question like this, discuss the phases of change in the political sense during the old and new regime
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Just curious, with the essay, if the question is something about changes in political authority in the new society, for Russia are you able to reflect on the differences between the new and old regimes even if that brings in stuff from outside the aos? If that makes sense haha
Yes I believe you can, because essentially AOS2 is an evaluation of the successes of the revolution in changing what was the case before. It's effectively an essay topic on changes vs continuities, and so I believe you're required to make reference to the old regime in analysing the new society. So you'll be discussing in depth the nature of political authority in the new society and making reference to its similarity or difference to tsarist political authority.
Does that make any sense? Hope it helped
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Thanks for clearing that up guys :) I wrote a practice essay earlier today on that topic and compared lenins role as a leader and his actions and reactions with the tsars,but just wanted to make sure that was acceptable. Getting more and more excited/nervous!
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Our teacher has said it's fine to talk about AOS1 stuff as long as its in the context of comparing it with AOS2, if that makes sense. He said we won't necessarily be marked down for talking too much about AOS1, but it would be very difficult to properly answer the question if we did that.
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Thanks for clearing that up guys :) I wrote a practice essay earlier today on that topic and compared lenins role as a leader and his actions and reactions with the tsars,but just wanted to make sure that was acceptable. Getting more and more excited/nervous!
All good :)
I too am getting more excited/nervous - all the hard work is almost over! (although I still have Year 12 next year, aha)
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Haha I have periodic spikes of nervousness in which I feel that suddenly I have forgotten everything on revolutions..!
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Guys I'm so anxious
It's so hard to study for revs it's driving me a little crazy
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Don't worry Saheh, still a week to go! Ample time to get some quality revs in.
Do let us know if there is anything we can help you with :)
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Osgood is right! Someone asked me today when my revs exam was and when I said next week they laughed and said that's ages away. We are all here to help each other out, so let us know if there is anything we can do :)
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Oh thank you! You're all wonderful..
I kinda promised my history teacher two practise exams however I've barely managed a revision of one AOS :/
I don't know exactly what I'm stuck on... Just motivation I guess..
Maybe tomorrow ill plan some responses and we an all scrutinise them?
Stay cool xx
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That sounds like a good plan :)
Don't get too hung up about the motivation factor. Last week I was feeling really awful about the exam and revision in general, but after taking it easy and doing some planning and purposeful work, I feel heaps better. Organisation and perspective work wonders at times.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Come next Wednesday, I'm sure you will be feeling much better! And the best motivation to do something is the feeling you get once it is over!
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Ok guys yeah I'm feeling much better. My teacher is amazing so he gives good advice to freaking out students :p
How do you go about historiography? Especially for France???? (I can't remember if we spoke about it)
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hey, does anyone know what the usual A+ cutoff for revs is?? :)
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hey, does anyone know what the usual A+ cutoff for revs is?? :)
using http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/statistics/section2/vce_history_revolutions_ga11.pdf, it was 59/80 last year (2011) for an a+
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That cutoff is a relief, thought I did fairly average on my prac exam and got a 62, can't wait for Wednesday.
I'm just having some trouble on Chinese historiography, I've got plenty on Russia and only recently have I managed to get a decent bank of historian views for China.
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Hi guys,
Quick question about the essays.
In regards to questions I have seen in Checkpoints and past exam papers like 'The extent to which the new regime achieved political change' which focus only on one of politic-social-economic, how would you go about including adequate information? I feel like my essay would be a third of its usual length :P
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Well I know for me, I've always structured my essay chronologically by phase - 1. State Capitalism 1917-18 2. War Communism/Civil War 1918-1921. 3. NEP 1921-1924
So I'd talk about how political authority was changed in each period... for me that wouldn't be lacking in evidence and information because of the way I structure it. So perhaps when you need to focus on one of the three Politics/Economics/Social restructuring the essay may help.
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The essayis one of my fave components because its so straightforward..
I follow the social, economic and political set up
So depending on what stance I take,
I'd start with for example social aspects (Kronstadt uprising, Cheka and whatever else [i can't remember, that's not a good thing is it haha])
And within that paragraph I'd structure it as chronologically as I could.
Then political (constituent ass. Takeover, purging of party members in 1921-22, one party state)
And then economic: war communism, then the backflip with NEP
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I'm gunna faaaaaaaiiiiillllllll I know nothing! :(:(:(
haha but seriously WHY SO MUCH TO REMEMBER!??
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I have reached that point where opening a paper feels like a drag, and I don't know whether that is a good or bad sign haha...
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I guess it's a good sign coz you know your shit and are over doing papers?
I open it and have a mini heart attack b/c I'm like holy crap what is that I don't even remember u sure you got the right paper? Haha
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hahaha oh trust me, my heart has received a huge workout over the past few weeks. I just can't wait for it to be over! Have you guys allocated which rev you will be doing for each section?
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I'm doing Russia part 1 and China part 2 since we've only been doing essays on China, think it would be a bit easier writing the essay on Russia though =/
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France Part 1, Russia Part 2 - we've studied the whole year in preparation for this set up.
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Our sacs and stuff have been structured around France sec A and Russ sec B
I can't fit any more info in my head and I've barely revised Russia :/
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Yeah I'm leaning towards that set up as well. We were given the choice from the start, but I much prefer a Russian essay... Hopefully the French paragraphs will be relatively straightforward!
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Yessum, French A and Russia B !
Shall we take some baseless predictions for what will be on the exam this year? ^^
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haha well I'm hoping there will be a nice document analysis on violence for France... as to what I think will be on it, I have no idea!
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They did have something about the sans-culottes last year if I remember correctly.
My fingers are crossed for an essay topic focussing solely on ideals- no 'crises compromising the new society' please ^^
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I think the France analysis will be either from 1791 or 1794-94 - because those periods have been slightly rejected.
I also really want the Russia essay to be on ideals - I love writing essays on those. The past two years have used opinions of Pipes, a conservative, western liberal, and Figes, a sort-of revisionist. Perhaps they'll use a Western Marxist or Soviet point of view, a positive reflection on the new society. Perhaps Christopher Hill, Deutscher.
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That reminds me- for essay topics, have you all been taught to outline your arguments specifically in an introduction? It takes up a little bit of time so if others haven't been told to do it, I may skimp on it.
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No I don't really - well I have one central argument I suppose. With essays on ideals my contention is that the Bolsheviks did uphold their ideals and only compromised when crises and challenges forced them to. By making that clear in the essay I don't need to specify what each forthcoming essay will discuss, because essentially each support the underlying contention.
Don't forget it's a 3-page, 30 minute essay so really I don't think that's something that would compromise your marks.
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Okie dokes- so just a sentence or two?
AHHH music to my ears.
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I would actually love an essay on economic crises/ political authority, but the ideals prompt does pop up a lot.
As for intro, I just normally skim over a summary type of thing in a sentence, just to allude to the economic, political and social focus etc
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I wouldn't mind a 'crises' type essay but I am still unsure as to whether the 'threatened the new society' refers to the literal existence of the society or the ideological principles of the new society. I just go with both haha. But they are notably more time consuming.
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Guys I've tried to revise Russia AOS1 ad I can't remember a single thing :/
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Saheh that's exactly what I felt on Friday - I was so nervous and felt very in the dark. But just relax, you've learnt the course so all you have to do is review some things in a calm way, and you'll be fine. Don't let nerves get to you :)
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Eep :/ ill do it tomorrow
And history is my favorite subject >< the exam is totally dampening my spirits
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How many quotes are people remembering for the historiography and essay sections? I know I have been told to memorise general quotes, but I have procrastinated and done nothing! :( How many quotes are necessary, and what are some strategies to remember?
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I'm not quite sure how many are necessary, but as to how to remember some, I wrote out the ones I find the most useful onto coloured cue cards. I then stuck them all around the house. My sister is a little freaked out having to shower with Figes, but I'm finding it effective ;)
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Categorise them into perspective (soviet, revisionist, western for Russia) (Marxist, revisionist-violence, or war, or social) for Frence
I can barely remember any
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Ahaha, showering with Figes, that made me laugh internally.
My fingers are crossed that the historiography I have learnt will be applicable within the exam!
Just a note, I've been told explicitly not to label historians by their school of thought (advice from the head examiner and then from a lecturer). Hmm.
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Just a note, I've been told explicitly not to label historians by their school of thought (advice from the head examiner and then from a lecturer). Hmm.
Same here... What is everyone planning to do today? In terms of preparation?
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Nothing too intense because I'd like a rested hand and wrist for tomorrow, haha.
Polish off some more reponses and some essays, pull out the ol' timelines to make sure I've learnt dates correctly and such.
What about you?
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Yeah, thinking of doing an essay or two. Dragging my mum to a cafe to pull out the cue cards and talk at her for a while. Look over dates/stats. But nothing too strenuous!
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Question: Was there any causal relationship between the Storming of the Bastille and the Great Fear/ NOPD?
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Question: Was there any causal relationship between the Storming of the Bastille and the Great Fear/ NOPD?
Ummm, maybe it was cos Louis took guards from provinces to surround Versailles/Paris. There were quite a few! forgot the stats, though :(
Having no troops allowed the peasants to create mayhem. Furthermore, I guess you could point at the emergence of emigres, and how once the nobles had left, peasants were afraid of the 'brigands' coming and exacting revenge.
Good luck for tomorrow!
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Haha, Good luck everyone. Major Cram session today :S
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Good luck everyone! :-)
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Good luck to you all ^^
Revs feels!
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Yeeees good luck! :D
And definitely major cram session, all I'm gunna be saying all day is historians :p
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Good luck with the exam! (and the cramming too :D)
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Good luck everyone!
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Best of luck guys! Can't wait to see what is on this paper :D
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Good luck guys! ;D
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Just finished, the questions really weren't that difficult, only problem is i was to slow at doing them. That's what happens when you don't take it too seriously i guess :p
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Bloody Ruskies didn't make it easy for us.