exam 08

[scumel]

what did everyone think?
i thought it was quite good, some questions were a bit strangely worded - especially section a document on russia re: war communism how it said talk about the success of the bolsheviks or something in the civil war and then refer to other views of war communism...bit strange, but do-able
although was it just me or did people find the comprehension questions in that document challenging aswell?
essay topics were good as were the paragraphs
im happy

[Aurelie.]

My worst was Section 1, which I did on France, by FAR. it was rather terrible raeally, but the questions weren't that bad - on the impact of the Cahiers & distinctions of the Estates-General, i just didn't know them well.
The France document wasn't too bad, but I had to read it like 5 times to actually get a grasp on it... did everyone else write predominantly on the Civil Constitution of the Clergy???

Russia's graphic was awesome It's the one I'd done for my SAC *woo* about Nicholas the Bloody.

I liked the essay topics too.. I ended up with an hour to do the essay, and did the first one!

Overall, the exam wasn't too bad really!

[polky]

French Section A was so strange!! I didn't get to reel off any of the statistics I memorised about the Terror

Russia Section B was AWESOME

I didn't really prepare for this, relied on last minute cramming!!!

[hickey]

what did everyone think?
i thought it was quite good, some questions were a bit strangely worded - especially section a document on russia re: war communism how it said talk about the success of the bolsheviks or something in the civil war and then refer to other views of war communism...bit strange, but do-able
although was it just me or did people find the comprehension questions in that document challenging aswell?
essay topics were good as were the paragraphs
im happy

That's exactly what I thought! The comprehension questions took me half of reading time and a few minutes of the exam to figure out. I was just thinking surely I can't get these wrong 80% of the state gets them right. Nice to hear that someone else felt the same. For the document I ended up just saying that it was an unreliable view, as although it did highlight the way in which War Communism contributed to victory (and then gave some historians), it ignored all other reasons for victory such as massive enlistment, Red propaganda and White alienation of the peasants. Our teacher (who was an examiner for years and I have the greatest respect for) said that he thinks that question was difficult to the point of actually being a mistake and they'll end up giving students that took different approaches the marks if they did it well. He also said that the second short answer question was difficult in that it spoke of the beginning (or something to that effect) of the Provisional Government instead of its actions later on. Again, he said that students will be rewarded for discussing these actions as there simply isn't enough on the beginning to fill fourteen lines. I think i nailed the first three sections (American cartoon was the exact one that we did for the SAC), but I didn't leave myself enough time to write as much as I would have liked for the essay. How'd everyone else go? At your schools do you get told to plan for the generic essay questions or just wing it on the day? And did you allocate a quarter of the exam to the essay or more?

[thelovecatsx]

The Russia graphic was brilliant.

I'm also pretty happy with the French Section A as well.

I thought the exam was going to be a lot worse so I'm pretty relieved right now. 

[scumel]

thats good about those russia sections then cos i was a bit concerned, esp with how far to go with the PG
as for the essays we just did lots of practice topics but we'd all really planned for generic topics soooo glad there was one on ideals

[AngelTyrael]

well hello historians *slaps self for being overly geeky*

i was smiling as i went through the exam during reading time, kept on seeing questions that i could answer.. but time was a bit of a problem for me, and American Section A wasnt my strong point (although first question was horrifically easy, and the others, i atleast correctly identified *which* continental congress was being mentioned ) French essay fit almost perfectly with pre-planned essay structure i had: grievances of the people, how they were resolved post revolution.

French graphic was pretty good too, it was just a nice general image depicting the rising third estate ^_^ political power, social power, the awakening if you will =D

Anyone do American for Section A and find the Philadelphia Convention/Part B difficult?

[polky]

My finger has yet to recover from the traumatic experience of the Revs exam
It still hurts.  Heaps!