An essential skill in History–indeed, it’s one of the assessment objectives on the IGCSE syllabus–is explanation. Closely examining History means analyzing it, not just listing dates and names.
Grade 10 took some time this week to revise analysis strategies, the second ‘E’ in their PEE paragraphs. Using their current topic, the League of Nations, we broke down key events through four different analytical lenses: cause and effect; significance; motives and intentions; and change and continuity.
If the students use these approaches in their exam answers they will be in very good shape–it’s exactly what the examiner is looking for and it’s part of what makes a good historian!