Depth analysis: events, issues and interrelated perspectives

Welcome to Depth Analysis

In your AQA A Level History journey, you will encounter two types of papers: the Breadth Study (Component 1) and the Depth Study (Component 2). While the Breadth Study asks you to look at the "big picture" over 100 years, the Depth Study asks you to grab a magnifying glass.

This chapter focuses on the specific skills needed for Component 2, Section B. This section of the exam isn't just about knowing what happened; it’s about understanding the "why," the "how," and how different people at the time viewed the world. Don't worry if this feels like a lot to take in at first—depth analysis is a skill that we can break down into simple steps.

Note: If you are looking for how to handle the primary sources in Section A, please refer to the chapter "Component 2 Section A: evaluating the value of primary sources."

What is "Depth Analysis"?

In a Depth Study, you are looking at a period of major historical change (like a revolution, a war, or a period of intense reform). Because the timeframe is shorter than the Breadth Study, the examiners expect a much higher level of detail and analytical precision.

According to the official syllabus, Section B tests your "historical understanding in depth through a focus on events, issues and developments and the interrelationships of various perspectives."

1. Events, Issues, and Developments

In a depth essay, you aren't just listing dates. You are categorising your knowledge into three areas:
• Events: Specific, high-impact moments (e.g., a battle, a coup, the passing of a specific law).
• Issues: The underlying problems or debates of the era (e.g., "The problem of royal debt" or "The rise of radical ideas").
• Developments: The way things changed or stayed the same over a few years (e.g., "The gradual decline of the landed gentry").

2. Interrelated Perspectives

This is the "secret sauce" for a high grade. Interrelated means "connected." In history, no event happens in a vacuum. A political decision might be connected to an economic crisis, which is then connected to a religious riot.

Perspectives refer to how different groups or individuals saw the same event. For example, a king might see a new tax as "necessary for national security," while a peasant sees it as "starvation." To do well, you must show how these different viewpoints clashed or combined to cause change.

Quick Tip: Think of "Perspectives" as looking through different lenses—Political, Economic, Social, and Religious (the "PESR" acronym).

Mastering the AO1 Concepts

The exam board marks your Section B essays based on Assessment Objective 1 (AO1). This objective requires you to use specific "thinking tools" to analyse history. Here are the most important ones for Depth Analysis:

1. Cause and Consequence: Why did it happen, and what was the result? In a depth study, you should look for "triggers" (short-term causes) and "tensions" (long-term causes).
2. Change and Continuity: What actually changed? Sometimes, an event looks like a massive revolution, but for the average person, life stayed exactly the same. Recognising continuity is just as important as recognising change.
3. Similarity and Difference: How did different regions or groups experience the same period? Did the North experience the industrial revolution differently than the South?
4. Significance: How "important" was an event? To judge significance, ask: Did it affect many people? Did the effects last a long time? Did it lead to other major events?

How to Approach "Interrelated Perspectives"

When you see a question in Section B, it will often focus on a specific "factor" (like the role of an individual or the impact of an economy). To get the "interrelated" part right, you should try to link factors together.

Analogy: The Spider Web
Imagine history is a spider web. If you pull on one thread (an event), the whole web moves.
• If you are writing about a Political issue, ask: "How did Economic problems make this worse?"
• If you are writing about a Religious change, ask: "What was the Social impact on the poor?"

Step-by-Step for a Depth Essay:
1. Identify the focus: What is the main event or issue the question is asking about?
2. Gather your detail: Because this is a depth study, you need specific names, dates, and terms.
3. Connect the perspectives: Explain how different groups (rich/poor, government/opposition, different religions) reacted.
4. Make a judgement: Which perspective or factor was the most significant in causing the outcome?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The "Storyteller" Trap: Many students simply tell the story of what happened. In a Depth Study, you must analyse. Don't just say what happened; explain why it matters and how it relates to the question.

Vague Generalisations: Saying "the people were unhappy" is a breadth-style comment. In a depth-style answer, you should say "The urban workers in Paris were unhappy due to the 50% rise in bread prices between 1788 and 1789." Specifics are king in Component 2!

Knowledge Dump: The syllabus says knowledge that doesn't relate to the question receives no credit. Don't write everything you know—only write what answers the specific prompt.

Key Takeaways

• Detail is Vital: You need precise evidence (names, groups, specific dates) to support your points.
• Think "Interrelated": Always look for connections between political, social, and economic factors.
• Perspectives Matter: Show that you understand that different people at the time had different views and goals.
• Stay Focused: Use the AO1 concepts (like significance and consequence) to keep your essay analytical rather than descriptive.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! The more you practice looking for "connections" in your specific historical period, the more natural depth analysis will become.