Introduction: Becoming a History Judge

In History (2174), you aren't just a reporter telling a story; you are a judge. When you write an essay for Section B or answer the final source-based question in Section A, the examiners are looking for your ability to make a reasoned judgement. This means you don't just state what happened—you explain how important it was, why it happened that way, and which factor mattered most.

Making a judgement might sound intimidating, but it is actually a skill you use every day. If you’ve ever had to decide which phone to buy or which football team is the best, you’ve made a reasoned judgement based on evidence. In these notes, we will learn how to do the same for History!

1. What is a "Reasoned Judgement"?

A reasoned judgement is an informed opinion. It is a conclusion you reach after looking at all the facts and weighing them against each other. In your exam, this is part of Assessment Objective 2 (AO2) for essays and Assessment Objective 3 (AO3) for sources.

The difference between Fact, Opinion, and Judgement:

  • Fact: "The League of Nations was established after World War I." (This is a proven piece of knowledge).
  • Opinion: "I think the League of Nations was boring." (This is a personal feeling without historical evidence).
  • Reasoned Judgement: "The League of Nations was ineffective in the 1930s because it failed to achieve disarmament and could not stop the Abyssinian Crisis." (This is a conclusion backed by historical evidence).
Quick Review:

A judgement is only "reasoned" if you provide evidence (facts) to support why you think that way.

2. Analysis vs. Evaluation: The Two Pillars

To make a good judgement, you need two skills: Analysis and Evaluation.

A. Analysis (Breaking it down)

Analysis is explaining how or why something happened. You look at the "causation and consequence" of an event. For example, instead of just saying "Hitler rose to power," you analyse how the Great Depression created economic challenges that made people listen to his promises.

B. Evaluation (Judging the value)

Evaluation is where you decide the significance or success of something. You ask questions like:

  • How successful was this policy?
  • How far did this event change society?
  • Which factor was the most important?

Analogy: Imagine you are judging a cooking competition. Analysis is describing the ingredients used and how the chef cooked the dish. Evaluation is deciding if the dish actually tastes good and if it's better than the other contestants' dishes!

3. Step-by-Step: How to Support a Judgement

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Follow these steps to build a strong argument in your digital answer booklet:

  1. Acknowledge the Different Sides: History is rarely black and white. Most essay questions (Section B) will give you a statement and ask "How far do you agree?" To make a reasoned judgement, you must look at the side that agrees with the statement and the side that disagrees.
  2. Use Evidence (Knowledge): For every point you make, use a specific example from the syllabus. For example, if you are judging the effectiveness of the League of Nations, mention the Abyssinian Crisis (1935) as evidence of its failure.
  3. The "Weighting" Test: At the end of your essay, you must write a Conclusion. This is your final judgement. Don't just repeat your points—tell the examiner which factor was the most "weighty."

Memory Aid: The "W.E.I." Check
W — Weigh the factors (which is more important?)
E — Evidence (use facts like dates or names like Gorbachev or Ngo Dinh Diem)
I — Impact (what was the final result?)

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

To score high marks in the Levels of Response Mark Scheme (LORMs), avoid these traps:

  • The "Sitting on the Fence" Mistake: Don't just say "Both sides are equal." A reasoned judgement requires you to pick which side is stronger and explain why.
  • The "Storytelling" Mistake: Avoid just listing facts. If you are writing about Militarist Japan, don't just list their political assassinations; explain how these led to the rise of an authoritarian regime.
  • The "One-Sided" Mistake: If you only look at one side of the argument, your judgement isn't "reasoned"—it's biased! Always show that you have considered the "other side."

Note: For more on how to organize these points into paragraphs, see the chapter on "Structuring a levels-of-response essay."

5. Applying Judgement to Key Themes

Here is how you might apply reasoned judgement to topics in your syllabus:

| Topic | Possible Judgement Focus | | :--- | :--- | | British Malaya | Was British intervention in Perak (1874) mainly due to internal instability (Larut Wars) or British desire for raw materials? | | Nazi Germany | Which was more important for Hitler's rise: his personal appeal or the weaknesses of the Weimar government? | | The Cold War | Was the containment policy successful in the Korean War? | | Decolonisation | How far did World War II change local perceptions of European colonisers? |

Did you know?
In your exam, the Section B essays are worth 10 marks each. To get the top marks (Level 4), you must have a clear, reasoned judgement in your conclusion that links back to the question!

Chapter Summary: Key Takeaways

1. Evidence is King: You cannot have a reasoned judgement without historical facts to back it up.
2. Balanced View: Always consider multiple perspectives (e.g., why a policy succeeded AND why it failed).
3. Weighing Factors: A final judgement explains which factor had the greatest significance or impact.
4. Clear Conclusion: Use your conclusion to give a "verdict" on the question asked.

Keep practicing your "judge" voice in every essay you write! The more you ask "Why does this matter more than that?", the better your historical judgements will become.