Welcome to the "Explain why" Challenge!

Hello! In this guide, we are going to master one of the most important skills in your AS History course: Causal Explanation. This is the heart of Paper 2, Part (a). While it might seem intimidating to explain the reasons behind massive historical events like the Russian Revolution or the American Civil War, it’s actually a very logical process once you have the right tools. By the end of these notes, you’ll know exactly how to turn your historical knowledge into a high-scoring, 10-mark answer.

What is Paper 2, Part (a)?

In Paper 2 (the Outline Study), you will choose two questions from your selected region (European, American, or International). Each question is split into a Part (a) and a Part (b). Part (a) is always worth 10 marks and always uses the command words "Explain why...".

The goal here is simple but specific: identify the factors that caused an event and explain how those factors worked together to produce that outcome. You aren't just telling a story; you are being a historical detective explaining how the "crime" happened.

Quick Statistics:

Marks: 10 marks (out of 60 for the whole paper).
Time: You should spend about 15–20 minutes on this section.
Assessment Objectives: This part tests AO1 (Knowledge) and AO2 (Explanation and Analysis).

The "Explain" Mindset: Analysis vs. Narrative

The biggest mistake students make is writing a narrative (a story). A narrative tells the examiner what happened. An analysis tells the examiner why it happened. Look at the difference below:

Narrative (Low Marks): "In 1917, the Bolsheviks were led by Lenin. They promised 'Peace, Land, and Bread.' Then they attacked the Winter Palace and took over the government."
Analysis (High Marks): "One reason the Bolsheviks seized power was their targeted propaganda. By promising 'Peace, Land, and Bread,' they gained the support of soldiers and peasants who were exhausted by World War I, which undermined the Provisional Government’s authority."

The Recipe for a 10/10 Answer

To get the highest marks, you should aim to explain at least two or three distinct factors. A good structure to follow for each factor is the PEEL method:

1. Point: State the reason/factor clearly in the first sentence.
2. Evidence: Provide specific historical details (names, dates, events, or statistics).
3. Explanation: This is the "magic" step. Use phrases like "This led to..." or "This was significant because..." to show how the evidence caused the event in the question.
4. Link: Briefly tie the point back to the specific wording of the question.

Memory Trick: The "Why" Chain

Think of causation like a chain reaction. If the question asks why a fire started, don't just say "there was a match." Explain that the match (Evidence) provided the heat (Explanation) which ignited the dry wood (Context), leading to the fire (Outcome).

Types of Causes to Look For

When you read a question, try to categorize your thoughts into different types of factors. This helps you provide a "comprehensive" answer:

  • Political: Changes in leadership, government failure, or new laws (e.g., Bismarck's appointment in Germany).
  • Economic: Money problems, taxes, or trade (e.g., the economic problems in France before 1789).
  • Social: How people lived, class tensions, or religious groups (e.g., the Estate system in the Ancien Régime).
  • Ideological: New ideas or beliefs (e.g., the Enlightenment or Liberalism).
  • Short-term/Triggers: Immediate events that sparked the outcome (e.g., the attack on Poland in 1939).
  • Long-term/Underlying: Problems that had been building for years (e.g., North-South tensions before the American Civil War).

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Response

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Just follow these three steps:

Step 1: Identify your factors

Spend 1 minute brainstorming. If the question is "Explain why the League of Nations was created," your factors might be: 1. The horrors of WWI, 2. Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, and 3. The desire for collective security.

Step 2: Write your first "Factor Paragraph"

Start with your strongest reason. Use your AO1 knowledge to be precise. Instead of saying "people were poor," say "the economic crisis of 1929 led to mass unemployment in Germany."

Step 3: Develop and Connect

Move to your second and third factors. You do not need a long introduction or a conclusion for Part (a). You just need to explain the reasons. However, a great student will show how factors might be linked (e.g., "Economic distress made political extremism more attractive").

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. The "List" approach: Listing five reasons without explaining any of them in depth will usually limit you to a Level 2 (around 3–5 marks). It is better to have two explained reasons than five listed reasons.
2. Identifying but not explaining: If you say "One reason was the Enlightenment," but don't explain how those ideas made people want to change the government, you haven't "explained why."
3. Making a judgement: You do not need to argue which factor was the "most important" in Part (a). That is a skill for Part (b). In Part (a), your job is simply to show how each factor contributed to the result.

Quick Review Box

Target: Paper 2, Part (a).
Command Word: "Explain why..."
Marks: 10.
Goal: Explain 2–3 reasons using the PEEL structure.
The Secret Ingredient: Always focus on how a factor led to the outcome, not just what the factor was.

Did you know?

The examiners are looking for "specific relevant information." This means that using the exact names of people (like Necker or Turgot in the French Revolution section) or specific dates (like the Anglo-French guarantee to Poland in March 1939) can help boost your mark into the top band!

Note: For more information on how to handle the longer, 20-mark evaluative questions, see the chapter: "Argument, alternative perspectives and judgement (Paper 2 Part (b))".