THEMATIC DOCUMENT- ALL EG AND THE CHURCH REVISION AND INTERPRETATIONS
INT. Q: ALWAYS LINK BACK TO THE QUESTION ON INTERPRETATIOSN ESSAY
SYNTHESIS AND THEMES Q- OVERRARCHING STATEMENT, SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES,
EVALUATION
ESSAY TECHNIQUE:
Interpretations Essay: /30
First question which you spend about an hour on, intro, 4 paragraphs, conclusion
Most important here is good question focus, a good essay isn’t shown by what bits you put in
necessarily but what parts you leave OUT- relevant and small pieces of evidence can be used as
quickfire ways to support the argument.
Good question focus, thorough VALUING of such evidence, awareness of the wider historical debate,
LANDING the argument (!), and evaluation of the interpretation itself- what does it include/ not include,
is it convincing or LIMITED?
1
,Sample question e.g., Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages and explain which you
think is more convincing as an explanation of local justice and government under the reign of Henry I
Note more CONVINCING
Intro, outline the two views and say which is more convincing at the very start and why
‘ go for the jugular’- keep it short, sweet, and substantiated a CLEAR argument is better than an
overly complex one
A strength and a weakness paragraph for each interpretation, therefore 4 main body paras
There is no right or wrong answer in this Mark scheme
26-30/30
- Good q focus
- Thorough and sustained evaluation
- Using detailed/accurate knowledge,
- Of historical context
- Wider historical debate , debate around the issue
- In order to produce a convincing and supported analysis in relation to the question
FOCUS ON THE QUESTION-no 1 tip!
Ao3- analysis and evaluate, in relation to historical context, different ways in which aspects of the past
have been interpreted
OWN KNOWLEDGE – relevant, detailed, and accurate à SPECIFIC! not loads, couple of examples
here/there is enough but give specificity
QUALITY not QUANTITY
- 1 of 3 questions in the paper
- Like the courses q, there is no choice
- Given an interpretation, gives you something to talk about
- Can be on something slightly specific, while the themes paper can be on ahing/ spread out across
the period
Henry I, civil war /anarchy, or Richard I
Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages and explain which you think is more
convincing as an explanation of local justice and government under the reign of Henry I
Key words:
- Which is more convincing
- Evaluate
- Local justice and government
- Use BOTH passages
Just giving evidence and saying an interpretation is betterà not a strong argument
Saying ‘such as such evidence’ makes it more convincing is not good evaluationà you have to provide
an actual argument alongside the evidence
‘x supports my own knowledge’à gcse speak
Exemplar work:
‘The 1130 Pipe Roll, the earliest surviving record of this, shows this to be true as it claims that itinerant
justice started by 1124. As men from his government were moving around to be involved in justice, it
suggests that central government played a huge role in the process of local justice, proving passage A
to be correct. Furthermore, the claim…
2
,Admittedly the King could only get involved in serious crimes, such as murder, or breaking of the king’s
peace, but considering the number of cases there would have been, it is impressive that he was
involved in any at all. Also after a case had been tried in court an appeal could be made to the King,
further showing his involvement in local justice.’
Evaluation A*
Calm, legible handwriting
Clear evaluation
Don’t approach the q like ‘oh this is so difficult and complex’- pick a simple path and stick to it
STRUCTURE:
- Start w an introduction, outline the 2 views
- Briefly say which you think is better
Do strengths and weaknesses – 4 paragraphs, 2 for each interpretation
Do not have to namedrop historians
Focus on that evaluation and saying WHY it is more convincing- not that without ‘such as such’ then ‘x’
would not have happened
Spend 10 mins reading and planning the answer
Exemplar work:
3
, ‘The 1130 Pipe Roll, the earliest surviving record of this, shows this to be true as it claims that itinerant
justice started by 1124. As men from his government were moving around to be involved in justice, it
suggests that central government played a huge role in the process of local justice, proving passage A
to be correct. Furthermore, the claim…
Admittedly the King could only get involved in serious crimes, such as murder, or breaking of the king’s
peace, but considering the number of cases there would have been, it is impressive that he was
involved in any at all. Also after a case had been tried in court an appeal could be made to the King,
further showing his involvement in local justice.’
Whichever one you want to argue is okay – no right or wrong answer
1 side of a4
Roughly 1 hr in the exam
10 mins reading planning and writing notes + annotating the source
Themes Essay – 2x /25 – A ‘HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE?’ question should also look at other factors
Assess the important of feudalism in the development of English Common Law in the period 1066 to
1216
It is clear that feudalism was only partially important in the development of English Common Law from
1066-1216, as though it set up good systems of owing rent and protection depending on positions in
society, the prime factor of English Common law was the use of itinerant justice. This may be
considered alongside the use of sheriffs and castellans in the moderating of localities.
Feudalism might be considered somewhat integral to the development of English Common Law, as it
induced control across England by having the appropriate representatives in the localities to enforce
the will of the king. This way, common law might be induced. There was a clear link to the strength of
feudal order and the position of the king, in that order needed to be enforced in the localities in times
where the king faced instability. For instance, motte and bailey castles being established post-conquest
with Norman minority being 4000 in an English population of 2 million showed how feudalism needed to
be enforced with civilians owing their position to the Norman representative in the area to establish a
commonality in law and order within England- this may be emphasised by the use of the murdrum fine.
In turn, it is clear that Henry II, nicknamed ‘Castle-Breaker’, and increased the power of the sheriffs and
local representatives in the Assize of Clarendon in 1166, to make ‘mini-kingdoms’ and direct baronial
threats to the king in this way impossible. Thus, feudalism takes a key role in this common sweep of law
by standardising the role of the sheriffs by law and preventing pluralism of the barons. In turn
Home Learning- 3/3/2023 - ‘The main changes in English central government took place after 1154.’
How far do you agree with this judgement of the period from 1066 to 1216?
It is evident that the main changes in English Central government did not take place after 1154
because there were significant developments beforehand, such as in the Exchequer. This ultimately
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