Exemplar Candidate Work HISTORY A

1 - Non Examination Assessed UnitSummer 2017 examination seriesVersion 1H505 For first teaching in 2015 HISTORY AA LEVELE xemplar Candidate WorkExemplar Candidate Work2A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 ContentsIntroduction 3 Essay title: Assess the factors responsible for the fall of the Western Roman Empire. 4 Commentary 13 Essay title: How historically significant was the siege of Bridgwater in 1645? 14 Commentary 26 Essay title: How stable was Russia from 1906 to 1914? 27 Commentary 41 Essay title: Assess the reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

2 42 Commentary 57 Essay title: Assess the reasons for the changing legal status of homosexuality 1830-1965. 58 Commentary 65 Essay title: Assess the view that the Holocaust was a long-term plan by Hitler to eliminate the Jews. 66 Commentary 73 Exemplar Candidate Work3A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 IntroductionThese Exemplar answers have been chosen from the summer 2017 examination series.

3 OCR is open to a wide variety of approaches and all answers are considered on their merits. These exemplars, therefore, should not be seen as the only way to answer questions but do illustrate how the mark scheme has been applied. Please always refer to the specification ( ) for full details of the assessment for this qualification. These Exemplar answers should also be read in conjunction with the sample assessment materials and the June 2017 Examiners Report to Centres available on the OCR website It is important to note that approaches to question setting and marking will remain consistent.

4 At the same time OCR reviews all its qualifications annually and may make small adjustments to improve the performance of its assessments. We will let you know of any substantive Candidate Work4A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Essay title: Assess the factors responsible for the fall of the Western Roman L6 20/20, AO2 L6 10/10, AO3 L6 10/10 Exemplar Candidate Work5A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Exemplar Candidate Work6A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Exemplar Candidate Work7A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Exemplar Candidate Work8A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Exemplar Candidate Work9A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Exemplar Candidate Work10A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Exemplar Candidate Work11A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Exemplar Candidate Work12A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Exemplar Candidate Work13A Level HISTORY A OCR 2018 Examiner

5 CommentaryAO1: The opening paragraph places the events in context, puts forward an explained list of reasons for the fall and offers a view as to the most important factor. There is a detailed explanation of Gibbon s view with a strong focus on the actual question and good supporting knowledge to back up the argument put forward. The response uses other interpretations either to support or challenge the line of argument pursued. Factors are evaluated so that the response does not simply produce a list of reasons.

6 The arguments are balanced and the discussion of the factors is well developed. The analysis of the importance of Christianity is thorough and the depth of knowledge used in both the argument and evaluation is strong, while the focus on the actual question remains excellent throughout. When discussing the role of the Huns in the fall there is once again detailed knowledge and a well-focused argument. In discussing the issue of political stability, further interpretations are used to support the argument; these are used and not simply described and again are linked back to the actual focus and demands of the question.

7 Once again the importance of the factor is evaluated and the response is much more than a list of reasons for the fall. In discussing the division of the empire the response continues to remain well focused and the argument is well supported with detailed knowledge. The conclusion reaches a developed judgement which is based on the argument pursued in the main body of the essay. The response is focused throughout and there are no weaker parts, the analysis is of a high level throughout and there are no descriptive sections.

8 The factors discussed are evaluated and there is a well-developed judgement which would therefore reach the top of the highest : Pliny is used to support the argument about the role of Christianity in the break up and fall of the Empire. Pliny is evaluated and both the strengths and weaknesses of his work are considered. Primary sources, such as Tertullian, are used to challenge the view about Christianity and again the source is evaluated. There is detailed discussion of the problems associated with using primary sources when dealing with the Huns and this is integrated into the evaluation of Heather.

9 Primary sources, such as Paulinus, are not only used to support the argument, but are also evaluated in some depth and, most importantly, the conclusions drawn are linked back to the actual question. Not only is the provenance of the sources considered, but they are also evaluated using a good range of contextual knowledge. This is also seen in the discussion of St Jerome where again the source is explained and evaluated using both provenance and context. A wide range of primary sources are used and both their provenance and contextual knowledge are used to evaluate them in relation to the question, with the depth of knowledge ensuring the response goes to the top of the highest : Even within the opening paragraph there is an evaluative discussion of Gibbon s view, with contextual knowledge used to challenge it.

10 The opening also evaluates the interpretation offered by Ott and therefore within the opening paragraph there have been two detailed evaluations of different interpretations. Gibbon s view about the role of Christianity is also evaluated with contextual knowledge so that a balanced judgement is reached. The view of Heather and the role of the Huns are also considered and there is evidence of the use of a primary source to support his claim. MacMullen s interpretation is also explained and contextual knowledge is used to support the view.