How far is it accurate to describe Alexander II as a reformer, and Alexander III as a reactionary? – a sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Alexander II/III: Analysis of Past Paper Questions: Students work through a list of about 20 past examination questions focusing on spotting and addressing the ‘hidden assumptions’ within each question. They can then look at some sample markschemes to determine if they were on the right lines with their analyses.

Timeline of Events, 1947-79 – a useful revision resource for IB History

Timeline of Events, 1939-47 – a useful revision resource for IB History

Mapwork Task – Change over Time: Students label various maps of the Middle East and shade them in different ways to represent the changing nature of Israel’s borders following key events in the syllabus.

The main issues for debate: Using a series of discussion points based on the syllabus, a collapsible bullet list from ActiveHistory and also a Keyword Challenge quiz from Classtools, students form their own viewpoints prior to the exam so that their answers have some sharp focus.

How Successful was Mussolini as Ruler of Italy? – a sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

How Fascist was Fascist Italy? – a sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

How far is Fascism different from Marxism? How similar were Stalin and Mussolini as rulers of their countries?: Building on from the previous activity, students now consider the nature of Fascism by looking at various policy areas (economy, society etc) and comparing the Fascist to the Communist approaches to them. A completed teacher version is…

Historiography of Stalin’s Russia: These detailed handouts provide plenty of material for discussion and further research: Books on Stalin Summary of the Main Historiographical Issues

High Stalinism: What policies characterised Stalin’s final years?: The main study unit for my students ends in 1941. However, to give students the full picture of Stalin’s Russia, this is a good activity to bring the various policies right up-to-date. Detailed notes are available for Economics 1945-53 and Other Policies 1945-53.

How Communist were Lenin and Stalin?: This activity gets students thinking about the nature of communism, and then measuring the success of each ruler on these criteria. It thereby covers a lot of ground very efficiently. A completed teacher version is also available.

Summary Notes: Compare and Contrast the Rise of Lenin and Mao – a useful revision resource for IB History.

Summary Notes: Compare and Contrast the Rise of Stalin and Lenin – a useful revision resource for IB History.

Model Essay: Compare and Contrast the Rise of Mao and Stalin – a sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Model Essay: Compare and Contrast the Rise of Mao and Pinochet – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Model Essay: Why did Mao emerge as leader of China? (summary notes also available) – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

The Rise of Single Party State Rulers: Summaries and Contrasts: Students first have a brainstorm about what are the most frequent causes for the rise of single party state rulers. They then analyse the key methods and conditions which led to the rise of particular individual dictators, then compare and contrast them. In this way…

Summary Grid – The Impact of World War One on various countries – a useful revision resource for IB History

What was the Social and Economic Impact of World War One upon two of the Countries Involved? (plus essay plan) – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Compare and Contrast the Impact of World War One and World War Two – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Effects of War – Comparisons and Contrasts: Students are provided with detailed information about the practices of three major wars in the form of a grid, broken down into key themes (political, economic, etc). Their task is to complete the grid by providing further examples of other wars that they have studied and try to…

Why did Mao win the Chinese Civil War? – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Why did Germany Lose World War One? – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Compare and Contrast the Impact of Foreign Involvement in the Russian Civil War and the Spanish Civil War – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Practices of War – Comparisons and Contrasts: With a central focus on the issue of “Limited War v. Total War”, students are provided with detailed information about the practices of three major wars in the form of a grid, broken down into key themes (political, economic, etc). Their task is to complete the grid by…

Model Essay: What were the most frequent causes of 20th Century Wars?: A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Causes of the Chinese Civil War: A detailed summary grid for revision purposes.

Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Summary and suggested linkage: A summary diagram for revision purposes.

Causes of World War One: What was Responsible?: An analysis grid which moves towards linking and prioritising the various factors that caused World War One. Students are invited to complete the blank cells using their own knowledge.

Causes of World War One – Who was Responsible?: A summary grid for revision purposes.

Causes of Wars – Comparisons and Contrasts: Students are provided with detailed information about the causes of three major wars in the form of a grid, broken down into key themes (political, economic, etc). Their task is to complete the grid by providing further examples of other wars that they have studied and try to…

Overview of Past Questions: Students are asked to collate a list of past paper questions from the most recent examination papers, to categorise these into causes, practices and effects questions, and offer some initial observations on the sorts of demands made by each.

Using Key Quotes: A series of short, memorable quotes relating to the key topics being studied. Students have to reflect on how they may best be used in the examination.

Historiography Handouts with Associated Tasks – The October Revolution: Popular Uprising, or Coup d’Etat?

Essential Historiographical Terms for IB: A condensed, one-sided summary sheet defining clearly and with examples such historiographical terms as Determinism, Accidentalism, Intentionalism, Structuralism.

The examiner is very keen that students demonstrate a clear understanding of central terms when they are used in essay questions. In this activity, students work in pairs then as a class to design a clear definition of such key terms as ‘Guerilla Warfare’ and ‘Totalitarianism’. The worksheet uses the examples of Stalin and Mao…

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…

This PowerPoint is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…

This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.

This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.