Part 1 Rivalry, mistrust and accord

Activity 7 ATL Communication skills

What is a history essay?

Essays are a central part of your IB course. They are the means by which you demonstrate your historical
knowledge and understanding. The diagram below outlines the key points that you must remember each
time you write an essay. Use it as a guide every time you have an essay assignment.

How do I write a history essay?

• You must be absolutely clear on this so that you fully

What is the
address the actual question and do not just write
question generally around the topic. You will have to address this
asking? question throughout your essay and come back to it in
your conclusion.
• Identify the command terms in the question.

• Address the question clearly and indicate the direction

that your argument will take.
• Define key terms/concepts that are in the question, as
Introduction your understanding of these words will determine the
direction of your essay.
• Your structure should be in line with the command
terms in the question.

Para 1
• Each paragraph should address a new point.
Para 2 • Make it clear what the topic of the paragraph is.
• Ensure each paragraph refers directly to the question;
Main body

Para 3 use the wording of the question if possible.

• Use detailed knowledge!
Para 4 • Support all general statements with specific examples.
• Link your paragraphs so that each one is part of a
Para 5 developing argument building up to your conclusion.
• Show your knowledge of current historiography.
Para 6

• Your conclusion must come back to the question.

• Look back at the main thrust of your arguments and
Conclusion evidence in the essay and give a conclusion based on
what you have said: this should be a direct answer to
the question.

Think Plan Write

Creating an essay frame

Essay title: To what extent do you agree that the Grand Alliance had already collapsed by the end of
1946?
Introduction: Always start by identifying/explaining key terms or concepts in the question. You need
to explain ‘the Grand Alliance’ and also show that you understand the significance of the date given in
the question – 1946 saw the Kennan Telegram and Churchill’s Fulton speech. Also show the direction of
your essay and how you are going to respond to the ‘To what extent …’ part of the question. Set out your
argument.

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Breakdown of the Grand Alliance: Part 2 03
Paragraph 1: The Grand Alliance was already under strain due to events during World War Two, making a
collapse by the end of 1946 likely … Here you could go on to explain the issues that caused friction during
the war.
Paragraph 2: The end of the war meant that the aims of the two opposing ideologies were likely to become
more obvious and this was likely to cause a breakdown by 1946. This could be seen at Yalta and Potsdam over
issues such as Poland … Here you could give examples of the tensions that arose over Poland and Eastern
Europe following the end of the war.
Paragraph 3: Events from 1945–1946 strained the Grand Alliance further and actions on both sides indicate
that a breakdown had taken place by the end of 1946. Explain how events in Iran, the Kennan telegram,
and the Fulton speech impacted on the Grand Alliance.
Paragraphs 4, 5, and 6: As this is a ‘to what extent’ question, you need to give an alternative argument.
Thus you may want to argue that even at the end of 1946, both sides were still basically working to keep
the alliance alive and it was events after 1946 that were key in causing its breakdown: for example, the
Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan and the Soviet responses to these actions, along with the Berlin
Blockade. Make sure you have precise detail to support your points and that you keep referring back to
the question by assessing the impact of each event on the Grand Alliance.
Conclusion: Come back to the question and state your overall conclusion based on the evidence that
you have presented in your essay.

To access websites
Practice essay titles – development of the Cold War relevant to this chapter, go
● Discuss the impact of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan on the emergence of to www.pearsonhotlinks.
superpower rivalry up to 1949. com, search for the book
● Examine the significance of the conferences at Yalta and Potsdam on the development of the title or ISBN, and click on
Cold War up to 1949. ‘chapter 3’.
NB in chapter 4 we will examine further the roles of Stalin and Truman in causing the Cold War.

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