Writing essays at A Level

Analysis and Evaluation

Every essay you write, whether it targets AO1, AO2 or AO3 skills, requires both analysis and evaluation.

Analysis: Taking apart an issue and explaining how it works, and how it links to the question you have been asked. You need to consider points of
support and counter arguments. It is important to break down the point of your paragraph so that you use your information to link it back to the
question.

Evaluation: Giving a value to each issue or factor. In doing this you are deciding which factor is the most important and what factors are of lesser
importance and why and justifying your decision by using your knowledge to support it. You need to reach an overall judgement.
Make sure you support your analysis and evaluation with specific evidence.

Assessment objectives AO1, AO2 and AO3

The essays you write throughout the course will either target AO1, AO2 or AO3 skills.

AO1: Demonstrate, organise and communicate knowledge and understanding to analyse and evaluate the key features related to the periods studied,
making substantiated judgements and exploring concepts, as relevant, of cause, consequence, change, continuity, similarity, difference and
significance.
AO2: Analyse and evaluate appropriate source material, primary and/or contemporary to the period, within its historical context.
AO3: Analyse and evaluate, in relation to the historical context, different ways in which aspects of the past have been interpreted.

Paper 1: American Dream Paper 2: South Africa Paper 3: Warfare Paper 4: Coursework
Section A: AO1 Section A: AO2 Section A: AO2 AO1 and AO3
Section B: AO1 Section B: AO1 Section B: AO1
Section C: AO3 Section C: AO1
Understanding Second Order Concepts
It is really important to understand the second order concept that the essay question is asking you to address. It will help inform your structure, and give your
analysis and evaluation a clear direction that is specifically focused on the question. Identify the second order concept that the essay question is addressing,
and then plan your essay from there.
Establishing criteria for judgement
Level 2: An overall judgement is given but with limited
If you do not establish the criteria for your judgement, you cannot get above Level 2 in your essay-
substantiation and the criteria for judgement are left
style questions! implicit.
It is important to understand what Edexcel mean by ‘criteria for judgement’ in the different types of
essays. Fill in the table below with your ideas.
Level 5: Valid criteria by which the question can be
The following phrases can be used in an introduction to make it clear that you are setting criteria: judged are established and applied in the process of
coming to a judgement. Although some of the
To judge ____ this essay will…
evaluations may be only partly substantiated, the overall
In order to establish/judge ____ this essay will… judgement is supported.

Second order Example question Advice on structure and focus Criteria for Judgement
concept stem(s)
Causation How far/ To what Requires you to explain why something happened. How will you judge the most important cause?
extent did/was xxx Therefore, each paragraph should deal with a different
Reasons why responsible for/ possible cause.
things happen does xxx You will need to explain what the most important cause
explain/account was and compare them to each other.
for… Therefore, the causes will be your factors.
Consequence How far/To what You will need to evaluate which of a range of How will you judge the most important consequence?
extent did xxx consequences was most important.
Results of things improve/result in… You will need to explain what the most important
that happened was xxx consequence was and compare them to each other.
responsible for… Therefore, the consequences will be your factors.
Continuity and How far/ To what You will need to evaluate the extent of change. Therefore How will you judge the extent of change?
Change extent did… you will need to weigh up what changed and what stayed
the same.
How much How far do you One suggestion would be to identify factors you can look
things changed agree… at appropriate to the question and then consider what
or stayed the changed and what stayed the same for each.
same
Similarity and How far/ To what You will need to evaluate the extent of similarity or How will you judge the extent of difference?
Difference extent did… difference through comparison of approaches/ systems/
features/ aims/ methods etc.
Comparing How far do you E.g. if the essay was on comparison of aims in two
things agree that xxx was different periods, then the different aims would be your
similar/different… factors, and you would compare the similarities and
differences between the two time periods, evaluating the
How far do you extent of similarity and difference.
agree…
Significance How significant You will need to analyse the importance of things in their How will you judge how significant factors are?
was… historical context. E.g. analyse the factor in the question,
Importance of explain why it could be considered the most significant
things (in factor in relation to the question. Then introduce a second
context) (and possibly third) factor as a counterargument to explain
why this could be seen as the most important factor. In
your conclusion make sure you explain your judgement
clearly – which was the most significant factor compared
to the other(s) and why?
Success and To what extent was This is not a second order concept, but may be included as How will you judge the extent of success?
Failure … successful/a the focus of an essay. Make sure you pair it with the
failure in… relevant second order concept. You will need to evaluate
Whether the the extent to which something succeeded. Therefore, you
aims were How far do you will need to start by considering the aims in order to
achieved agree that … failed establish the criteria for success. You should consider
to meet its aims aspects that succeeded and weigh them up against aspects
that failed in order to reach a conclusion.
Therefore, the aims could be the factors, and within each
aim you evaluate the success and the failures.
Essay structure for AO1 questions:
If there is a factor in the essay title, you MUST make sure you
All essays need to include the main argument and counterarguments. include this as one of the paragraphs in your essay.

Introduction Topic In the period….. /

Factors There are a number of factors that… /
Criteria In order to establish/judge ____ this essay will…
Argument Overall it will be argued that… / Therefore it is clear that… / To a large extent…

Paragraph 1 Point – Give your argument for this paragraph.
Which factor will you be considering?
Evidence – Give SPECIFIC, relevant knowledge
to explain your point.
Analysis – Explain why this factor was
important and also bring in the COUNTER-
ARGUMENT
Link – Link back to the question and your
overall judgement
Paragraph 2 PEAL
The main reason for…
To some extent…
For example… / This was evident when… / Evidence can be seen when… / This was
certainly the case in… / This is further supported by …
The result of this was … / This caused … / This therefore suggests that … / Furthermore… /
Moreover… / This subsequently meant that… / This was important as … / Indeed…/ Thus...
However… / Nevertheless… / It must be noted that… / This would not have happened
without… / …….. should not be overlooked… / On the other hand…
Therefore… / It is clear that… / Thus… / This factor was therefore more/less significant
than…as… / Subsequently…
“

Paragraph 3 PEAL “

Paragraph 4 PEAL “
(Optional)
Conclusion Overall, …. / In conclusion… / To a large/small extent… / The factor which was had the
Judgement greatest responsibility in relative terms for… was X because … / Therefore… was significant
Evidence to a small / large extent as ... moreover … / Although … was important… / Ultimately…
Evaluate
(using criteria)