Document Analyses
In the exam you are required to complete TWO Document Analysis Tasks.
In Section A Part 2 you are required to complete a document analysis on Area of Study 2 Russia (1917-1924) China (1949-1976) In Section B Part 1 you are required to complete a document analysis on Area of Study 1 Russia (1905-1917) China (1898-1949) Traditionally, Section A Part 2 has always been a written document for Russia and China; whereas Section B Part 1 has always been a visual for both Russia and China with the exception of 2009 (Russia had 2 written extracts) BUT, be prepared. The study design indicates that the following could be a document that you have to analyse 1) Primary source (written). i.e in Outcome 1 you had to analyse Lenin's April Theses 2) Secondary source (written). This would be an extract from a historian on a particular topic. 3) Visual document: could be a painting, cartoon, photograph etc... 4) Map: This has yet to be included on an exam before - the 2009-2011 sample exam contains a sample document analysis with a map! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Practice Tasks
Page 243-247 provides some excellent tasks for Russia
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Sample Structure
The Czar of all Russia
Questions a) and b) - 2 marks each (1 mark for each identification)
These questions ask you to identify specific aspects in the document. They ask you to extrapolate your information and images out of a visual, or key quotes from a written document.
For example
a) Identify 2 symbols of royalty as shown in the representation
b) Identify 2 features (not mention in part a.) of the representation that suggest dissatisfaction with the Tsar's rule.
Structure: in these questions simply list your responses!
Question c) - 6 marks
Question c is asking about your knowledge of the revolutionary ideas, movements, leaders and events relating to the document. This QUESTION IS NOT asking you to summarise the document, nor is it asking you about different historians views. It simply wants to know how much do you know, and to use the document (either written or visual) as evidence in your response.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS QUESTIONS HAS BEEN REWORDED IN THE 2011 EXAM AND BEYOND.
Written: c) By quoting from the extract, and using your own knowledge, explain...
Visual: c) By referring to parts of the graphic, and using your own knowledge, explain...
c) Using your knowledge and the representation, explain the events which influenced this view of Tsar Nicholas II in February 1905
STRUCTURE: TEC
Topic Sentence(s): Explain quickly what you will discuss
Explain: Use signposts to clearly identify your arguments. Use of historical evidence here is necessary. Firstly by using dates, facts and figures, and secondly by clearly using the document. (Visual: As seen in the document ... , Written: As stated in the document, explains that "...")
Conclude: Quick sentence which concludes your argument and links back to the question
Sample response:
Up to 1905 the Tsar was seen as a beloved figurehead and Little Father of all Russians, yet by the end of 1905 his image seriously deteriated to be that of "Nicholas the Bloody." Nicholas treatment of workers and their working conditions was negligible at best. Due to Witte's reforms in the lead in to 1905, Russia's working class swelled dramatically, especially in the industrial cities of Petrograd and Moscow. As numbers increased, availabity of affordable housing and access to food was low. Yet there were no changes to working or living conditions as Nicholas II had no real idea of how the majority of his country lived. By January 1905, the workers petitioned for an improvement to not only working conditions but also representative government. Yet Nicholas' reaction was brutal and over 1000 casualites occurred in the Bloody Sunday protests. As seen in the document above, his image became forever tarnitioned and he was forever dead to the majority of Russians; a ruler out of touch with his people. As a result of his actions, Nicholas by October was forced to reform and promised to give many of the reforms requested in January, such as individual freedoms and a representative government.
Question d) - 10 marks
Question d is asking about your knowledge how different historians could interpret this document This QUESTION IS NOT asking you to summarise the document.
d) Explain to what extend the representation presents a reliable view of the actions of Tsar Nicholas II between 1905 and February 1917. In your response, refer to different views of the period.
STRUCTURE: again TEC
Topic Sentence: Here you MUST quickly summarise (in 1-2 sentences) what the image is about
Explain (about reliability): Here you must firstly explain why the document could be reliable - and which historian would support this. Secondly you then must state why the document may not be reliable - and which historian would again support your view on this. Overall you should aim for at least 1 positive and negative. If a document is extremely reliable aim for more that 1 positive, whereas if it is extremely biased then you should aim for more than 1 negative.
Conclude: conclude about whether your document is reliable/partially reliable/not reliable in explaining ....
The representation presents Nicholas II as naive to events around him and impervious to reform. The Soviet official orthodoxy would highly praise the message of the cartoon, as they state the 1905 revolution was only not successful as a Marxist revolution is due to the fact that they lacked a centralised cause and a courageous leader such as Lenin. However, the Western liberal view of the Russian revolution, exemplified by historian Richard Pipes, would argue the Tsar not only ignored pressure from below, manifested in the worker in the cartoon; he often avoided the advice of his ministers, such as Sergei Witte who ardently argued for some sort of liberal concessions. However, he would agree with Nicholas II’s depiction as a skeleton, as he suggests liberal reform could have occurred if the Tsar was not so outdated in political views, citing the national zemtvo meetings held in late 1904. Similarly Revisionists such as Figes and Fitzpatrick would agree with the cartoon’s message, Figes stating ‘the Tsar was truly out of touch with his people’, and by pointing out the Tsars avoidance of the political necessity of reform after Bloody Sunday, January 4th 1905. Overall historians are unanimous in their condemnation of Tsarist government prior to February 1905 and therefore this cartoon is reliable.
Questions a) and b) - 2 marks each (1 mark for each identification)
These questions ask you to identify specific aspects in the document. They ask you to extrapolate your information and images out of a visual, or key quotes from a written document.
For example
a) Identify 2 symbols of royalty as shown in the representation
b) Identify 2 features (not mention in part a.) of the representation that suggest dissatisfaction with the Tsar's rule.
Structure: in these questions simply list your responses!
Question c) - 6 marks
Question c is asking about your knowledge of the revolutionary ideas, movements, leaders and events relating to the document. This QUESTION IS NOT asking you to summarise the document, nor is it asking you about different historians views. It simply wants to know how much do you know, and to use the document (either written or visual) as evidence in your response.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS QUESTIONS HAS BEEN REWORDED IN THE 2011 EXAM AND BEYOND.
Written: c) By quoting from the extract, and using your own knowledge, explain...
Visual: c) By referring to parts of the graphic, and using your own knowledge, explain...
c) Using your knowledge and the representation, explain the events which influenced this view of Tsar Nicholas II in February 1905
STRUCTURE: TEC
Topic Sentence(s): Explain quickly what you will discuss
Explain: Use signposts to clearly identify your arguments. Use of historical evidence here is necessary. Firstly by using dates, facts and figures, and secondly by clearly using the document. (Visual: As seen in the document ... , Written: As stated in the document, explains that "...")
Conclude: Quick sentence which concludes your argument and links back to the question
Sample response:
Up to 1905 the Tsar was seen as a beloved figurehead and Little Father of all Russians, yet by the end of 1905 his image seriously deteriated to be that of "Nicholas the Bloody." Nicholas treatment of workers and their working conditions was negligible at best. Due to Witte's reforms in the lead in to 1905, Russia's working class swelled dramatically, especially in the industrial cities of Petrograd and Moscow. As numbers increased, availabity of affordable housing and access to food was low. Yet there were no changes to working or living conditions as Nicholas II had no real idea of how the majority of his country lived. By January 1905, the workers petitioned for an improvement to not only working conditions but also representative government. Yet Nicholas' reaction was brutal and over 1000 casualites occurred in the Bloody Sunday protests. As seen in the document above, his image became forever tarnitioned and he was forever dead to the majority of Russians; a ruler out of touch with his people. As a result of his actions, Nicholas by October was forced to reform and promised to give many of the reforms requested in January, such as individual freedoms and a representative government.
Question d) - 10 marks
Question d is asking about your knowledge how different historians could interpret this document This QUESTION IS NOT asking you to summarise the document.
d) Explain to what extend the representation presents a reliable view of the actions of Tsar Nicholas II between 1905 and February 1917. In your response, refer to different views of the period.
STRUCTURE: again TEC
Topic Sentence: Here you MUST quickly summarise (in 1-2 sentences) what the image is about
Explain (about reliability): Here you must firstly explain why the document could be reliable - and which historian would support this. Secondly you then must state why the document may not be reliable - and which historian would again support your view on this. Overall you should aim for at least 1 positive and negative. If a document is extremely reliable aim for more that 1 positive, whereas if it is extremely biased then you should aim for more than 1 negative.
Conclude: conclude about whether your document is reliable/partially reliable/not reliable in explaining ....
The representation presents Nicholas II as naive to events around him and impervious to reform. The Soviet official orthodoxy would highly praise the message of the cartoon, as they state the 1905 revolution was only not successful as a Marxist revolution is due to the fact that they lacked a centralised cause and a courageous leader such as Lenin. However, the Western liberal view of the Russian revolution, exemplified by historian Richard Pipes, would argue the Tsar not only ignored pressure from below, manifested in the worker in the cartoon; he often avoided the advice of his ministers, such as Sergei Witte who ardently argued for some sort of liberal concessions. However, he would agree with Nicholas II’s depiction as a skeleton, as he suggests liberal reform could have occurred if the Tsar was not so outdated in political views, citing the national zemtvo meetings held in late 1904. Similarly Revisionists such as Figes and Fitzpatrick would agree with the cartoon’s message, Figes stating ‘the Tsar was truly out of touch with his people’, and by pointing out the Tsars avoidance of the political necessity of reform after Bloody Sunday, January 4th 1905. Overall historians are unanimous in their condemnation of Tsarist government prior to February 1905 and therefore this cartoon is reliable.
More Sample Responses
a. Identify 2 nations depicted carving up Imperial China (2 marks)
England, Germany, Russia, France & Japan are all acceptable answers
b. Identify 2 features which suggest it is taking place during the Qing dynasty (2 marks)
The display of Queen Victoria (indicated rule at this time); Queue/Manchu hairstyle; hat with peacock feather are all acceptable answers
NOTE With these answers the examiners are not looking for long answers - short answers are advised
c. Using your own knowledge and the cartoon, explain the external factors which created a revolutionary situation in China by 1911.
In the lead up to 1911 foreign powers were exerting more and more influence in China which upset many Chinese. Already disgruntled with Manchu rule, the local population were discontent with the way the QIng were unable to deal with the growing foreign influences and humiliations. Firstly the extraterritoriality clauses meant that foreigners were exempt from local law, which angered locals already angered by the growth of missionaries throughout China. Secondly, China was subject to growing foreign control. Annexations and Treaty Ports had already been established, but spheres of influence continued to grow. As seen in the document, the foreign powers were simply carving up China for their own benefit. The German sphere of Shandong and the Japanese spheres of Manchuria, Korea and Formosa are all examples of local chinese being subject to foreign control and influence. Finally the humiliations imposed by foreign countries at the end of the Boxer Rebellion further created a situation in which revolution was more likely to occur, coming to fruition in October 1911.
NOTE: THE TEC STRUCTURE OF THIS RESPONSE
Topic Sentence(s): Explain quickly what you will discuss
Explain: Explain your stance. Use signposts to clearly identify your arguments. Use of evidence here is necessary. Firstly by using dates, facts and figures, and secondly by clearly using the document. (Visual: As seen in the document ... , Written: As stated in the document, explains that "...")
Conclude: Quick sentence which concludes your argument and links back to the question
d. Explain to what extent this presents a reliable view of the factors which contributed to the revolution in China prior to 1911.
The document above depicts the powers of England, Germany, Russia, France and Japan carving up China into multiple spheres of influence, whilst the behind these characters depicts the Qing leadership as being incapable of stopping the humiliations they are imposing on China. The document does provide a reliable view of the external factors which caused revolution in 1911. The humiliating causes imposed by the foreign powers were certainly a contributing factor to the downfall of the Qing as they had no possible means to stop the continued encroachment made by the powers such as the Japanese. This is ultimately supported by historians such as Immanuel Hsu who state that 'the imperial powers controlled the spheres of influence but allowed the Qing to deal with the burden of everyday governance in these areas.' What the image fails to show is the internal problems that existed at the time. Historian John Fairbank would argue that 'Cixi was ultimately to blame for the revolution even after her death due to her inability to reform'. As the image fails to show the internal problems that riddled China up to the lead up of the Wuhan Uprising in 1911, this representation can only be used as a reliable source for explaining some of the external problems which contributed to the Double Tenth Revolution in 1911.
NOTE: again the TEC format of this response.
Topic Sentence: Here you MUST quickly summarise (in 1-2 sentences) what the image is about
Explain (about reliability): Here you must firstly explain why the document could be reliable - and which historian would support this. Secondly you then must state why the document may not be reliable - and which historian would again support your view on this. Overall you should aim for at least 1 positive and negative. If a document is extremely reliable aim for more that 1 positive, whereas if it is extremely biased then you should aim for more than 1 negative.
Conclude: conclude about whether your document is reliable/partially reliable/not reliable in explaining ....
England, Germany, Russia, France & Japan are all acceptable answers
b. Identify 2 features which suggest it is taking place during the Qing dynasty (2 marks)
The display of Queen Victoria (indicated rule at this time); Queue/Manchu hairstyle; hat with peacock feather are all acceptable answers
NOTE With these answers the examiners are not looking for long answers - short answers are advised
c. Using your own knowledge and the cartoon, explain the external factors which created a revolutionary situation in China by 1911.
In the lead up to 1911 foreign powers were exerting more and more influence in China which upset many Chinese. Already disgruntled with Manchu rule, the local population were discontent with the way the QIng were unable to deal with the growing foreign influences and humiliations. Firstly the extraterritoriality clauses meant that foreigners were exempt from local law, which angered locals already angered by the growth of missionaries throughout China. Secondly, China was subject to growing foreign control. Annexations and Treaty Ports had already been established, but spheres of influence continued to grow. As seen in the document, the foreign powers were simply carving up China for their own benefit. The German sphere of Shandong and the Japanese spheres of Manchuria, Korea and Formosa are all examples of local chinese being subject to foreign control and influence. Finally the humiliations imposed by foreign countries at the end of the Boxer Rebellion further created a situation in which revolution was more likely to occur, coming to fruition in October 1911.
NOTE: THE TEC STRUCTURE OF THIS RESPONSE
Topic Sentence(s): Explain quickly what you will discuss
Explain: Explain your stance. Use signposts to clearly identify your arguments. Use of evidence here is necessary. Firstly by using dates, facts and figures, and secondly by clearly using the document. (Visual: As seen in the document ... , Written: As stated in the document, explains that "...")
Conclude: Quick sentence which concludes your argument and links back to the question
d. Explain to what extent this presents a reliable view of the factors which contributed to the revolution in China prior to 1911.
The document above depicts the powers of England, Germany, Russia, France and Japan carving up China into multiple spheres of influence, whilst the behind these characters depicts the Qing leadership as being incapable of stopping the humiliations they are imposing on China. The document does provide a reliable view of the external factors which caused revolution in 1911. The humiliating causes imposed by the foreign powers were certainly a contributing factor to the downfall of the Qing as they had no possible means to stop the continued encroachment made by the powers such as the Japanese. This is ultimately supported by historians such as Immanuel Hsu who state that 'the imperial powers controlled the spheres of influence but allowed the Qing to deal with the burden of everyday governance in these areas.' What the image fails to show is the internal problems that existed at the time. Historian John Fairbank would argue that 'Cixi was ultimately to blame for the revolution even after her death due to her inability to reform'. As the image fails to show the internal problems that riddled China up to the lead up of the Wuhan Uprising in 1911, this representation can only be used as a reliable source for explaining some of the external problems which contributed to the Double Tenth Revolution in 1911.
NOTE: again the TEC format of this response.
Topic Sentence: Here you MUST quickly summarise (in 1-2 sentences) what the image is about
Explain (about reliability): Here you must firstly explain why the document could be reliable - and which historian would support this. Secondly you then must state why the document may not be reliable - and which historian would again support your view on this. Overall you should aim for at least 1 positive and negative. If a document is extremely reliable aim for more that 1 positive, whereas if it is extremely biased then you should aim for more than 1 negative.
Conclude: conclude about whether your document is reliable/partially reliable/not reliable in explaining ....