Paper 2
• 2 Essays in 90 min.
– 30-45 min. per essay
• 1 Essay from each topic
area of study
– #3: Authoritarian States
– #5: Cold War
• 5 Choices per topic area
Paper 2 Questions  Based on Themes
• Authoritarian States
Themes:
1. Origins & Nature of
authoritarian or single
party state
2. Establishment of
authoritarian or single
party state
3. Domestic Policies &
Impact of authoritarian or
single party state
Topic 3 Themes  In Detail
Theme 1: Origins and nature Theme 2:
of authoritarian and single- Establishment of
party states
authoritarian and
single party states
Conditions that produced Methods: force, legal
authoritarian and singleForm of government,
party states
(left-and right-wing)
Totalitarianism: the aim
ideology
and the extent to which it
Nature, extent and
was achieved
treatment of opposition
Emergence of leaders:
aims, ideology, support
Theme 3: Domestic policies and
impact
Structure and organization of
government and administration
Political, economic, social and
religious policies
Role of education, the arts, the
media, propaganda
Statues of women, treatment
of religious groups and minorities
Paper 2 Questions  Based on Themes
• Cold War Themes:
1. Origins of the Cold
War
2. Nature of the Cold
War
3. Development &
Impact of the Cold
War
4. End of the Cold War
Paper 2, Topic 3 Examples
Can be about 1 ruler:
Can be a compare/contrast:
• Analyse the methods used
and the conditions which
helped in the rise to power
of one ruler of a singleparty state.
• Compare and contrast the rise
to power of two rulers of
single-party states, each
chosen from a different region
• Evaluate the successes and
failures of one ruler of a
single-party state.
• Assess the role of economic
and social policies as factors
explaining the consolidation
and maintenance of power of
two of the following: Lenin,
Stalin, Tito, Nasser, Castro
Paper 2 Pre-write
1. Select Task (Topic 3 & 5)
– Do you understand what you are being asked to do?
– Can you fully address this Task?
2. 5 Minutes to jot down ideas & groupings
– Key names, policies, dates, events, historiography
3. Develop Thesis  Be Specific
– Address the task
– Explain WHY?
– Introduction & Thesis = 4-6 sentences at most
“Candidate performance in all essay responses could be
improved significantly by taking time to plan the answerwhere possible organising the response into suitable
themes rather than producing narrative /descriptive
accounts.
Five to ten minutes drawing up an essay plan is time well
spent despite what many candidates may think in their
eagerness to address the question.
… There is no substitute for sound knowledge, as this is
the foundation of all good essays answers.”
- MAY 2009 IB Subject Report
Attacking the Paper 2
• Intro & Thesis
– Strong, argumentative thesis (take a stand)
– Address the task in its entirety
– Can include some background
• Body Paragraphs
–
–
–
–
–
–
Organized by argument or theme
Strong topic sentences
Historical vocabulary
ANALYSIS!!!!
Do not “name drop” historiography out of context
Avoid narration & description
• Conclusion
– Restate thesis
– acknowledge limitations and counter-arguments
If you cannot provide direct
historiography, use indirect
phrases such as … Historians
have debated … or some
historians suggest that …
while others suggest that …
This provides the examiner
with the knowledge that you
know historical debate exists.
Words of Advice from IB Adjudicators
“The best responses revealed
command of chronology, task
identification, structure and
above all the provision of
relevant historical detail.
It cannot be emphasized
enough that answers must be
supported by reference to
historical knowledge.”
May 2010
History Subject Report
"Too many responses suffered
from a great [lack] of
sufficient, relevant, accurate
historical knowledge.
Sweeping generalizations
devoid of convincing historical
substantiation seemed to
characterize too many
responses.”
May 2010
History Subject Report

Things to Do
Critique the question to understand what is being
asked of you
Make analytical claims

Use relevant historical evidence to support claims

Be specific with evidence, i.e. use ‘petty bourgeoisie’
instead of ‘people,” be careful with over use of
pronouns

Consider multiple interpretations, i.e. responsibility
for collectivization (need not be historiography)

Identify & use relevant historical evidence that
addresses what the question wants you to do

Be comprehensive, i.e. effects of the 1917 revolution
include more than Lenin’s role

Identify cause/effect, themes, significant factors
Things to Avoid
X Answer based on a few key words, i.e. WW II or
Stalin
Sweeping generalizations
X One-off pieces of evidence to support a
thematic factor, or no evidence to support
claim
X Assume the reader has prior knowledge, i.e don’t
simply state ‘5-Year Plan’ identify it as rapid
industrialization
X
X
Long introductions (go right to the answer)
X
X
Metaphors, i.e. ‘put on the map’
Information beyond the chronological parameters
of a question, i.e. info on rise of leader when
questions asks for rule
Rely on historiographic terms as substitute for
demonstrated understanding, i.e. revisionist
IB Markscheme
[0 to 7 marks]
[8 to 10 marks]
for inadequate/
general material
for narrative with
implicit analysis
and assessment of
methods and
conditions for “rise
to power”
Implicit = implied,
unspoken
[11 to 13 marks]
Meets 8-10 marks
criteria AND…
[14 to 16 marks]
[17+ marks]
Meets 11-13 marks Meets 14-16 marks
criteria AND…
criteria AND…
for more exact
focus and explicit
assessment of
methods used (e.g.
why they
succeeded) and
conditions for “rise
to power”
for a structured,
analytical
response focused
on methods and
conditions
Explicit = overt,
unambiguous
for balance and an
extra quality such
as different
interpretations
(historiography)
Extra Quality =
Think AP Expanded
Core  Thesis,
Multiple POVs,
insight,
comparison/
Analytical = logical, contrasts,
systematic
synthesis…
V.I. Lenin (1870-1924)
Leader of Russian SFSR (1917-1924), Premier of USSR 1921-24
Rise to Power
-Conditions
-Aims
-Extent of
achievement
Methods
-Use of force
-Incentives
Form of
Governance
-Left, center,
right
-Ideology
-Support
Nature, Extent &
Treatment of
the Opposition
Structure and
Organization of
Gov. and Admin.
Political,
economic,
social, religious
policies
Role of
Educations,
Arts, Media,
Propaganda
Status of
Women and
Treatment of
Religious
Groups and
Minorities
Joseph Stalin (1878-1953)
Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1929 to 1953
Rise to Power
-Conditions
-Aims
-Extent of
achievement
Methods
-Use of force
-Incentives
Form of
Governance
-Left, center,
right
-Ideology
-Support
Nature, Extent &
Treatment of
the Opposition
Structure and
Organization of
Gov. and Admin.
Political,
economic,
social, religious
policies
Role of
Educations,
Arts, Media,
Propaganda
Status of
Women and
Treatment of
Religious
Groups and
Minorities
Mao Zedong (1893-1976)
Leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1935 until his death, and he was chairman (chief of state) of the
People’s Republic of China from 1949 to 1959 and chairman of the party also until his death.
Rise to Power
-Conditions
-Aims
-Extent of
achievement
Methods
-Use of force
-Incentives
Form of
Governance
-Left, center,
right
-Ideology
-Support
Nature, Extent &
Treatment of
the Opposition
Structure and
Organization of
Gov. and Admin.
Political,
economic,
social, religious
policies
Role of
Educations,
Arts, Media,
Propaganda
Status of
Women and
Treatment of
Religious
Groups and
Minorities
Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970)
Army officer, Prime Minister (1954–56), and then president (1956–70) of Egypt
Leader of the Arab world, creating the short-lived United Arab Republic (1958–61)
Rise to Power
-Conditions
-Aims
-Extent of
achievement
Methods
-Use of force
-Incentives
Form of
Governance
-Left, center,
right
-Ideology
-Support
Nature, Extent &
Treatment of
the Opposition
Structure and
Organization of
Gov. and Admin.
Political,
economic,
social, religious
policies
Role of
Educations,
Arts, Media,
Propaganda
Status of
Women and
Treatment of
Religious
Groups and
Minorities
Name: _______________
Essay Prompt:
•
Break down the task: What are you being asked to do? (What do you
have to address?)
•
•
Body Paragraphs
.
Notes
Groupings
Key Information
Thesis
Name: _______________
Essay Prompt:
•
Break down the task: What are you being asked to do? (What do you
have to address?)
•
•
Body Paragraphs
Notes
Groupings
Key Information
Thesis
Name: _______________
Essay Prompt:
•
Break down the task: What are you being asked to do? (What do you
have to address?)
•
•
Body Paragraphs
Notes
Groupings
Key Information
Thesis
Name: _______________
Essay Prompt:
•
Break down the task: What are you being asked to do? (What do you
have to address?)
•
•
Body Paragraphs
Notes
Groupings
Key Information
Thesis