The 8 Mark "Explain the Importance" Question: Norman England (Q2) (AQA GCSE History)

Summary of Question Two

• Question Two requires you to explain the importance of an event, group, individual or development from the Norman period 

• You will need to explain the question using

  • Second-order concepts 

  • Relevant knowledge and understanding 

• An example of the type of question you may encounter can be seen below:

• In previous years, this question has focused on the following topics: 

How to Answer an “Explain the Importance” Question

• In history, the word "importance" refers to a historical event or person which stands out from other events, individuals and groups

• When considering the importance of a historical event or person you should consider:

  • Causes and consequences 

  • Change and continuity 

Cause & Consequences

• Causes and consequences are like falling dominos

  • The causes are what push the dominos over

    • For the example question, a cause of the Norman reforms to the Church was the corruption in the English Church

  • The consequences are the other dominos that fall

    • For the example question. a consequence of the Norman reforms to the Church was an increase in the king's power

• Cause and consequence can be directly linked and can be used to help explain the relationship between events, issues or developments 

Change & Continuity

• Change and continuity can also be viewed as falling dominos

  • An important event, development or person is a domino which changes the direction of all of the dominos that come after it

Explaining Importance

• The question will provide an event or group in which it will want you to explain the importance of 

  • You will need to write about two ways in which it was important 

    • For the example question, the Norman reforms to the Church were important because they introduced bishop courts and increased the king's power

    • Show the importance of the event or group through a second-order concept 

“Explain the Importance” Question Structure 

• Your answer should consist of: 

  • Specific and relevant knowledge 

  • Cause and consequence or change and continuity

  • An explanation of how the event or issue mentioned in the question impacted the wider development of the topic

• Your answers could be written in PEE paragraphs: 

  • P- Make a point about the question

    • This point could focus on the importance of the issue or group mentioned in the question 

  • E- Include knowledge to support the point you have made

    • Focused on the event or group in the question 

    • Show knowledge to demonstrate a cause or change 

  • E- Explain the question

    • Focus on the key event or group of the question

    • Include an explanation showing your understanding of the consequence or continuity of the event or group mentioned in the question

• To achieve full marks, you need to repeat this structure twice

• It is tempting in this question to write your answer like a story, do not do this 

  • The question asks you to explain the causes and consequences or change and continuity of the event or group mentioned in the question  

Worked Example of the “Explain the Importance” Question