The 8 Mark "Explain the Two Ways X and Y are Similar" Question: Health & the People (Q3) (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Summary of Question Three
Question Three requires you to identify and explain two ways in which two groups, individuals or developments were similar
It requires a common theme or factor that connects the two focuses of the question
Amount of marks | 8 |
|---|---|
The time that you should spend on the question | No more than 10 minutes |
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 in Health and the People:
How to Explain How Historical Events & People Are Similar
The thematic study tests you on the way that you explain continuity over time
To help you to do this, remember that:
The thematic study is divided into four different time periods. A question could:
Select any two of these four periods
Focus on two events of people across the four time periods
Compare a common area across two periods, for example, surgery
Seven factors connect the time periods. For Health and the People, these are:
War
Superstition and religion
Chance
Government
Communication
Science and technology
The role of the individual in encouraging or inhibiting change
You could use these factors to find similarities between events and people
For the example question, religion is a similar factor between the Black Death and the Great Plague
How to Answer a “Explain the Two Ways X and Y are Similar” Question
When answering an "Explain the Two Ways X and Y are Similar " question, you need to:
Read the question carefully
Include specific and relevant knowledge
From both time periods
Make a direct comparison between the two events or people
For the example answer, a direct comparison is the use of sweet-smelling herbs to prevent the disease from spreading by miasma
Explain how the two events of people are similar
To access Level 4 (7-8 marks):
Use the seven factors in the Health and the People course to explain the similarities
Consider short- and long-term causes and consequences of the two people or events
How to Structure the “Explain the Two Ways X and Y are Similar” Question
Your answer should consist of:
Specific relevant knowledge
Complex explanations showing:
How both events and people are similar
Using the seven factors
Identifying causes and consequences
Your answers could be written in PEE paragraphs:
P- Make a point about the question
E- Include knowledge to support the point you have made
Focused on the two people or events mentioned in the question
Show knowledge to demonstrate similarities between the two people or events
Use phrases like ‘similarly’ to directly compare the two people or events
E- Explain the question
Focus on the key demands of the questions
Include a complex explanation showing your understanding of the factors
To achieve full marks, you need to repeat this twice
Worked Example of the “Explain the Two Ways X and Y are Similar” Question
Worked Example
Explain two ways in which the Black Death in the fourteenth century and the Great Plague in the seventeenth century were similar
[8 marks]
Answers:
One way the Black Death was similar to the Great Plague was that many people believed it was caused by miasma. In the Black Death, many people carried around pomanders. A pomander contained sweet-smelling herbs and flowers which a medieval person wore around their neck to warn off ‘bad air.’ Similarly, in the Great Plague, plague doctors wore bird masks with herbs in the beak. They believed that the herbs would prevent the plague doctor from becoming ill with the plague whilst they were treating their patients. Therefore, the Black Death and the Great Plague are similar because they believed miasma spread the disease and used remedies like herbs to prevent the spread of the disease.
Another way that the Black Death was similar to the Great Plague was the role of religion. In the Black Death, many people believed that God sent the plague as a punishment for the world’s sins. People prayed for forgiveness to avoid becoming sick. Other people became flagellants, repenting for their sins. Similarly, in the Great Plague, people blamed sin for the plague. From the reign of Henry VIII to 1665, England’s official religion had changed many times from Catholic to Protestant. Therefore, the Black Death and the Great Plague are similar because people, across both events, believed that God was angry at them for this and the plagues were a punishment.
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