Thematic Essay Example Plans

Question 1

‘The Com rulers were effective autocrats; the Tsars were not.’ How far do you agree?

Answer 1

• ideology
• structure of govt
• repression
• reform
  overall = tsars less effective bc overthrown. repression was weaker + reforms fostered instability

Question 2

‘The 1917 Oct Rev changed Ru govt more than any other event in the period 1855-1964.’ How far do you agree?

Answer 2

• ideology (oct rev, AII, kh)
• structure of govt (oct rev, WW1, NII but FLs)
• methods of repression (oct rev, 1905 rev, WW2)
  overall = oct rev changed govt sig, but destalinisation = most change

Question 3

‘The ppls of Ru were consistently repressed by their rulers.’ How far do you agree?

Answer 3

• ideology (censorship = AII/NII, Kh)
• violent repression (AII, Lenin, Stalin)
• civil rights (AII, AIII, NII, PG)

Question 4

‘The most important social changes in Russia concerned educational provision.’

Answer 4

• social structure (AII + edu, AII + emanc, NII, Lenin)
• living/working conditions (stalin + edu, NII, Kh)
• freedoms (AIII + edu, NII, AIII, Stalin)

Question 5

To what extent did rural working + living conditions in Ru improve in the period 1855-1964?

Answer 5

• working conditions (Stalin, NII, AII
• living conditions (NII, Lenin, Kh)
• rights + reform (AII, AIII, Stalin)