IB HISTORY-HL AKLEH- CHY4U| CHI4U

HOW TO WRITE AN IB PAPER 2

Notes:
a. Paper Two consists of 30 questions, with 6 extended response questions per topic.
o Three questions will be on named people, themes, topics or events that are
listed in the syllabus
o Two open-ended questions
o At least one question addressing social, economic or gender issues

In addition:
o At least one question will be set that demands material from two regions;
either named examples or two unnamed examples
o Any one of the questions may be a comparative question, or based on a
quotation
b. You must study two different regions: Europe and Middle East, Africa, Asia and
Oceania and the Americas. See map.
c. Questions will be set on major themes.
d. Named questions will be confined to the material in major themes and detailed study.
e. When answering open-ended questions students can use examples from the list
and/or alternative examples.
f. Students are required to answer 2 different questions from 2 different topics.
g. Paper two is evaluated from 40 (20 marks per each essay question)
h. Generic markbands and specific analytic markschemes are used.
i. Generally speaking 27+ will give you a 7.

We cover three topics:

Topic 1: Causes, Practises and Effects of War
Topic 3: Origins and Development of Authoritarian and Single-Party States
Topic 5: The Cold War

Note: Topic 3 – we cover every bullet point in the syllabus – it is therefore expected that you
will select one question from Topic 3.

Topic 1 and 5 – will depend on the questions given

Note: we cover more bullet points for Topic 5 (almost all of them) than for Topic 1 – it is
therefore recommended that you review Topic 5 first before you review Topic 1 for your
second question selection.
IB HISTORY-HL AKLEH- CHY4U| CHI4U

General Notes on our Topics:

Topic 1: Causes, Practises and Effects of War
- This would apply to WWI, WWII and some from the Cold War if studied – Korea, Vietnam
- Causes: why a war occurred, background and immediate causes
- Practises: events during the war, propaganda, use of media, treatment of women,
minorities, religious groups, internal opposition, technological and military changes
- Effects: results, consider G.PERSIAT; look for positive and negative, peace treaties; often
comparative questions
- may also ask to what extent treaties resolved the issues that caused the conflict in the first
place
- Questions tend to be either open ended ie. Select any two wars; or very prescribed – what
were the social and economic causes of WWI
REMEMBER THAT THIS PAPER ONLY APPLIES TO 20 TH CENTURY WARS (No discussion of Boer
War, US Civil War – 10 year rule also applies – nothing post 1999)

Topic 3: Origins and Development of Authoritarian and Single-Party States

- This would apply to interwar years and dictators (from all time periods of the 20 th Century)
- Named people include: (Africa) Kenyata, Nyerere, (Europe and Middle East) Stalin, Hitler and
Nasser, (Asia and Oceania) Mao and Sukarno, and (Americas) Peron and Castro
Others: Lenin, Mussolini, Franco
- Questions focus on nature and development (ideology and rise to power); establishment of
authoritarian states (solidifying power and totalitarianism) and domestic policies (what is
done while in power)
- Often there is a comparative question requiring two leaders from 2 different regions (consult
map if you get confused to ensure you are using two different regions)
- Like Topic 1 – questions can be very open-ended or very structured
- avoid vague and very general questions that have no clear structure or obvious ways of
approaching it
- Pay particular attention to chronology – the key to a successful answer here
- If you see a questions discussing the “conditions” that account for the origins of a
single party state – this is background, context BEFORE the dictator comes to power;
this is the “how is this a crisis state” question

Topic 5: Cold War

- Questions here focus on origins, early development, development and impact of CW and the
collapse of the CW
- This topic covers 40 years of history – it is huge!
- There tends to be questions regularly on origins and collapse; and can also include questions
covering a region’s involvement in the CW (such as significance of Germany or Cuba in the
CW) and also specific events (such as CMC)
- see syllabus for named bullet points

Writing Paper 2
IB HISTORY-HL AKLEH- CHY4U| CHI4U

1. DO NOT read topics 2 or 4 – cross them out.

2. Remember that your IA and EE topics, if relevant, can be used to assist you with
answering questions in this paper.
3. You must write 2 questions each chosen from a different topic – YOU MAY NOT WRITE
TWO QUESTIONS FROM ONE TOPIC. IB simply will not mark the second and give you
a zero on that question.
4. Use the cover sheet with the map to verify regions if you have selected a question that
requires information from two different regions
5. The time is 1.5 hours. You should try to allocate 45 minutes for each question. A
helpful hint is to record the time you start writing a question in the margin so you can
keep track of the time.
6. Do not do outlines – no time and no marks allocated for these.
7. Papers in the highest markband can correctly place the question in the larger historical
context and provide analysis, not simply a retelling narrative of events.
HISTORIOGRAPHY will be immediately place your response in the higher markbands,
provided that it is relevant and not just thrown in out of context or is irrelevant. 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. There are
often causation question on Topics 1 and 5 – where we do considerable historiography
in class. Consider these questions.
8. Basic essay format is required. Thesis, scope must be stated clearly. (no long flowery
introduction – no time and no marks). Clear body paragraphs used to present accurate
evidence that support your thesis is required. A conclusion that returns to the thesis
(is consistent with thesis and evidence presented) with a summary of your main
arguments is needed. Time and again IB indicates in the subject reports that for paper
2, there is no substitution for a good understanding of historical context and detail. IT
IS A MINIMUM EXPECTATION.
Note: If you choose a comparative question, it is the same expectation as Paper 1 – a
detailed running comparison, not end on accounts of one then the other. They must be
intertwined explicitly. A thematic approach is therefore your best strategy for success in
comparative questions.
9. English style is not evaluated, but if your information is unreadable and therefore not
understandable, you will receive no credit for those ideas. Please avoid personal
pronouns as this should be formal writing and using p.p. is redundant. Remember you
are writing about the past, therefore use past tense. Finally, keep your sentences
short, with only on idea in each. Otherwise you and the examiner will get confused.