The 8 Mark "Write a Narrative Account" Question (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note

Summary of Question 2

• Question 2 requires you to write an analytical narrative

  • This means explaining a sequence of key events and how they are linked together

• You must write about each stage of the narrative in chronological order

• 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 for Spain & the 'New World': 

The importance of chronology

• Chronology is the ability to place events in time order

• In the narrative account, you must write about three events in the correct order

  • If you write the events out of order, you will only get 2 marks

    • Do not include events outside the time frame of the question

• To help, the exam provides you with two stimulus points

  • The stimulus points are sometimes given with dates

    • If not, the stimulus points are arranged in time order

  • If you do not know the stimulus points, you are allowed to use your own knowledge

  • If you only use the two stimulus points, you can only achieve a maximum of four marks

Sequencing and linkage in GCSE history

Sequencing 

• Sequencing in history is the order in which events happened

  • For the example question, Isabella's sponsorship happened before the creation of La Navidad

• A sequence of events could:

  • Happen over a short or long period of time 

  • Stretch over multiple events 

  • Have negative and positive impacts 

• When explaining sequencing, you need to be careful not to write a story  

  • Instead, your answer should explain how one event led to another

Linkage  

• A linkage in history refers to the connections between events or issues

  • For the example question, Columbus' meeting with the Taino people connects to the creation of La Navidad

• Linkage allow historians to: 

  • Compare historical events 

  • Explain the causes and consequences of an event 

  • Explain the wider developments of a period

• Use connective phrases like:

  • "As a result …"

  • "Consequently …"

  • "This led to …"

  • "Because of this …"

• Planning your answer will make it easier to make linkages

How to answer a "Write a narrative account" question

• Your answer should include: 

  • The organisation of three events in chronological order

  • Specific and relevant knowledge of each event in the narrative account

  • An explanation of how each event connects to the next

• Before you write the answer, ensure that you have the following:

  • Good knowledge of the three events that you are using in the narrative account

  • A clear understanding of how each event links together

    • This will allow you to achieve the analytical narrative that the examiner is looking for

• To create successful linkages for Spain & the 'New World', you should consider if the event:

  • Improved or damaged relations with the Indigenous peoples

  • Increased or decreased Spanish power

  • Increased or decreased the Spanish Empire

  • Encouraged or deterred Spanish exploration

"Write a narrative account" question structure

• Your answers could be written using a CHRONOLINK structure

  • CHRONO — Put the sequence of events in chronological order

  • LINK — Connect each section of the narrative to the next event that occurred

• To achieve full marks, you should aim to write about three events in the narrative account

  • These events can be organised into one paragraph per event or one continuous paragraph

• The question is out of 8 marks

  • 4 marks for knowledge (K) 

  • 4 marks for your analysis of the second-order concepts of causes, consequences and/or changes (SOC) 

Worked example of a "Write a narrative account" question