Hello again,
Glad to see so many of you using the site today. I got a e-mail tonight asking about the essay on Monday. The question was -"just wondering about the essay we're supposed to be doing on monday, would you just suggest using the things you posted on the website, the marking scheme and our notes and things to get the essay planned? i'm just not feeling 100% confident with this section yet".
Here's my answer which I thought might be of use to others:
That's exactly what to do. I'm aware that due to circumstances, you guys have been left to learn about the Unification section yourselves, so I'll keep that in mind.
The essay is essentially asking you to discuss all the factors involved in Germany's unification. So get that sorted out first. Look back over the work done on the textbook chapter, remembering to read the stuff I put into your question booklet; then look at the old essay plan I put on the website and the marking scheme of the 2010 essay from the SQA. Start to write up on each factor - what part it played, how important it was and maybe get a quote. Once that has been done, then think about which factor(s) seemed to play the biggest part in bring all the states together into an unified Germany. Now go back to the 2010 essay and re-arrange the order of your factors so you are tackling the 'isolated factor' first, make a judgement on it then discuss the other factors.
The introduction should have a bit of background which will be about how there was a growth of national feeling and some steps towards bringing all the states together through the Zolverein but it arguably it was the actions of Bismarck and his three wars, financed by a strong economic Prussia that helped bring (or force) German states together.
Your conclusion should sum up all the factors into a balanced judgement which answers the question.
Just give it your best shot and let's get through this disruptive spell as best we can.
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