History lessons with Dr Manners Msongelwa
“O Level” questions consist of three parts. -These include part A, B and C.
Part A requires students to: List, Name, State, Identify and Mention. When answering this question student should give a one-word answer, phrase or a sentence.
Practice Question: List any 5 Balkan States? (5)
Model Answer: Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, Rumania, Greece.
Part B requires students to Describe, Outline, Account or Narrate events. It carries 12 marks, which means the answer should be detailed. Part B, can also ask students to: Describe any six, outline any six and account for any six. For example, describe any 6 events of the Sarajevo incident of 1914? (12). Outline any six political activities of the Mutapa State? (12) Account for six economical activities of the Ndebele state? (12).
When answering such a question, students should give a main point and also a minor point. The main point should be accompanied by the minor point. The minor point is an elaboration or examplification of the major point.
Part B, might also require students to give two or three components, for example, account for the Social and Economical results of the World war one? (12). Outline the Origins, Rise and Expansion of Great Zimbabwe? (12). On this question, you divide the two components by 12, and this means you give six factors on one component and six components on the other factor. Make sure you balance your points so that you can eventually get 12 out of 12.
The same applies to three components, you divide them by 12, which means you give four points on each component. The points that you give should be described in detail. Part B, should be presented in form of a composition. Avoid writing part B, in point form.
Part C contains eight marks. It has three levels which are: Level one (1-3 marks). Level two (4-6 marks). Level three (7-8 marks). Level one, your answer will be one-sided. For example; To what extent was Germany responsible for causing the World War One? (8). If you give an answer that talks about Germany only, even if you give 10 correct answers, you will get a maximum three marks.
Level two (4-6 marks).
Your answer won’t be thoroughly supported. If you give one answer as your greater extent, and one answer as your lesser, a student can get four marks. If a student gives a detailed showing both sides, but without judgement, that student gets a maximum six marks.
Level Three (7-8 marks). Your answer will be detailed with judgement. If a student gives two or more sentences to a lesser extent and three or more answers to a greater extent, that student gets eight out of eight. The quality of the answer again determines if the student is to get eight out of eight. A student should always start part C with a judgement, that’s greater or lesser extent.
Dr Manners Msongelwa is the president of History Teachers of Zimbabwe and a Teacher at Camelot College in Kwekwe.