HSC Ancient History Exam – Q&A

How many sources should we use?

You do not have to have a multitude of sources in each paragraph; using one or two sources well will go much further than just writing a list. Balance the use of sources with your own knowledge.

Does a quote from a historian count as a source?

A source can be an artefact or text from the physical past, or present-day research or historians.

How do we make a source/quote our own, so we don’t get marked down for simply restating?

If you are aiming for a Band 6, you should be integrating evidence, including sources from the ancient past, to support your response. Look at the Marking Guidelines from past HSC exam papers on the NESA website.  

How do I use the "because/but/so" technique to integrate sources into my responses?

How do you use "Because/But/So" when using text from historians as a source? In this example. I'm using a quote from Mary Beard from an article regarding the conservation of the Pompeii, published in The Telegraph, 2016. “Arguing it is more important the ancient world engages the imagination of tourists, keeping them interested in history, she said: “The world isn’t going to stop if Pompeii loses a house.” 
 

Is it better to paraphrase or quote sources/historians?

You do not gain marks for using historians’ quotes verbatim but you can gain marks for integrating interpretation and evidence into your response. You do not “lose” marks for mixing up historians, but you won’t gain marks, either. Historians’ ideas can be useful to show changing perspectives, but NESA and the marker want to hear your voice, not the historian’s. 

How can I answer a source question if I’ve never seen the source?

If you are presented with a source you have not come across before, look for clues that might help you, either in the caption, or in the source itself. What details can you see that you can connect to your own knowledge. For example, if you are given an image of a feature found in a house in Herculaneum, ask yourself “What does this look like? What is it made from? What features do you notice? What does all of this tell me?”

Can sources outside of the ones in the source booklet and the course be used? For example, if I find that a certain fresco which I found in my spare time provides information, can I use it? Or would it be considered not as relevant?

Almost anything can be used as evidence to support your claims, but it must be relevant to the question. You can use: graffiti, maps, everyday objects, buildings, written sources, wall paintings, statues, coins, anything – as long as it relates to the point you are making.  

How would you refer to an archaeological source that isn’t provided without sounding generic? E.g. wall paintings in Pompeii. 

The more specific detail you have, the better, but make sure there is a balance. Instead of saying “wall painting from Pompeii” try to give a specific example; find a house (which is a really rich source for a number of content points, e.g. social status, the economy, politics, Greek and Egyptian influences) in Pompeii and/or Herculaneum that you can adopt. This will give you the opportunity to use this in a range of questions. This website (Pompeii in Pictures) is a great website to find some specific examples. 

What is a good way to integrate quotes from historians in your extended responses?

One way to use historians is the idea of “springboards” and “punching bags”. Use a historian’s idea to launch your own argument (springboard), or take it down with your own argument (punching bag). This shows you integrating their ideas into yours, which is much more powerful than just a quote. 

How long should our responses be, based on the mark allocation?

For an extended response of 25 marks, you are expected to write between 800 – 1000 words that answer the question. For 15 marks, you are expected to write up to about 600 words and so on. For a “mini essay”, you should aim to write a brief introduction (around 3 sentences), 3 body paragraphs and a brief conclusion.

Is it ever acceptable if the question asks us to make a judgement on Minoans, for example, that we have a thesis which says evidence is insufficient to decide? Or would it be better to take a side and just force the minimal sources for it as though they are definitive?

In Ancient, it is perfectly acceptable to state that the sources are limited, and thus we do not know for certain all aspects of a given topic, but you should also state what we DO know.

How do you come up with an interesting thesis (with some interpretation) that attracts the HSC markers' attention?

To create a thesis, you do need some narrative, as this will provide the detail of your argument. However, to avoid lapsing into story telling, think thematically about your essay. See below for an outline of possible themes to categorise your information

How important is paragraphing…can we lose marks for not doing this as it shows we aren’t structuring our response?

It is important to use paragraphs for questions 5 marks and above, as this shows the marker you know how to structure your writing and make it more cohesive. For answers under 5 marks, you do not have to write a structured paragraph.

If we're asked a question about new discoveries/technologies, how recent would you classify as new?

 

Re the core study, you will not be expected to know every new discovery that has taken place at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Do you have any general tips?

 

Stay focused on the question; often students latch on to one part of the question and not the whole question, so their answer is not completely relevant. If you are given a source, you must use it, but then use it as a launch pad into your own knowledge.

Since the content is so packed, how can we remember all of it?

There is a lot of information, but don’t be overwhelmed. The BEST way to remember information is to talk about it: talk to friends and family about your topics, and record yourself while you do so to listen to afterwards. Sometimes when you’re talking you come up with some nuggets of gold that you can use in your essays.  

Use tools like Kahoot to quiz yourself on your knowledge

Mindmaps are also great for boiling down content to its most basic form and they are very visual. Use images to help you remember information.

What are the best ways to revise for this subject?

Take your revision a bit at a time. You don’t have to write 45 minute essays everyday. Write an essay plan. Write an introduction. Re-write a body paragraph from this year, taking on board the feedback from your teacher. Write a 5 mark response, 7 mark response, 10 mark response. A little bit every day builds your muscles.  

View, listen, read. Watch documentaries (and argue with them while you’re watching) or even movies (but make sure you read the reviews to see if it’s a good one). They will help give you a holistic understanding of the topic. Listen to podcasts – there are some great podcasts from BBC, HTANSW, and more, so listen to these as you go for walks each day, and hear how the presenters discuss the past, particularly how they argue historians’ views. Read – not just your textbook, but look for articles online, through the State Library or School Library.

What would be the best time management strategies for the exam? Is there a recommended order of topics to do the exam in? Or do we just do it in the order the paper presents?

Use the reading time to read. One of the biggest criticisms markers have is that students answer the question they want, rather than the one they’ve been given. READ the questions carefully. Once done, read through the Source Booklet very carefully, making note of the captions.  

Keep to time in the exam – do not spend more than 45 minutes on any section. When you are allowed to write, you should write your start times for each section on the front of the paper to keep you on track

Particularly, do not spend more time on short responses than you need to – they will steal time from your essays

Write a plan for your extended responses. When you have crossing out, asterisks, lines going everywhere – that is an essay in crisis and will undermine the cohesiveness of your answer. Taking 2 minutes to mind map a response will build a much more structured essay.

Try to take a thematic approach (see ESPRM above) to help you plan your thesis. In writing the first line of your essay, if you are stuck it is absolutely fine to re-write the question into a statement with a value judgement. For example, if the question was “Evaluate the impact of Hyksos on the development of the New Kingdom”, a response might start with “The Hyksos had a significant impact on the development politically, socially and militarily.”

Do not try and mash questions or change your mind halfway through. Choose a question and stick to it. There are no easy questions, just ones you are better prepared for.

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