Comparing what you know

IB Markscheme for first round of history blogging:

For what reasons, and with what results, was the second half of the nineteenth century a period of social and economic change?

Candidates need to specify the nature of social and economic change, perhaps pointing out technological and intellectual changes that improved conditions for most people, account for it, and explain results.
Reasons could include: increase of education; political rights such as the franchise; end of serfdom and servitude; more democracy and freedom; growth of industry, towns and transport; better medical facilities.
Results could include: a freer, better educated, more widely travelled, and healthier population. On the other hand industry, transport, and urbanization had their down side: overcrowding; crime; diseases; poverty, etc. increased for many.

[0 to 6 marks] for unsupported generalizations.
[7 to 9marks] for narrative/descriptive answers with little cause and effect.
[10 to 11 marks] for specific knowledge and understanding of change.
[12 to 13 marks] for focused understanding and analysis of cause and results.
[14+ marks] for perceptive, original, thoughtful essays.