AS Revision has Begun!

I've started revising for my AS exam in January - trying to fit in as much as possible around the MA and the day job. The last exam I took was in 1995, so I have to throw myself back in at the deep end in terms of revision techniques. Looking back at my notes, they are pretty good and already are focused in terms of the broad topics and themes within each unit. My plan now is to get all the past papers on the units that I'm going to be examined on, try and work out what questions are asked and then work up model responses - just like what I did for my A Levels back in the day. For example, in terms of Russia 1855-1917, the broad questions so far have been:

Questions on the 1855 Reforms and their Success

'Explain' Questions on the Reforms

* Explain why Alexander II emancipated the serfs

* Explain why Alexander II decided on a policy of reform in Russia

* Explain why Russians were dissatisfied with the decree emancipating the serfs in 1861?

Evaluating Questions on the Reforms

How successful were Alexander IIs reforms in modernising Russia before his death in 1881?

Questions on Opposition to Alexander II and Its Success

* How successful was Alexander II in overcoming opposition to his regime (24)

* Explain why liberals were dissatisfied with Tsarist autocracy in 1881?

Questions on the Russian Economy 1881-1914

'Explain' questions on attempts to modernise the economy

* Explain why Russian governments promoted economic development in the years 1881

* How important was the work of Vyshnegradsky and Witte in the development of the Russian economy in the years 1881 to 1904

* Why did Witte promote industrialisation in Russia?

Evaluating questions on attempts to modernise the economy

* How important was the backwardness of agriculture in contributing to weakness in the Russian economy in the years 1881 to 1914

* How far was Russia an industrialised state by 1914?

Questions on 1905 Revolution and 1905-14

'Explain' questions on the revolution and the Tsar’s reaction

* Explain why revolution broke out in Russia in 1905

* Explain why Nicholas IIs regime survived in Russia between October 1905 and the meeting of the First Duma in 1906

* Explain why Nicholas II issued the October Manifesto of 1905

* Why did Tsar Nicholas summon a Duma to meet in 1906?

Evaluating questions on the impact of the 1905/6 reforms

* How important were government concessions in enabling the tsarist regime to survive in the years 1905 and 1914.

* How successful was the tsarist regime in restoring stability to Russia between April/May 1906 and the outbreak of the war in 1914?

* How important were the Dumas in contributing to stable government in Russia in the years 1906 to 1914

Evaluating questions on Stolypin’s reforms

* How successful was Stolypin in strengthening the Tsarist regime?

The Revolutions of 1917

'Explain' questions on the impact of military failure on the Feb/March Revolution

* In what ways was military failure important in the collapse of the tsarist government in February/March 1917

* Explain why Russians were increasingly dissatisfied with Nicholas IIs wartime leadership in the years 1915 to 1917

Evaluating questions on the impact of opposition groups on the Feb/March Revolution

* How important was political opposition to Nicholas II between 1914 and the February/March 1917 Revolution in bringing about the fall of the Tsarist regime?

Evaluating questions on the factors that brought about the October Revolution (Lenin, Provisional Govt, continuing war etc)

* How important was the role of Lenin in bringing about the collapse of the Provisional Government in October/November 1917?

* How far were weaknesses of the Provisional Government responsible for the Revolution of October/November 1917?

Once I've done this, I'll start looking at Britian and Appeasement around December.