Long essay question (LEQ)
Diplomacy and the balance of power
- Units 3, 5, 6 and 7
- 6 points
- About 40 minutes
You write an argument essay from your own knowledge, with no documents. Starting May 2027 there is one required prompt with a short opening statement; it spans about half of the course's time periods and you can focus on the part you know best. On the exam: 1 required question (Section II, Question 2), 40 minutes, 15% of the score.
The question
From the Peace of Westphalia to the outbreak of the First World War, European states fought wars, formed alliances and signed treaties, often with the aim of preventing any single power from dominating the continent.
Suggested time: 40 minutes
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The essay
6 pointsEvaluate the extent to which European diplomacy maintained a balance of power in the period 1648 to 1914. You are not expected to address the entire time period in your response. You may focus on one or more developments referenced in the prompt. In your response you should do the following: • Respond to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of reasoning. • Describe a broader historical context relevant to the prompt. • Support an argument in response to the prompt using at least two pieces of specific and relevant evidence. • Use historical reasoning (e.g., comparison, causation, continuity or change) to frame or structure an argument that addresses the prompt. • Demonstrate a complex understanding of a historical development related to the prompt through sophisticated argumentation and/or effective use of evidence.
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