Leaving Cert Notes and Sample Answers

Leaving Cert History: Documents and Essays 2018 and 2019

For the more up to date version for Leaving Cert 2020 and 2021 , have a look at this History Documents and Essay guide

This our concise History edition. Our full guide  include this and more. This version comprises tips, document notes and essays.

LEAVING CERTIFICATE HISTORY: LATER MODERN COURSE

Topic 3: Dictatorship and Democracy in Europe. Sample Essay: How effective were Stalin’s moves for change during his time as leader of Russia? Topic 3: Dictatorship and Democracy in Europe. Sample Essay: How did dictators use propaganda and/or terror to maintain their power? Topic 6: The United States and the world. Sample Essay: What were the strengths and weaknesses of Lyndon Johnson as a political leader? (2014) Topic 6: The United States and the world. Sample Essay: What was the importance of one or more of the following: McCarthyism; the Moon Landing, 1969; developments in information technology? (2006) Topic 6: The United States and the world. Sample Essay: What were the main developments in race relations in the US, 1945 – 1968?

✔notes as detailed above

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  • Post author: Martina
  • Post published: April 29, 2018
  • Post category: History

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Mastering Leaving Cert History: A Guide to Writing Sample Essays

Updated: Feb 17

leaving cert history essay examples

Leaving Cert History is one of the most challenging subjects for Irish students, especially when it comes to writing essays. The exam requires students to write two essays on topics chosen from a list of options. These essays carry a significant amount of marks and can make or break a student's chances of securing a good grade. However, with the right approach, mastering Leaving Cert History essays is possible. In this blog, we will provide tips and insights on how to write sample essays for Leaving Cert History.

1. Understanding the Essay Structure

The first step to writing a great essay is to understand its structure. An essay has three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide background information on the topic. The body should include the main argument, supported by evidence and examples. The conclusion should summarise the main points and restate the thesis.

leaving cert history essay examples

2. Choosing the Right Topic

Choosing the right topic is crucial for a successful essay. The Leaving Cert History syllabus provides a list of options for essays. It is essential to choose a topic that interests you and that you are familiar with. The topic should be narrow enough to provide a focused argument but broad enough to allow for enough research and analysis.

3. Research and Analysis

Research and analysis are crucial for a well-written essay. Start by reading through relevant texts and taking notes. Use primary sources, such as diaries, letters, and speeches, to support your argument. It is also essential to analyze the information and present a clear argument, using evidence to support your claims.

leaving cert history essay examples

4. Writing Style and Grammar

Writing style and grammar are essential for a good essay. Use clear and concise language, avoiding slang and colloquialisms. Avoid long and complex sentences that can be difficult to understand. Make sure to proofread your work to avoid spelling and grammatical errors.

5. Time Management

Time management is crucial during the Leaving Cert exam. Make sure to allocate enough time to each section of the exam, including essay writing. Plan your essay before you start writing, including a clear thesis statement, main argument, and supporting evidence. Leave enough time for proofreading and editing.

leaving cert history essay examples

In conclusion, writing a Leaving Cert History essay can be challenging, but with the right approach, it is possible to master it. Understanding the essay structure, choosing the right topic, research and analysis, writing style and grammar, and time management are all essential components of a successful essay. Practice writing sample essays, and seek feedback from your teachers to improve your writing skills. With these tips and insights, you will be well on your way to writing successful Leaving Cert History essays. Good luck!

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Ms Doorley's History Notes

The resources provided within these notes and other accompanying materials such as PowerPoint presentations have been created utilising information and material from the range of textbooks and revision books below. All original material belongs to the authors; I've simply presented the information in an alternative format to suit the needs of the students in my classroom.

  • Artefact by Eimear Jenkinson and Gregg O'Neill (educate.ie)
  • ACE History by Eimear Jenkinson and Gregg O'Neill (educate.ie)
  • Making History by Stacy Stout and Dermot Lucey (Gill Education)
  • Skills for Exam Success - History by Stacy Stout (Gill Education)
  • Chronicles by Jennifer Brown and Christian O'Connor (Edco)
  • Junior Cycle Success: History by Tim Kennedy and Stephen Fallon (4schools)
  • Revise Wise Junior Cycle History by Neill Lenehen (Edco)

leaving cert history essay examples

  • Revise Wise LC History by ME Collins (Edco)
  • Modern Ireland (4th Edition) by Gerard Brockie and Raymond Walsh (Gill Education)
  • Modern Europe and the Wider World (4th Edition) by Demort Lucey (Gill Education)
  • The Making of Ireland (3rd Edition) by Paul Twomey (educate.ie)
  • The Making of Europe and the Wider World (2nd Edition) by Paul Twomey and Gregg O'Neill (educate.ie)
  • Sovereignty & Partition by Brianán McGrane and Granú Dwyer (Edco)
  • Politics & Society in Northern Ireland by ME Collins (Edco)
  • USA & The World by Máire De Buitléir & Stephen Tonge (Edco)
  • Dictatorship and Democracy by Stephen Tongue (Edco)
  • Get the Points! Leaving Certificate History by Stephen Tonge (Edco)
  • Exam Skills History Second Edition by Niall Boyle (Mentor Books)

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, these resources should be used as a supplementary tool and not as a replacement for the aforementioned textbooks or other official educational material. Many of these authors also share their own resources independently of their textbooks on their relevant social media, which are also very helpful in the classroom.

Despite careful proofreading and the use of Grammarly to fix as many errors as possible, typos or grammatical errors may still be present.

Various tools have been utilised to create these resources, such as Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, and OneNote), and Canva (and Canva Magic). Additional educational tools like YouTube, Spotify, and Quizlet have also been employed to enhance the learning experience. These platforms have aided in the formatting, design elements, and supplementary content, making the resources engaging and user-friendly.

Leaving Cert History

Course overview.

Leaving Certificate History is designed to foster a deep understanding of human activities in the past, encouraging students to appreciate the complexities and nuances of historical events. The syllabus is divided into two inter-linking parts:

1. Working with Evidence

  • History and the Historian: Provides a preliminary exploration of the nature of history, the role of evidence, and the methodologies historians use to interpret the past.
  • Documents-Based Study: Involves a structured analysis of historical documents related to a prescribed topic to develop students' evidence-handling skills.
  • Research Study: Encourages students to undertake a significant historical research project to further develop their investigative and analytical skills.

2. Topics for Study

Topics are arranged in two fields of study: Early Modern (1492-1815) and Later Modern (1815-1993). Students choose either the Early Modern or Later Modern field and study two topics from Irish history and two from the history of Europe and the wider world within their chosen field. Below students will find a collection of resources to support their studies.

Overview Notes

Later modern topics.

The Later Modern field of study (1815-1993) comprises 12 topics split evenly between Irish history and the history of Europe and the wider world. Students focus on key events, developments, and figures within these topics, studying from multiple perspectives: politics and administration, society and economy, and culture, religion, and science.

Later Modern Ireland (1815-1993)

The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition (1912-1949).

This period covers the struggle for Irish independence, including the Home Rule crisis, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence, and the subsequent partition of Ireland. It also deals with the establishment and consolidation of the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland's political landscape, and the impact of World War II.

  • Key Elements: Home Rule Bill, 1916 Rising, War of Independence, Treaty and Civil War, state building in the Free State, Northern Ireland politics, and World War II.
  • Case Studies: The Treaty negotiations, Belfast during World War II, the Eucharistic Congress.
  • Key Personalities: Patrick Pearse, Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins, James Craig.
  • Key Concepts: Sovereignty, partition, Ulster Unionism, dominion status, republic, neutrality.

Cornell Notes

Powerpoints, knowledge organisers, politics and society in northern ireland (1949-1993).

This period focuses on the socio-political developments in Northern Ireland, including the Civil Rights movement, the emergence of the Provisional IRA, and the various attempts at peace and power-sharing agreements. It also examines the impact of these events on the broader society.

  • Key Elements: Civil Rights movement, emergence of the Provisional IRA, fall of Stormont, Direct Rule, terrorism, Sunningdale Agreement, Anglo-Irish Agreement.
  • Case Studies: The Sunningdale Agreement, the Coleraine University controversy, the Apprentice Boys of Derry.
  • Key Personalities: Terence O'Neill, Ian Paisley, John Hume, Gerry Adams.
  • Key Concepts: Civil Rights, gerrymandering, terrorism, power-sharing, sectarianism.

Later Modern Europe and the Wider World (1815-1992)

Dictatorship and democracy (1920-1945).

This topic examines the rise of totalitarian regimes and the impact of World War II. It looks at the fascist states in Europe, the Nazi regime, Stalin's Soviet Union, and the global conflict that reshaped the world order.

  • Key Elements: Fascist regimes, Nazi state, Stalinist state, World War II, the Holocaust.
  • Case Studies: Stalin's show trials, the Jarrow March, the Nuremberg Rallies.
  • Key Personalities: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill.
  • Key Concepts: Totalitarianism, propaganda, resistance, war crimes.

The United States and the World (1945-1989)

This period examines the role of the United States in global affairs during the Cold War, including its leadership in the Western bloc, the civil rights movement, involvement in the Vietnam War, and advancements in technology and space exploration.

  • Key Elements: Cold War leadership, civil rights movement, Vietnam War, space race, end of the Cold War.
  • Case Studies: The Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, the Moon Landing.
  • Key Personalities: Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan.
  • Key Concepts: Containment, civil rights, détente, space exploration.

The Research Study Report

The research study is a pivotal component of the syllabus aimed at cultivating a spirit of inquiry and self-directed learning in students. It involves selecting a subject of historical significance and conducting an in-depth investigation. Key elements include:

Choosing a Subject

The subject must be well-defined and narrow enough to allow for detailed investigation. It should be of historical significance and based on primary or specialist secondary sources.

Components of the Report:

  • Outline Plan: Defines and justifies the proposed subject outlining the aims, approach, and sources.
  • Evaluation of Sources: Assesses the relevance, strengths, and weaknesses of the sources used.
  • Extended Essay: Presents the main findings and conclusions, reviewing the research process and its effectiveness.

Assessment for the research study constitutes 20% of the total marks with an emphasis on the outline plan, source evaluation, and extended essay.

How to get a H1 in your Leaving Certificate History RSR Project

leaving cert history essay examples

Jamie has been teaching history and correcting state exams for over thirteen years. In this guide, he gives his tips on getting a H1 in the Leaving Cert History Research Study Report (RSR).

leaving cert history essay examples

Introduction

In this guide, I will go through what a Research Study Report actually is and also some tips and tricks for answering one with top marks.

leaving cert history essay examples

Common questions

Before we start looking at what is involved in the report, I'm going to go through some common questions you may come across:

What is the RSR?

The Research Study Report (or the 'RSR' if you’re cool) is a project in which you carry out a piece of research on a topic of your choice. It is completed in a special booklet which is usually submitted in March/April, prior to the actual Leaving Certificate History exam.

Why is the RSR important?

Your RSR is super important because it’s worth a massive 20% of your total history result. Here’s some good news though: the average score for the RSR project is 90% so this is the perfect opportunity to get your history exam off to a great start. When you also consider that the 'documents-based question' in the exam is also 20%, you could have the subject nearly passed before you tackle any of those tricky essay questions.

How do I come up with my topic?

If I could offer you one piece of advice in terms of choosing your research topic, it would be this: pick something you’re interested in. You’re into sports? Music? Great, go with it. The wonderful thing about the RSR is that you really do have loads of choices. You’re going to be spending a LOT of time researching, thinking and writing about your chosen topic, so make sure it’s something you’re actually passionate about.

Maybe there’s someone famous from your local community or a particular event from history that you want to know more about. Maybe your teacher or a family member mentioned something that grabbed your attention. The only restrictions are that you need to be able to argue for your topic’s historical importance (more of that in the outline plan later) and that it happened before 1993 in Ireland and 1992 in Europe and the rest of the world.

Be original and creative. Lots of students each year pick topics around Adolf Hitler and the Concentration Camps for example. If your examiner can read something new and different, they might be more generous with their marks.

Where do I get my information from?

Surprise, surprise, your first step will be to use the internet in order to familiarise yourself with your research topic. When looking up your topic on a search engine, try to be as detailed and specific as possible to ensure you get the right results. Using a website like Wikipedia is good for getting to know your topic but should not be relied on or mentioned in any part of your project. Instead, look for websites from third-level institutions, historical journals or reputable newspapers or magazines for your research.

What about my local library?

Your local library is a brilliant resource. I always advise my students to try and find a book from a historian on your topic and your library is the perfect place to look. Some libraries even have newspaper records and access to academic journals on their computer system which can be incredibly useful depending on your topic.

Don’t be afraid to approach the desk and tell the librarian what you are looking for. In my experience, librarians are really friendly and eager to help. It would be well worth the visit. You can check to see what books are available and can order them from any library in the country using: https://www.librariesireland.ie/  

What if my topic is on local or family history?

Well, your library is definitely the place to look. As well as this, most counties have a historical society with people who have excellent local knowledge and are easy to find online. A sit-down chat or email correspondence could provide you with loads of information on your topic or give you ideas for other sources or further research. Local bookshops often have books published by historians from the area. An elderly family member might also be of help here.

When looking for sources to use in your research, the more the better. When it comes to using them in your report, you will be focusing on three. My top tip here is to pick:

  • one primary source (if you can). Did someone involved in the event write a biography? Can you interview someone who witnessed an event? 
  • One book written by a historian on the topic.
  • One reliable internet source.

leaving cert history essay examples

Layout of your RSR booklet

Congratulations, you are now a historian! As you are reading through your material, make sure to take loads of notes and keep them in a folder or notebook. This will make things much easier when it comes to the hard part, putting your research down on the page. 

Let’s look at the breakdown of the RSR booklet. We can split it into 5 parts: 

Title of the study

The outline plan, evaluation of sources, the extended essay.

This relates to what you have researched and what you will be writing about. Your title should be specific, detailed and include some date parameters.

leaving cert history essay examples

The outline plan is worth 15 marks. Think of it as the introduction to your research. It should be broken up into four different parts:

Definition and justification

This is worth 3 marks. This is where you explain what it is you are researching and why your topic is historically significant.

Intended approach

This is worth 3 marks. Write in the future tense and explain three ways that you will go about finding this information. For example, “I will interview a local historian, I will go to my local library, etc.”. You can also mention here how you will take and organise your notes and how you will draft and redraft your essay. It would also be a nice idea here to mention how you will ask your teacher for advice.

This is worth 6 marks. The last part of your outline plan is where you write out three of your sources in full detail (see my top tip above). It’s really important that you give every little detail regarding the source you used. For example, for a book, give the title, author, publisher and year published. If using a website, make sure to list the website’s address in full (with all the slashes, dashes and dots) as well as the date you accessed the site. Otherwise, I’m afraid easy marks will be lost (sad face).

leaving cert history essay examples

This part is worth 25 marks and is arguably the toughest part of the whole RSR. This is where you take the three sources you mentioned in the outline plan and discuss their value in detail (eVALUate? Get it?). Outline the relevance of the source to your chosen topic as well as its strengths and weaknesses as a historical source. In other words, explain what was useful and maybe not so useful about each of the three sources. Consider things like:

  • whether your source is a primary or secondary one;
  • who wrote/created your source? Are they trustworthy, or is there any evidence of bias?
  • Did it cover exactly what you were looking for, or did it cover only a small aspect of your whole topic?
  • How was your source structured? Was it easy to find information thanks to a contents page or index list?
  • Did your sources contain any maps, photographs, images or statistics that were particularly useful?
  • Did one of your sources contradict or give a different version of events from another source?

Details are key. Give specific details such as quotes or references to particular images to prove to the examiner that you actually studied the source and didn’t just flick through it.

leaving cert history essay examples

The extended essay is worth 50 marks. You’ll probably spend more time drafting and redrafting your extended essay than any other part of the booklet (but remember, all the other bits and pieces are worth the same amount of marks). This is essentially where you lay out your research. In terms of word count, higher-level students should aim to write between 1,200 to 1,500 words with ordinary-level students aiming for 600 to 800 words. Don’t worry, there is plenty of space in the booklet and you don’t have to fill it. Here are some things to bear in mind when putting your essay together:

A brief opening

A brief opening is certainly important, it gives the background and context to your topic. Do try to make it attention-grabbing. Your examiner will have lots of RSRs to read each day so yours needs to stand out.

Quote and reference

Make sure to quote from and make reference to your sources throughout. You can use more than the three named at the start. This will show the examiner you have developed your historical research skills. Reference any source that you’ve used either at the bottom of each page or at the end of your essay.

It is super important that you achieve the three aims that you set out in your outline plan. Whatever it was that you said you wanted to find out, ensure you have covered them in the essay.

Strong conclusion

Make sure your essay has a strong conclusion in which you emphasise the historical significance or consequences of your topic. A memorable quote from a named historian would be great here too.

The marks for the extended essay are broken down like this:

Give your essays lots of detail to make sure you get high marks here.

Use your sources throughout the whole essay and quote from them. There’s no problem if your sources contradict each other, just explain that in your essay and try to draw your own conclusions.

Make sure your spelling and grammar are spot on here (your teacher can help you with this) and that your essay has a clear beginning, middle and end. Follow the timeline of your topic to make this easier.

leaving cert history essay examples

Well done, you’re nearly there. The review is worth 10 marks and this is the last step of your RSR. Here, you will write a page in which you reflect on the process of completing the research. Here are some things you could consider writing about:

  • How did you decide on your chosen topic? Was it an easy decision or did you change your mind a lot? Why was that?
  • Did you find it difficult to locate sources for your topic? How did you overcome this difficulty?
  • Was there anything you learned about your topic that shocked or surprised you?
  • Is there anything you would do differently if you could start again?
  • Is there anything you came across while researching your topic that you would like to learn more about?
  • What historical skills did you develop throughout your work completing the RSR project?

As mentioned earlier, your examiner will read many reviews and they can often be generic and 'samey'. Make yours stand out by giving lots of specific details and this will help you get full marks in this section.

leaving cert history essay examples

I hope this guide is helpful and that you find completing the research study report an enjoyable and rewarding experience. When you’re finished, use the checklist below to give yourself the best chance possible of getting the maximum marks in this section.

leaving cert history essay examples

Jamie has multiple degrees and qualifications under his belt, including a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts with English and History, and master's degrees in Modern English Literature, and also Leadership & Management in Education. Jamie has corrected at both Junior and Leaving Certificate levels since 2010. When not shaping young minds, he surfs and plays golf (badly and without grace!)

IMAGES

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  2. Leaving Cert History Essay Writing

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  3. Comparative Essay Leaving Cert Sample

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  4. Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert English Guide 2021

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  5. 1969 Landing on the Moon

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  6. Leaving Cert History essay writing tips

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