Nature of Nazi Dictatorship SACE NUMBER
Grade:
Year 12 Modern History 2012
Summative Assessment
Assessment Type 1: Folio
Research Essay
Topic: The Age of Catastrophes:
Area of Inquiry 2. The nature of a dictatorship: Case Study Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany
Purpose:
To provide students with the opportunity to:
1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of people, places, events, and ideas in the
history of societies in selected periods and places since c. 1500
3. apply the skills of historical inquiry, including critical analysis
5. reflect on the short-term and long-term impacts of individuals, events, and phenomena
6. evaluate why individuals and groups acted in certain ways at particular times
7. communicate informed and relevant arguments using subject-specific language and
conventions.
Task:
Write an essay using a reasoned historical argument on the topic; the nature of the Nazi
dictatorship under Adolf Hitler. Students will be presented with a selection of questions
and will be required to structure their essay in a fully coherent manner with well-informed
and relevant arguments.
Students will construct a history essay using the formal conventions of history essay writing





An introduction that covers the basic content of the essay.
Topic sentences for each paragraph that are linked to the focus of the question.
Successive paragraphs that cover all the aspects of the introduction. Each paragraph
should discuss separate aspects of the essay.
Paragraphs that cover key counter-argument points
A conclusion: a brief summary of the essay, which should include one or two key
telling points.
Students are not required to use specific references, but should a source be used it must be
accompanied with the correct citation and a bibliography
Length: 1000 words: word processed
Due Date: Friday Week 9 4.00pm. Hard Copy including this task sheet and an electronic
version.
Stage 2 Modern History Summative Task Essay Nature of the Nazi Dictatorship
Nature of Nazi Dictatorship SACE NUMBER
Grade:
Assessment Design Criteria
Knowledge and Understanding
The specific features are as follows:
KU1 Knowledge and understanding of people, places, events, and ideas in history.
KU2 Formulation of hypotheses and/or focusing questions, and their application in explaining
historical concepts.
Inquiry and Analysis
The specific features are as follows:
IA1 Application of the skills of historical inquiry, including critical analysis.
IA2 Construction of reasoned historical arguments based on a critical understanding of evidence
from sources.
Reflection and Evaluation
The specific features are as follows:
RE1 Reflection on the short-term and long-term impacts of individuals, events, and phenomena.
RE2 Evaluation of why individuals and groups acted in certain ways at particular times.
Communication
The specific features are as follows:
C1
Communication of informed and relevant arguments.
C2
Use of subject-specific language and conventions.
Choose ONE question from the following.
1. ‘Dictators maintained power through propaganda.’ Do you agree with this
statement? Argue your case with reference to the dictator you have
studied.
2. ‘The key feature of a dictatorship s terror.’ To what extent do you agree
with this statement in relation to the dictator you have studied?
3. To what extent was the dictator you have studied admired by his people
once he was in power?
Stage 2 Modern History Summative Task Essay Nature of the Nazi Dictatorship
Nature of Nazi Dictatorship SACE NUMBER
Grade:
Performance Standards for Stage 2 Modern History: SACE # Grade
Knowledge and
Understanding
A
B
C
D
E
Inquiry and Analysis
Reflection and
Evaluation
Communication
Comprehensive and relevant
knowledge and understanding
of people, places, events, and
ideas in history.
Perceptive application of
the skills of historical
inquiry, including critical
analysis.
Perceptive reflection on the
short-term and long-term
impacts of individuals,
events, and phenomena.
Well-structured and
coherent communication of
well-informed and relevant
arguments.
Astute formulation of
hypotheses and/or focusing
questions, and their
application in explaining
historical concepts.
Astute and thorough
construction of reasoned
historical arguments based
on a critical understanding
of evidence from sources.
Comprehensive and
insightful evaluation of why
individuals and groups
acted in certain ways at
particular times.
Consistent, clear, and
appropriate use of subjectspecific language and
conventions.
Well-considered and relevant
knowledge and understanding
of people, places, events, and
ideas in history.
Well-considered application
of the skills of historical
inquiry, including critical
analysis.
Well-informed reflection on
the short-term and longterm impacts of individuals,
events, and phenomena.
Structured and mostly
coherent communication of
informed and relevant
arguments.
Clear and effective formulation
of hypotheses and/or focusing
questions, and their
application in explaining
historical concepts.
Well-conceived and welldeveloped construction of
reasoned historical
arguments based on a
critical understanding of
evidence from sources.
Well-considered evaluation
of why individuals and
groups acted in certain
ways at particular times.
Clear and appropriate use
of subject-specific language
and conventions.
Considered and relevant
knowledge and understanding
of people, places, events, and
ideas in history.
Considered application of
the skills of historical
inquiry, including some
critical analysis.
Informed reflection on the
short-term and long-term
impacts of individuals,
events, and phenomena.
Generally coherent
communication of informed
and relevant arguments.
Mostly clear formulation of
hypotheses and/or focusing
questions, and their
application in explaining
historical concepts.
Organised construction of
reasoned historical
arguments based on a
critical understanding of
evidence from sources.
Considered evaluation of
why individuals and groups
acted in certain ways at
particular times.
Recognition and basic
understanding of people,
places, events, and ideas in
history.
Basic application of some
skills of historical inquiry,
including some superficial
analysis.
Formulation of one or more
focusing questions and
description of one or more
related historical concepts.
Some basic construction of
a historical argument based
on some understanding of
evidence from sources.
Some superficial reflection
on one or more short-term
or long-term impacts of
individuals, events, and/or
phenomena.
Limited awareness of people,
places, events, or ideas in
history.
Limited application of one
or more skills of historical
inquiry.
Attempted formulation of one
or more focusing questions
and attempted description of a
related historical concept.
Attempted description of a
historical event based on a
limited understanding of
evidence from sources.
Superficial consideration of
why individuals and groups
acted in certain ways at
particular times.
Limited description of a
short-term or long-term
impact of an individual,
event, and/or
phenomenon.
Description of the actions
of individuals and groups
at particular times.
Stage 2 Modern History Summative Task Essay Nature of the Nazi Dictatorship
Mostly appropriate use of
subject-specific language
and conventions.
Some basic communication
of aspects of an argument.
Some appropriate use of
subject-specific language
and conventions, with
inaccuracies.
Attempted communication
of one or more aspects of
an argument.
Limited use of any
appropriate subject-specific
language and conventions.