Try the following with your students:

1. Using the two exemplar essays, discuss the importance and purpose of essay planning in successfully answering an AS essay question.
2. Compare the introductions and/or conclusions of the two exemplar essays. Which is the more effective and why?
3. Both essays refer to a number of reasons: resources; strategy; political leadership; military leadership; decisive battles; government and administration. You may identify other factors. Discuss the relative merits of each factor – perhaps using a mark out of 10 as a rough guide. Use the discussion to introduce relevant analytical language about the reasons (long term, short term, contributory, direct, indirect etc.).
4. Using the same reasons, build up a spider diagram to show the links between the reasons – this can be done by the students in groups or pairs on an A3 sheet for example, or using cards with the reasons on.
5. How would the approach to the essay in the two exemplars need to change if the question was: ‘The main reason why the North won the war was superior leadership.’ How far do you agree with this judgement?