Michael Williams Williams

Hi, my name is Michael and I recently graduated from the University of Liverpool with a BA(Hons) in history.

My historical studies and interests have always been rooted in a personal fascination for the past and certain facets of history like war, foreign policy, and society. I love learning about history and I believe understanding the causation, consequences and context behind the culture and geopolitics of the past can better inform us about contemporary society and the world we live in today.

My interest in history became more profound when I began studying the subject in greater depth at A-level which focused on the Tudors and Soviet Russia. This was furthered at University where I studied modules spanning millennia from Ancient Egypt and Rome, to medieval England and both the World Wars which would eventually culminate in me achieving a first. My favourite historical periods include the late-medieval period or Renaissance and twentieth century geopolitical history like the World Wars and the Cold War.

For me it is key to focus on exam questions and mark schemes as early as possible. Familiarizing yourself with the criteria that markers are looking for enables students to get into a habit of producing strong, well-rounded answers that consistently meet the higher bands of marks. Reading and breaking down example answers are also really effective ways to improve grades that I would also focus on during lessons. This helps to improve writing by showing how the best answers are structured whilst bolstering vocabulary, punctuation and grammar. Contextual knowledge is another crucial area where improvement is found so students can go into exams familiar with the material. Context allows students to identify the chronology of the past while providing an understanding that allows them the chance to understand events and historical figures through causation. To target these areas I would include quizzes and recall exercises into lessons to refresh memory and reinforce knowledge. Structure and SPAG are more areas of focus that can be worked on if needed as often the SPAG marks can be the difference between grade boundaries so it is important to make sure all bases are covered even if SPAG marks are weighted less.