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What is a Synoptic Essay and How Do I Write One?

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Writing the synoptic essay

Part of the A-Level History course now involves a synoptic element. This involves examining change and reasons for change over a fixed period of time. This is usually around 100 years. If you are writing a synoptic essay, a slightly different approach is needed.  You will need to give an overview of your understanding of the major themes studied in the unit/subject (and within the context), often indicating how your understanding of the themes has developed over time. This can be quite difficult to get right. 

How do exam boards describe the synoptic element?

Synopticity is:

'Approaching history in the way a professional historian would' by drawing together knowledge, ideas and arguments to show overall historical understanding . (QCA's definition)

Essentially, we are looking for breadth of understanding (an ability to see beyond the obvious and to see the deeper implications of questions), together with a relevant linking of ideas and arguments across the topic / period of the question.

It mixes breadth of understanding (an ability to see the key underlying themes of the period the 'drivers' bringing change; the degree of continuity; the relationship between state and people), with depth of example and understanding of the importance of precise supporting detail.

At A2, essays are likely to have more than one focus; more than one issue to discuss and more than one viewpoint to analyse. The question itself invites a 'synoptic response' so a good conventional essay answer will do all these things.

A synoptic essay will usually ask you to examine "how far" or "how valid/convincing". In order to approach a synoptic well, it is good practice to organise your themes FIRST. This will make the essay easier to write.

Examples of synoptic style questions

• How far was the personality cult of Adolf Hitler responsible for the success of the Nazi party?
• 'Between 1547 and 1559 England was almost torn apart by religious revolution.' Assess the validity of this view.

Both of these questions are synoptic. They are asking you to examine the events/people in the context of other long and short term themes. 

Example:  "How far was the personality of Adolf Hitler responsible for the success of the Nazi party?"

In this question, you are expected not only to be able to assess how important Hitler was to the Nazis, but you are also expected to set the Nazis in the wider historical context of the time and examine other long/short term factors that may have aided their success.

In the long-term, the following factors could be said to have aided Nazi success:

The legacy of the Bismarckian system - the nature of authority and rule, as well as the legacy of policies such as Kulturkampf.

The outdated autocratic regime in Germany under the Kaisers (Kaiserreich)

Difficult relations with Britain, France and Russia. The whole power struggle of the time - especially the growing confidence of Russia against Austria-Hungary and the difficult family ties between ruling families.

World War I and Germany's loss.

The Treaty of Versailles and the 'stab in the back' myth.

The weakness in the set-up of the Weimar Republic 

In the Shorter-term...

The personality of Adolf Hitler and his election to the leadership of the NSDAP.

Failings made by the politicians of the Weimar Republic

The Instability of the Weimar Republic

The Nazi part machine - i.e. organisation

Nazi party tactics - i.e. putsches, propaganda, rallies, use of SA etc...

The Wall Street Crash and depression, growth in anti-semitism.

The mistakes of Hindenburg, Von Papen and Von Schleicher.

This is not an exhaustive list of reasons for the success of the Nazi Party; however, it should highlight to you that the personality of Hitler as suggested by the question was just one of many short and longer term factors that helped the Nazis to become successful.

In a synoptic essay you would need to weigh this up in the light of the other factors at play, whilst at the same time displaying your understanding of the entire period and actually how much change took place. Some would argue for example that some of Hitler's policies were more extreme versions of Bismarckian policies, for example, Bismarck's' Kulturkampf deliberately persecuted Catholics in Germany; Hitler, in a far more extreme way, persecuted Jews.

Some may also argue that because Bismarck and the Kaiser had ruled in an absolute way, that this was the kind of rule that Germans were used to; perhaps they weren't ready for the democracy that was offered by the Republic, so when Hitler came along offering a return to the traditional absolute style of rule, it seemed familiar to Germans.

Of course, the validity of these views is very open to question, but that is the point of the synoptic essay. You are required to think more deeply about the question and read between the lines. The REAL question at play in this example is: "Why were the Nazis successful?"

A good way to organise your themes might be as follows:

Introduction that includes very brief setting of the scene and states your line of argument.

Discuss the theme that is asked for by the question (in this case the personality of Hitler) - how important was this?

Discuss the other short-term themes that were also important to the period/event and evaluate significance. Then compare the significance of these other factors in comparison to the initial factor.

Finally, here comes the synoptic analysis, you then need to examine the longer term themes at play and examine their role - how important were they in comparison to the shorter term factors. Were there many shifts or changes? How much continuity was there? How did any changes or continuity affect the situation?

Conclusion - how important was the factor as stated by the question? Set it in light of the wider context of the time and re-assert your point of view.

*N.B. Where appropriate once again you need to include the historiography and views of historians throughout.

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Micro and Macro Impact of a Plastic Tax (Revision Essay Plan)

Last updated 2 Jun 2018

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Here is a short video looking at how to shape a synoptic revision essay on the title: "Evaluate the possible microeconomic and macroeconomic impact of a government taxing all producers of plastic packaging including plastic bottles and food containers."

Micro point 1

One micro effect of a tax on plastic packaging is that it will increase the private costs of producers and encourage them to innovate to find ways of reducing the amount of plastic used in products and also provide better facilities for consumers who want to recycle used items.

Plastic packaging creates negative externalities both from production and consumption. Only 0.25% of coffee cups in the UK for example are recycled. There is a case for a tax on producers so that some of the external costs are internalized. Unless  businesses such as Coca Cola and Pepsi find ways of cutting plastic content, their costs will rise and profits may fall. This might then lead to a fall in their share price affecting returns for stakeholders including owners and employees. One option is for producers to pass on some of all of a tax on plastic to customers.

Although in theory a tax on plastic packaging will help correct for market failure, in practice, many consumers have a strong default bias towards single-use plastic bottles and plastic cups and even if the extra cost is passed on to them, it might only be a small percentage of their total spending. As a result demand for plastic products might be price inelastic (PED<1) which means that the tax might be ineffective. An alternative might be to encourage retailers to expand a bottle deposit scheme or extra funding for free public water fountains.

Micro point 2

A second micro impact of a tax on plastic packaging would be that the real incomes of consumers would fall and this might have most effect on lower income.

A tax on suppliers causes an inward shift of the supply curve which, other factors remaining constant, will lead to an increase in retail prices for products such as energy drinks, coffee and takeaway processed meals. When prices rise, the real incomes of consumers fall and the effect might be greatest on larger families on moderate incomes who often rely on pre-packaged foods which use a lot of plastic packaging. This might mean that a tax on plastic would have a regressive effect on the overall distribution of income leading to a rise in inequality.

Although there is a risk of a tax having a regressive effect, much depends on whether households change their behaviour. The plastic bag tax is widely seen as a success and has led to a big reduction in the number of bags handed out in supermarkets. The extra revenue raised by a new tax could also be hypothecated towards more funding for projects such as early years education, free school meals and subsidised transport for families which might have a progressive effect on families.

Macro point 1

One macroeconomic effect of a tax on plastic packaging is that it would lead to an increase in the rate of inflation and therefore potentially a significant increase in the cost of living .

The tax would affect many industries in the UK including drinks & food manufacturers and other suppliers such as magazines and coffee shops. If their variable costs of production rise, producers will pass on higher costs through the supply chain to final consumers and this will lead to an increase in cost-push inflation . This is shown in my diagram by an inward shift of the short-run aggregate supply curve. A higher cost of living lowers real incomes and might lead to a surge in wage demands in the UK labour market.

The impact of a tax on the rate of inflation depends on the significance of plastic in supply costs. In many industries, labour and energy costs are more important, so the effect on inflation might be limited. In addition, firms affected will have an incentive to reformulate their packaging to cut the amount of plastic. Indeed in the long run , investment in product design and alternative materials might lead to lower unit costs and prices throughout many industries.

Final reasoned comment

Plastic pollution poses significant long-term risks for millions of people and the natural environment. There is a case on grounds of market failure for a tax based on the polluter-pays principle. I favour a sliding-scale tax on plastic with packaging the hardest to recycle being charged the most and that revenues should be ring-fenced to fund local authorities to provide free water fountains in many more public places. A law that plastic bottles have to contain a minimum of 50% recycled plastic might also stimulate innovation in the long-run.

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AQA A2 biology: writing the synoptic essay

Writing the Synoptic Essay, the first ever book handing you everything you need in order to gain the maximum marks in this most challenging part of the AQA Biology A-Level exam. Comes complete with 20 sample essays, an account of what's expected, advice on choosing the right essay. How to plan and organise your essay. What to do if you get stuck and help on getting your essay timing right.

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