S N Kansagra School

th
Std. 9 [Academic Year 2010 – 11]
History & Civics

HELPFUL TIPS IN WRITING ANSWERS

Dear Students,
The written aspect of the subject is equally important as you need to re-express your
understanding and knowledge effectively. (Moreover, score Good Marks!!!)

While preparing for History & Civics tests/exams, please bear the following in mind :
(1) At behest, it is necessary to understand the topic properly.
(2) This subject demands time for memorizing certain facts.
(3) While writing answers the points must be clearly reflected in your answers.
(4) Especially the Key Words must not be ignored/missed/altered/mis-placed.
(5) Own words are fine as far as points are clearly and explicitely stated.

As per the present ICSE Board requirements for History & Civics, you are required to
prepare for 2 types of questions :
(1) OBJECTIVE TYPE ANSWERS – Desirably, to be written in a complete sentence form.
(2) STRUCTURED TYPE ANSWERS - A well structured answer can be written in the
following 2 formats :
(a) PARAGRAPH WISE : Write answers in neatly divided paragraphs. Each
paragraph may highlight one aspect or one sub-topic of the answer. You may
highlight the key words with a pencil.
(b) POINT WISE : While writing a point wise answer it is recommended to write
opening & closing statements (NOT SENTENCES!). These statements should be
based on your understanding of the topic and must be explicitly written using good
vocabulary & language. The opening statement may be a precedent note, while
the closing statement may be a subsequent comment.

EXAMPLE OF A POINT WISE ANSWER :

QUESTION :
Briefly explain 4 achievements of the Sumerians. (4 Marks)

ANSWER :
OPENING STATEMENT (VARIANT 1)
The Sumerians were highly energetic and inventive people that led them to a number of
achievements that were never before witnessed in the times of human history. Here are
their 4 notable achievements : -

OPENING STATEMENT (VARIANT 2)

The Mesopotamians are credited with many inventions and innovations ushering in an
advancement of technology that gradually changed the pace and face of human life.
Some of the notable achievements are : -

OPENING STATEMENT (VARIANT 3)

Various civilizations of the world had certain unique achievements that earned them the
tag of being “Great Civilisations” of the ancient world. Sumerian Civilisation was a
noteworthy one because of the following achievements : -

OPENING STATEMENT (VARIANT 4)

The evolution of human life happened as needs were satisfied, from time to time. The
Sumerians came up with specific innovations based on their customized needs. Their list
of achievements include : -

OPENING STATEMENT (VARIANT 5)

The fertile cradle between Tigris and Euphrates rivers was a home to numerous
attainments by the prolific Sumerians. Amongst a string of such achievements, the
predominant ones are as follows : -
(i) THE FIRST FORM OF WRITING : The first form of writings were records on stone
tablets filled with numbers recording distributed goods. These early writings were
actually pictures or rough sketches of the words they represented. Eventually, the
Sumerians made their writing more efficient and came up with short-hand consisting of
wedged lines.
(ii) SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS : The Sumerians invented Calendars, which they
divided into 12 months based on the cycle of the moon. The study in measuring long
periods of time led the Sumerians to study astronomy and to divide the sky into Zodiacs
in order to measure yearly time. Their system of counting was in units of 60, a basis for
3600 circle and 60 minute hour.
(iii) INVENTION OF THE WHEEL : They invented the first wheeled vehicles and used
them for their farm carts that were drawn by humans and bullocks. They made solid
wheels from tree trunks that were used as a pulley to displace heavy objects. Later on,
they developed war chariots that proved to be an important weapon of offence and
defense in times of war.
(iv) ART AND ARCHITECTURE : The Sumerians were skilled craftsmen who produced
decorative pottery, beautiful jewellery, metalware, stoneware, textiles and musical
instruments. They built dykes to control the flooding of Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Ziggurats, shaped like a pyramid with terraces, were built beside the temple as homage
to Gods.

CLOSING STATEMENT (VARIANT 1)

Therefore, these achievements were instrumental in shaping up the future course of the
Civilization and subsequently the human race.

CLOSING STATEMENT (VARIANT 2)

Thus, these achievements gave the Sumerians due advantages that impacted their lives
drastically and led to an improvement in lives.

CLOSING STATEMENT (VARIANT 3)

As a result of these achievements, Sumerians were benefited immensely that brought
about a metamorphic change in the lives of the subsequent people.

CLOSING STATEMENT (VARIANT 4)

The above mentioned achievements coupled with other factors made the Sumerian
Civilisation have an edge above the rest. No wonder they are in our History chapters.

CLOSING STATEMENT (VARIANT 5)

Subsequently, these achievements later on spread to the other parts of the world and
gave an impetus to the future life events, power and position.

I hope these tips would help you effectively improve your standard of answers and
subsequently your score!

All the Best!!!

Developed & Distributed in the interest of TGES Students by

Jayesh Patel(SNK Main)