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Site-to-Depth-Study Links

The high-mark skill for the historic environment question: linking a feature of the set site to the events and themes studied in the rest of the course, from the golden age and the court to the war with Spain.

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What you'll cover

Linking the site to the course

The top marks in the historic environment question come from connecting the site to the wider study, not just describing it. A feature of a site points to something you learned earlier. A theatre points to the golden age and the rise of the stage. A grand house built for lavish entertainment points to the court of Elizabeth and the display of wealth. A site tied to the war with Spain points to the Armada. A castle caught up in a rising points to the Catholic threat. This module teaches how to spot and explain those links.

Linking words

Learn these before you connect any site, because the link to the course is what earns the explanation marks.

Describing against linking

Two answers can cover the same site very differently. Only one reaches the top marks.

How to make a link

For each feature of the site, ask which part of the course it connects to. A grand design or costly building points to the wealth and display of the golden age or the court. A theatre points to the growth of the stage. Anything tied to defence or the fleet against Spain points to the war and the Armada. A place caught up in a rising points to the religious threat. Name the feature, name the topic it connects to, and explain the link with a fact from the course.

Match the site to the topic it links to

  • a purpose-built theatre such as the Globe
  • a grand house of lavish entertainment such as Kenilworth
  • a site tied to the fight against Spain
  • a castle caught up in a rebellion
  • the golden age and the rise of the theatre
  • the court of Elizabeth and the display of wealth
  • the war with Spain and the Armada
  • the Catholic threat and the Northern Rebellion

Which link is strongest?

A candidate is writing about the Globe theatre as the set site. Which link to the course is strongest?

  • It connects to the golden age and the growth of the theatre.
  • It connects to the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
  • It connects only to the treatment of vagabonds.
  • There is no link to the course at all.

Good links to the course

Select the TWO strong links between a site feature and the depth study.

  • A lavish design linked to the display of wealth
  • A coastal defence linked to the war with Spain
  • The roof tiles linked to the weather in 1588
  • The modern entry price linked to Tudor trade

Count the parts to link to

The Elizabethan study has 4 parts in total, and the historic environment is part 4. Subtract to find how many earlier parts a site can be linked back to. What is the answer?

Order how to build a link

Put the steps of linking a site to the course in order, earliest first.

  • Pick a clear feature of the site
  • Recall the topics studied in the course
  • Find the topic the feature connects to
  • Explain the connection with a fact

Complete the facts

The top marks come from making a clear _____ between a site feature and the course. A theatre links to the _____ age and the rise of the stage. A grand house of lavish entertainment links to the _____ of Elizabeth. A site tied to the fight against Spain links to the _____.

connection golden court Armada mistake iron village harvest

Match the feature to the connection

  • a stage and galleries for a paying crowd
  • grand gardens laid on to impress the queen
  • gun positions guarding the coast
  • a hidden chapel for secret worship
  • shows the growth of theatre in the golden age
  • shows the display of wealth at court
  • shows the fear of invasion from Spain
  • shows the Catholic religious threat

Spot the true linking facts

Tap the TWO statements that describe good historic environment technique.

  • The top marks come from linking the site to studied topics
  • A theatre can be linked to the golden age of culture
  • Only describing the site earns the highest marks
  • A site can never be linked to the wider course

Make the link

Read each case and choose the best link to the course.

  • The set site is a castle famous for the lavish entertainment laid on there for Elizabeth. Which topic does this link to best?
  • A candidate only describes what a site looks like and lists its rooms. Which marks are they missing?
  • A site has strong coastal defences built in the late years of the reign. Which topic is the natural link?

Explain the linking skill

Explain how to link the features of a historic site to the Elizabethan depth study, and why this earns the higher marks.

  • Explain why linking beats describing in this question
  • Give one link between a theatre and a studied topic
  • Give one link between a grand house and a studied topic
  • Give one link between a defensive site and a studied topic
  • Finish with the key to reaching the top marks