To what extent can the reign of Mary I be seen as a "sterile interlude?"

Thinking about the question: So, the first thing you need to ask yourself is quite basic: what is the question trying to get at? It makes the question less overwhelming if you just take a moment to think about what this question is trying to bring to light. What assumptions are in it? What key terms can I unpack? For example, "Sterile interlude" is a quote, and therefore it is asking you to assess a particular historian/historiographical view point. There will definitely be some debate here. A good place to start is break down the answer into factors you can assess the question against. For example, was it sterile: 1) Economically/financially? 2) Political, governmental and monarchical sense? 3) Were religious policies sterile? Then you have to decide on your argument which will help you focus your planning and hone your evidence. Set this out in your introduction along with your definitions. It is up to each student but coming up with a balanced point of view is often important. For example, you could argue that the idea that her reign was an 'interlude' makes sense, in so far as it was a short 5-year Catholic break between the protestant reigns of Edward VI and Elizabeth I. Yet, the statement is not totally accurate as it wasn't simply 'sterile' because there were a lot of fast and impactful changes that happened between 1553-1558.Answering the question: I would then encourage the student to start each paragraph with a topic sentence relevant the question. For example, "Bindoff argues that Mary's reign was "economically archaic" and reflected the sterility of her rule; however, such a view does not place enough significance on her reforms, for while they were stopped short as a result of her premature death, they were successful in many respects." It sets out the historiographical debate and clearly shows how this paragraph will advance your argument. I would then suggest they flesh it out with 2-3 bits of evidence. Firstly, show why Bindoff has some value. Then counter it with more convincing evidence to show why your argument is ultimately stronger. Finish the paragraph by linking it back to the question. I would then repeat this structure for the others factors and finish with a conclusion. A really important thing to achieve top-band marks is to show synthesis and show how each factor relates to your overall argument, and if you can, how they relate to each other or how some factors were perhaps more 'sterile' than others. The best time to do this is often in your conclusion. This shows that you are engaging with the question in a critical way and that it is not a simple black or white answer.  I think it’s important to break down steps into simpler tasks when you have the time to do so, so when the exam comes you have a clear idea of what you need to do. Knowing how to structure an essay and learning how to present evidence will ensure you get used to thinking in the right way when you are revising and learning; with this grasped and practiced your essays will reflect the clarity and nuance needed to achieve top grades!