History

Course summary

History is one of the oldest academic disciplines and has been written, studied and argued about since civilisation began. People enjoy History because we all like a good story, and any History course is crammed with compelling narratives and larger-than-life characters. However, at a deeper level, we study History because it explains how our world came to be as it is and where we fit into it as individuals. Current affairs and news would be meaningless without the context that History provides. Without a developed understanding of the past, the present day makes no sense. In our multi-faith, multi-cultural society it is increasingly difficult to present an explanation of History that satisfies everyone, but it is the job of the Historian to try. The course is divided into four units with Units 1 and 2 studied in the first year and units 3 and 4 in the second. Unit 1: England 1547-1603: the Later Tudors. This unit is focused on a mixture of source analysis skills and essay work. The sections on the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I require you to analyse and evaluate a range of primary source material. Unit 2: Russia 1894-1941. This unit is focused on essay work, with particular emphasis on the comparison and evaluation of historical interpretations. Unit 3: Civil Rights in the USA 1865–1992. In this unit, we trace three separate themes across a century of American History, with an emphasis on historical interpretations. Unit 4: The Topic-based Essay. You choose your question, with guidance from your teacher, and use all the skills taught in the other three units to explore and evaluate the way rival Historians have interpreted a historical controversy. You are encouraged to choose a question from one of the other units you have covered, but you are free to choose from any historical period in which you have a particular interest. You must produce a 3,000 to 4,000-word essay that draws upon secondary and primary source material.