Course Content
Students will cover the American Dream, South African Rainbow Nation and Yorkists, Lancastrians and the British experience of warfare from 1790-1918. Ultimately, they will learn how to construct an analytical historical argument and will assess the views of contemporaries, in order to reach independent judgements about some of the most fundamental periods of English, European and world history. A significant aspect of this course will involve students looking in detail at the interpretations of historians and critically evaluating the opinions of the experts.
The Non-exam Topic Based Essay requires students to research the different interpretations on the origins of the Cold War. They then research and construct their own essay. This element of the course mimics the type of task that undergraduates are often asked to complete.
Why Study History?
The type of skills that are developed as part of a history course are incredibly useful for the workplace. Students have to interpret information, communicate complex ideas, solve problems, learn to research and evaluate evidence. They also have to be able to argue a point based on solid information that has been carefully selected. History is seen by Russell Group universities as a facilitating subject, which is clear evidence of the value of a post-16 qualification in History.
Assessment
Paper 1: In search of the American Dream, the USA 1917-96
Paper 2: South Africa Rainbow Nation, 1948-94.
Paper 3: The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918
Coursework: 3,000-4,000 word essay on interpretations of the Cold War
Entry Requirements
5 GCSEs at grade 5 or above. Students must have achieved grade 5 in Maths and a 6 in English. A grade 6 or higher in History if studied at GCSE.