Expectations of Independent Study In WG6 History, it is essential for you to complete independent study to perform at your highest ability. Without independent study, the knowledge recall, metacognition and overall understanding of both topics and skills can suffer. However, this is not just making more or reading notes. Examples of task that could completed for independent study include: • Watching documentaries from YouTube to further your knowledge. • Wider Reading of the main texts and other books recommended by teachers. • Research projects into key events & individuals. • Creating revision guides, quizzes, podcasts or videos for use in the run up to examinations. • Re-drafting previous assessments or essays. • Reflecting on feedback that you have received from teachers and amending this work. Why is it interesting? History is the story of how the world came to be! We feel we have chosen subjects that are engaging and interesting, some of which you may have covered previously, whilst also studying other topics which you are unfamiliar with. The History department make an effort to teach in a thought-provoking and motivating way, whilst still ensuring we create the vigour that will ensure that you get strong results. The topics we study are; England 1485–1603: The Tudors; which allows students to study in breadth issues of change, continuity, cause and consequence in this period. Such questions as how did the Tudors restore and develop the power of the monarchy, was the country adequately governed in the period, how far did English society and the economy change in the period, and what impacts did religious change are all dealt with in the course. Unit 2 is the Cold War 1945-1991 (WGSB site) and Democracy and Nazism: Germany, 1918– 1945 (WGSG site); the Cold war looks at the origins of the Cold War conflict, examining how far Stalin’s foreign policy led to the breakdown of the wartime alliance, the impact of the Nuclear at Arms race on international relations, key conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam wars and the roles of Gorbachev, Reagan and Eastern European national movements in ending the Cold War and the collapse of the Berlin Wall. In the German option we study in depth a period of German history during which a newly developed democratic form of government gave way to a dictatorial Nazi regime. It explores political concepts such as ‘right’ and ‘left’, nationalism and liberalism as well as ideological concepts such as racialism, anti-Semitism and social Darwinism. The NEA unit involves an assignment, designed, researched and written by the student and focusing on a specific issue, event, debate or character in history. This unit involves the research and production of a 3500-4500 word written assignment focused around the ‘Changing role of Women in Britain between the years 1850-1950’. What skills and knowledge will I develop by studying this subject? Although you may be learning History, it is the skills that are really essential that can be transferred to all walks of life – explaining, evaluating arguments, researching, communicating in a variety of ways, critical thinking, using evidence,and treating sources of information judgementally. This course would be suitable for students who have the following skills and interests: • Historical skills, such as the ability to interpret sources, formulate arguments, and come to judgements. • Maturity to be able to cope with deadlines and independent reading. • A passion for the subject. If you love a subject, you’ll do well at it! • An inquisitive mind, one that wants to question opinions and accepted theories What career pathways are open to me if I study this subject? You can do further study, at college or University in pretty much every subject you want - history, geography, RS, science, media, maths, politics, law, business, economist, rural studies and more. Nearly every job is open to you, from retail to management, from judge to lawyer, from journalism to presenting, from banking to accountancy, from ICT to economist, from politician to diplomacy, from secretary to librarian, from army to navy, from police to the civil service, from teaching to lecturing, from sales to advertising, from counsellor to social worker, from youth work to care services... The list is, quite simply, endless!