History

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Students will be able to:

• acquire knowledge and understanding of contrasting periods of History;

• develop an understanding of the complexities of historical causation and significance;

• strengthen their ability to use critically a range of sources to evaluate historical problems;

• assess different interpretations of the past and develop their own views;

• express their ideas through discussion and writing;

• develop an interest in and enthusiasm for History.

A TWO YEAR A LEVEL COURSE, EXAMINED AT THE END OF YEAR 13.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW OR BE ABLE TO DO BEFORE TAKING HISTORY IN THE SIXTH FORM?

It is expected that students taking History in the Sixth Form will have a grade 6 or better in History and / or English at GCSE. History is the study of the human experience throughout the ages. It is a subject which requires students to analyse problems, construct arguments and come to supported judgements. You should feel confident in your ability to communicate your ideas effectively on paper and have a willingness to read about the past in order to develop your understanding.

WHAT KIND OF STUDENT IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR?

• students who enjoy reading and writing about the past

• students who want to develop their own ideas about the past and to test their thinking in discussion

• students who want to learn how to produce successful essays

• students who want the opportunity to investigate an historical problem of their own choosing

• students who want to learn how to evaluate information and reach informed conclusions

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Students taking A Level History will also have a number of opportunities to engage with historical topics beyond the classroom. One such opportunity is a biennial trip in conjunction with the Politics department to the United States. On the trip students in Year 12 and Year 13 will visit the historic cities of Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia – the nation’s current and original capital cities – as part of their study of the American Revolution. In Philadelphia students will visit significant sites such as Independence Hall, in which both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted, while in Washington the highlights of the trip include visits to the U.S. Capitol Building and George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon.

In addition to this, students can expect to attend talks from visiting historians at school, at various venues in Bath, and at the excellent Chalke Valley History Festival which takes place locally each year in June.

WHAT EXAMINATIONS WILL I HAVE TO TAKE TO GAIN MY QUALIFICATION?

A Level: The A Level consists of 4 units:

UNIT GROUP 1: British period study and enquiry (1 hour 30 minutes) 25% of A Level

Fifteenth Century English history: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 1445-1509. Candidates answer one source-based question and one essay question from a choice of two.

UNIT GROUP 2: Non-British period study (1 hour) 15% of A Level

Eighteenth Century history of North America and its relationship with Britain: The American Revolution, 1740-1796. Candidates answer one mini-essay question and a further essay question from a choice of two.

UNIT GROUP 3: Thematic Study and Historical Interpretations (2 hours 30 minutes) 40% of A Level

Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Russian history: Russia and its Rulers, 1855-1964. Candidates answer a question based on historical interpretations followed by two thematic essay questions from a choice of three.

UNIT GROUP 4: Personal Study (coursework) 20% of A Level

A personal and independent study on any topic of the candidate’s choice. The only restriction is that it cannot overlap with the content for the examined units. Candidates write a 3000-4000 word essay. Recent examples of topics studied for this unit include the following: the reasons for the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War; the dropping of the atomic bombs in 1945; Castro and the Cuban Revolution; Bismarck; Napoleon; Henry V.

WHAT COULD I GO ON TO DO AT THE END OF MY COURSE?

History is a popular and well-respected qualification which provides a good basis for entry to a wide range of university courses and careers. Students with an A Level in History can be found in all walks of life and, in particular, it provides a first rate foundation for those seeking a career in law, journalism, the civil service and business.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON SPECIFICATIONS

OCR provides specimen examination papers which we recommend you investigate.

Go to http://www.ocr.org.uk