For students studying Modern History, essay writing remains a key component of the HSC examination.
Its no surprise then that essay writing remains the key concern for students studying the Modern History course given the complex nature of questions asked in the HSC.
With HSC examinations starting in October, Boldtutor presents some advice below that hopefully will help students master essay writing and other areas of concern for those studying Modern History.
Personalities
When tackling the personalities section of the Modern History paper, it helps to already have a preconceived answer in your mind given that the first section of this response nearly always asks you to outline the life of the personality you are studying.
For example, when I studied Modern History, I wrote a detailed outline of Alexandra Kollontai’s life and remembered my response word for word by rewriting the response one sentence at a time without looking at my notes.
Such a strategy is arduous to say the least, but it paid off for me in the end, given that it allowed me to write a detailed answer in the HSC in quick time.
It also helped to know that the Modern History HSC paper would invariably ask students to write an outline of the life of the personality being studied.
Source analysis and World War 1
Usefulness and reliability are the key factors to consider when analysing sources. Remember that all sources (secondary and primary) are all useful and reliable…to a certain extent. Your job is to evaluate to what extent these sources are useful and reliable to a historian studying a specific historical topic, event or period.
When judging a source’s usefulness and reliability, you have to evaluate what perspectives the source presents and/or advocates. If the source only presents one perspective (from the lone viewpoint of a British soldier for example), then you should already realise that the source is useful to a historian studying a British soldier’s perspective of WW1 and maybe soldiers in general.
However, if the historian was keen on studying the perspectives of other allied or axis soldiers, than more research is required given that reliance on one source will not convey a complete idea of what all soldiers experienced during WW1.
If a source is propaganda, then automatically you should know that the source has its limitations, given that it is deliberately advocating a single point of view in relation to the war. Propaganda however is still useful and reliable to historians studying perspectives that shaped public opinion on the reasons why nations fought during WW1.
National Studies
Regardless of what topic you are covering in Modern History, the key to mastering the essay-writing component of the HSC examination is comprehension.
From now until the HSC examination, Modern History students have to make sure they understand and comprehend the key issues, dates, personalities and events that shaped the nation that you are studying.
For example, when studying Germany 1918-1939, students need a working knowledge of the Nazi Party and its racial policies, coupled with an understanding of how the Nazi Party dealt with the economic (Great Depression etc), political (transition from democratic to dictatorial government) and social issues during the period above.
It may also help students to understand the causes that led to the downfall of the Weimar Republic and how such economic instability led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party.
If students can grasp the preceding points above, it will go a long way to preparing efficiently for the Modern History HSC examination essay section.
International studies of Peace and Conflict
When mastering this section of the Modern History HSC examination, students need to grasp the key events, issues, dates and personalities of the period/conflict being studied.
For example, for Modern History students studying the Cold War 1945-1991, it helps to understand key policies such as détente and its objectives. You also need a working knowledge of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Berlin Wall, Czechoslovakia, Truman doctrine, and key figures such as Fidel Castro, John F Kennedy and Gorbachev in order to be well prepared for whatever question the HSC throws at you.
Of course, if students wish to gain further resources and insight required to master the Modern History HSC examination, simply contact us, leave a comment below or request a quote for a tuition lesson.
