History
History concerns the events of the past and how the evidence we have in the present
should be properly used to shape these events in our minds.
Students taking history A-level will be expected, not just to learn about what happened in
the past, but to learn the skills that make a competent historian. This will include the ability
to analyze and judge the veracity of source material, the ability to write in a discursive
fashion on the moot issues of history, and an appreciation of the basics of historiography
and interpretation of facts.
History is in part creative and in part analytic. Students will be given the opportunity to
create for themselves a picture of life within the historical periods studied; to empathise
with the concerns of individuals featured, and offer their own explanation as to how and
why events unfolded in the way that they did. Students will also be expected to learn the
techniques of assessing the success of other historians to that same end. This will involve
developing a critical eye when reading the accounts of historians and learning how to use
other primary and secondary source material to analyze how correct we can judge an
historian’s account to be.
The course itself will explore a number of discreet and self-contained historical periods and
events focussing on the modern and early-modern ages. Although there will not be one
over-arching historical period studied, the methods of looking at history will be
complimentary within each module.
There will also be a strong emphasis in each of the historical periods studied on
discovering the modern day concerns within the past events. In this way it is hoped that
looking at a variety of historical periods will give the student a better appreciation of the
issues that are shared through out history, better equipping them to study all aspects of
history, and any historical period in the future.
AS specification number OCR H106
Unit 1: European and World History Period Studies (Unit specification F962 option A)
The question paper for this unit consists of three essay questions for each study topic. The
student is expected to write two equally weighted essays, either from the same study topic
or one each from two study topics.
The primary study topic for this paper will be the Italian Renaissance c.1400- c.1550. This
will be part cultural, part economic and part political history. This is an exciting historical
period resonating with relevance to our society today, from the Da Vinci Code to Mario
Puzzo’s the Godfather and perhaps even Mayor Boris Jonson’s pledge to turn London
from a financial hub to a cultural hub. In addition to the Italian Renaissance we will also,
time permitting, look at a secondary unit Charles V: International Relations and the Holy
Roman Empire 1519–59. Encompassing much of the same time period, by expanding our
investigation to another part of Europe students will double the possible questions they
can answer in the examination.
Unit 2: British History Enquiries (Unit specification F963)
This is a document studies unit in which students will be expected to analyse and assess a
number of sources relating to a particular historical period.
The periods of history that can be studied are limited, but within these limits the class are
welcome to chose the period that most interests them should a consensus be reached.
The three most likely candidates are:
(1) The English Civil War and Interregnum 1637–60
(2) The Age of Gladstone and Disraeli 1865–86
(3) Churchill 1920-45.
Of these shall be the default if no consensus is reached.
A2 Specification Number H 506
Unit 3: Historical Interpretation and Investigations (Unit specification F965)
This is a coursework unit, with two 2,000-word pieces- one focussing on Interpretations
and the other focussing on Investigations.
Students are welcome to select a topic of investigation from any of those outlined by the
OCR board, as this unit is very much intended to showcase the student’s capacity for
independent study. However, I will be available to offer guidance and advice within the
rules set out by the coursework guideline, and can steer students towards subject areas
where they are likely to find plentiful information and source material
Unit 4: Historical Themes (Unit specification F966)
This final unit, called the synoptic unit, seeks to bring together all of the skills learnt from
the study of history and apply them to an investigation of one particular historical period.
The question paper for this unit consists of three questions for each historical period of
which two must be answered, or one question from two different periods.
This unit aims to draw on the history that has already been studied by candidates at AS
level. As far as possible the course will aim to incorporate the history that has already been
studied when choosing which historical period to focus on in class. An historical
investigation that often encompasses more prior history knowledge than students might
realise is Russia and its Rulers 1855-1964. This will be the default option if no more
desirable alternative can be agreed upon in class.
Note to One Year Course Applicants.
For those seeking to retake both AS and continue/retake A2 in one year, consideration will
be made to the historical periods already studied and where possible the syllabus will be
adjusted to incorporate previous study. However, candidates should be aware that owing
to the specifications of differing exam boards and the needs of other students in class this
may not always be possible.