BSB GCSE History
Exam Board: EDEXCEL
Why study History?
The British School of Boston GCSE History course is about the main dramatic events of the Twentieth Century and is designed to allow you to have a better understanding of the modern world.
In an increasingly smaller world it is vital to have a grasp of the ideas and events that have shaped the views of Britain and the USA, as well as their neighbours and allies. Think of the major issues facing the world: - peace, international conflicts and peacekeeping, national hatreds, fascism, human rights and the struggle for democracy. They are on your TV screens and in newspapers everyday. History will help you understand these more fully.
Historians make themselves skilled in presentation and argument and are able to see things beyond the simplified terms of black and white. It is these skills that the outline studies will address. You will also gain invaluable experience of trying to reach valid judgements on the basis of incomplete or conflicting evidence. It is these skills that the depth studies will focus on.
Paper 1: Outline Studies
Superpower Relations 1945-90
This unit will focus on the development of the Cold War and the collapse of Communism. You will put yourself in the position of President Kennedy, during the Cuban Missile Crisis and a worker in Eastern Europe under Communist rule.
The USA 1941-80
This unit will focus on the struggle for civil rights, political scandals and some of the heroes and villains of the USA.
Paper 2: Depth Studies
Nazi Germany 1930-1939
We will study the rise of the Nazis and Hitler’s consolidation of power. We will examine life in Nazi Germany, the Berlin Olympics of 1936 and the use of propaganda.
Conflict in Vietnam 1963-75
We examine the background to conflict in Vietnam and the reasons for American involvement in Vietnam. We will consider the nature of the war in Vietnam and the impact of the war on the people of the United States and Vietnam.
Assessment:
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Paper 1 (40%) This is a short answer/essay paper. You will answer questions from your own knowledge on USA 1941-80 and Superpower Relations 1945-90.
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Paper 2 (35%) This is a source based exam. You will answer questions based on a series of photographs, cartoons, newspapers and speeches.
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Coursework (25%) This deals with British history. Two coursework assignments of 1500 words are completed, one requiring responses to historical documents, the other testing historical knowledge.