Modern History
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Studying the Modern History ATAR course enables students to become critical thinkers and helps inform their judgements and actions in a rapidly changing world.
Students are exposed to a variety of historical sources, including government papers, extracts from newspapers, letters, diaries, photographs, cartoons, paintings, graphs and secondary sources, in order to determine the cause and effect, and the motives and forces influencing people and events. Through the process of historical inquiry, students are encouraged to: question and evaluate historical sources; identify various representations and versions of history; use evidence to formulate and support their own interpretations; and, communicate their findings in a variety of ways. |
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Modern History ATAR WACE Breadth & Depth Requirement:
List A
Prerequisite
65% in HASS Standard.
The Year 11 History ATAR course is made up of the following two units:
Unit 1
Understanding the Modern World
This unit examines developments of significance in the modern era, including the ideas that inspired them and their far-reaching consequences. Students examine one development or turning point that has helped to define the modern world. Students explore crucial changes, for example, the application of reason to human affairs; the transformation of production, capitalism and consumption, transport and communications; the challenge to social hierarchy and hereditary privilege, and the assertion of inalienable rights; and the new principles of government by consent.
Through their studies, students explore the nature of the sources for the study of modern history and build their skills in historical method through inquiry. The key conceptual understandings covered in this unit are: what makes an historical development significant; the changing nature and usefulness of sources; the changing representations and interpretations of the past; and the historical legacy of these developments for the Western world and beyond.
Unit 2
Movements for Change in the 20th Century
This unit examines significant movements for change in the 20th century that led to change in society, including people’s attitudes and circumstances. These movements draw on the major ideas described in Unit 1, have been connected with democratic political systems, and have been subject to political debate. Through a detailed examination of one major 20th century movement, students investigate the ways in which individuals, groups and institutions have challenged existing political structures, accepted social organisation, and prevailing economic models, to transform societies.
The key conceptual understandings covered in this unit are: the factors leading to the development of movements; the methods adopted to achieve effective change; the changing nature of these movements; and changing perspectives of the value of these movements and how their significance is interpreted.
