History

HISTORY 

Higher Level and Standard Level 

Nature of Subject 

History is a dynamic, contested, evidence-based discipline that involves an exciting engagement with the past. It is a rigorous intellectual discipline, focused around key historical concepts such as change, causation and significance. History is an exploratory subject that fosters a sense of inquiry. It is also an interpretive discipline, allowing opportunity for engagement with multiple perspectives and opinions.  

Studying history develops an understanding of the past, which leads to a deeper understanding of the nature of humans and of the world today. This is a world history course based on a comparative and multiperspective approach to history. It involves the study of a variety of types of history, including political, economic, social and cultural, and provides a balance of structure and flexibility. Students are encouraged to think historically and to develop historical skills as well as gain factual knowledge. The course puts a premium on developing the skills of critical thinking, and on developing an understanding of multiple interpretations of history. In this way, the course involves a challenging and demanding critical exploration of the past. 

Throughout the DP history course, students have the opportunity to explore historical events that have played a key role in shaping the world today, deepening their understanding of the complex and interconnected nature of past and present events. 

The course discusses political, social, economic, religious, technological and cultural individuals and societies in the widest context. The students investigate a variety of sources and they have to observe the sources' accuracy and analyse them critically. The students reflect on the role of a historian and the historical accounts by historians, who are affected by their own time and place. Does a historian record history, or create it? Can a historian be free of bias in the selection and the interpretation of material? One aim is to become familiar with the widest variety of interpretations possible. 

A natural aim of the history course is also a person that has an interest in history during all his/her life and who will use the skills learned at school as an active member of society. 

DP history comprises an in-depth study of an individual prescribed subject and a selection of two world history topics. In Ressun lukio the prescribed world history subject studied will be The move to global war. The two world history topics will be Authoritarian states (20th century) and Causes and effects of 20th-century wars. The approximate hours are 40 for the prescribed subject, 90 for the topics. Students must study one prescribed subject for the external assessment Paper 1 and two topics for Paper 2. Some other events may also be studied in order to get background information to establish the historical context. 

At the higher level, option 4: History of Europe will be studied. Students must study three sections from this option (c. 90 hours) There is a separate exam -Paper 3 -for the HL students. Both the prescribed subject and the world history topics are 20th century history so only HL students will also study 19th-century history. 

The internal assessment for both levels (approximately 20 hours): 

A historical investigation on any area – at least 10 years old – of history, which enables the students to apply the skills of a historian. Students choose the topic themselves with the teacher’s guidance and approval. 

Assessment 

Having followed the history course the students are expected e.g. to be critical, to be able to collect, describe and analyse data, to understand history as discipline, to understand the present through critical reflection upon the past, to understand the impact of historical developments at national, regional and international levels and to understand one’s own historical identity through the study of historical experiences of different cultures. 

Higher Level: Assessment components 

external assessment contributes 80% 

Paper 1 (1 hour) 

20%  

the prescribed subject: 4 structured questions (document-based) focusing on one of the case studies of the two specified for each prescribed subject 

Paper 2 (1.5 hours )

25% 

the world history topics: 2 essay questions, each selected from a different topic 

Paper 3 (2.5 hours) 

35% 

the options: 3 essay questions 

internal assessment: historical investigation contributes 20% 

 an in-depth study of on a historical subject consisting of three sections:  

1. Identification and evaluation of sources, 

    2. Investigation, 

    3. Reflection.  

The maximum word limit is 2 200 words. 

Standard Level: Assessment components 

external assessment contributes 75% 

Paper 1 (1 hour) 

30% 

the prescribed subject: 4 structured questions (document-based) focusing on one of the case studies of the two specified for each prescribed subject 

Paper 2 (1.5 hours) 

45% 

the world history topics: 2 essay questions, each selected from a different topic 

internal assessment: historical investigation contributes 25% 

 an in-depth study of on a historical subject consisting of three sections:  

1. Identification and evaluation of sources, 

    2. Investigation, 

    3. Reflection.  

The maximum word limit is 2 200 words 

History and TOK 

History is one of the eight areas of knowledge that are at the centre of the TOK course. It is an interesting area of knowledge because it raises questions such as how far we can speak with certainty about anything in the past, and whether historians’ accounts are necessarily subjective. All of the elements of the history course provide excellent scope for making links to TOK. However, the most explicit link to TOK comes in the internal assessment task. Some examples of discussion questions are: 

• What is the role of the historian? Do we learn from history? 

• What methods do historians use to gain knowledge? 

• Is it possible to describe historical events in an unbiased way? 

• What is the difference between bias and selection? 

• Who decides which events are historically significant? 

• To what extent does studying history help us to better understand ourselves in the present? 

• What is the role of individuals in history? 

• How does the context within which historians live affect historical knowledge?