History Extension focuses on the nature of history as a discipline and the various ways humanity has attempted to investigate and understand the past. The course requires students to engage with complex historiographical ideas, methodologies and sources to communicate arguments about the nature and construction of history.

What students learn

Through the study of History Extension, students:

develop an understanding of how context, methodology and purpose can shape the ways in which historians and other producers of history have constructed their accounts
examine the complexity of factors that shape historiographical perspectives
develop their own views, and challenge those of others, on a variety of historical and historiographical issues.

Course structure and requirements

Ancient History or Modern History Year 11 is a prerequisite for entry into History Extension.
Ancient History or Modern History Year 12 is a co-requisite for History Extension.

The course numbers and units for each year of study are set out below.

Course number:

History Extension (Year 12, 1 unit): TBA

Prerequisites:

Ancient History or Modern History (Year 11, 2 units): TBA

Co-requisites:

Ancient History or Modern History (Year 12, 2 units): TBA

Year 12 course structure and requirements

Year 12 focus areas

Indicative hours

Constructing history

Key questions
Case studies

40 (minimum)

History project

20 (maximum)

Constructing history – Key questions

Four key questions provide a framework for investigating the construction of history. Students engage with a range of relevant sources to investigate the following key questions:

What is history?
Who are the producers of history in different eras?
How has history been constructed, recorded and presented in different eras?
Why have approaches to history changed in different eras?

The historiographical skills are to be integrated with the key questions.

Constructing history – Case studies

The case study allows for the examination of historiography in a specific historical context. Students explore ONE case study with reference to the producers of history, and their perspectives and approaches, which have led to change in the THREE areas of historiographical interpretation. Students apply their understanding of the following questions to the selected case study:

Who are the producers of history in different eras?
How has history been constructed, recorded and presented in different eras?
Why have approaches to history changed in different eras?

The historiographical skills are to be integrated with the case study.

History project

Students will undertake an individual investigation into an area of historical and/or historiographical interpretation. The historiographical skills are to be integrated with the History project.

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

11–12History Extension 11–12 Syllabus

Assessment