World War One

Here are the presentations I have been giving in class for your HSC unit in Modern History. We have been studying World War One.

In HSC subjects, the most important thing you can do is check the Syllabus. This is the document from the Board of Studies that describes what needs to be covered in each part of your course. You will only be examined on those dot-points contained in the Syllabus.

You can download the Stage 6 (that is, year 11 and year 12) syllabus for Modern History here. Here is what it says about the World War One unit of study:

Core Study: World War I 1914–1919: A Source-based Study
Percentage of course time: 25%
Principal focus: Students use different types of sources and acquired knowledge to
investigate key features, issues, individuals, groups and events in the study of World War I.
Students’ prior learning about World War I
At Stage 5, students will learn about Australia and World War I, including the reasons for Australia’s involvement; the places where Australians fought; the experiences of Australians at Gallipoli; how and why the Anzac legend was created; the conscription debate in Australia; experiences of one group in Australia during World War I and the ways that Australia has commemorated World War I over time.
Outcomes
Students:

1. H1.1  describe the role of key features, issues, individuals, groups and events of selected twentieth-century studies
2. H1.2  analyse and evaluate the role of key features, issues, individuals, groups and events of selected twentieth-century studies

2. H3.2  locate, select and organise relevant information from different types of sources
3. H3.3  analyse and evaluate sources for their usefulness and reliability
4. H3.4  explain and evaluate differing perspectives and interpretations of the past
5. H3.5  plan and present the findings of historical investigations, analysing and synthesising
   information from different types of sources
   

1. H4.1  use historical terms and concepts appropriately
2. H4.2  communicate a knowledge and understanding of historical features and issues, using
   appropriate and well-structured oral and written forms
   

Students learn to:

• ask relevant questions in relation to World War I
• locate, select and organise information from different types of primary and secondary
  sources, including ICT, about key features and issues related to World War I
  
• make deductions and draw conclusions about key features and issues of World War I
• evaluate the usefulness, reliability and perspectives of sources
• account for and assess differing historical interpretations of World War I
• use historical terms and concepts appropriately
• present the findings of investigations on aspects of World War I, analysing and
  synthesising information from different types of sources
  
• communicate an understanding of the features and issues of World War I using
  appropriate and well-structured oral and/or written and/or multimedia forms including ICT.
  

In investigating for the source-based study, students shall develop knowledge and skills to respond to different types of sources and relevant historiographical issues related to World War I.
Students learn about:

1. 1  War on the Western Front
   • –  the reasons for the stalemate on the Western Front
   • –  the nature of trench warfare and life in the trenches dealing with experiences of Allied
     and German soldiers
     
   • –  overview of strategies and tactics to break the stalemate including key battles: Verdun,
     the Somme, Passchendaele
     
   • –  changing attitudes of Allied and German soldiers to the war over time
2. 2  The home fronts in Britain and Germany
   • –  total war and its social and economic impact on civilians in Britain and Germany
   • –  recruitment, conscription, censorship and propaganda in Britain and Germany
   • –  the variety of attitudes to the war and how they changed over time in Britain and
     Germany
     
   • –  the impact of the war on women’s lives and experiences in Britain
3. 3  Turning points
   • –  impacts of the entry of the USA and of the Russian withdrawal
   • –  Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive and the Allied response
4. 4  Allied Victory
   • –  events leading to the Armistice, 1918
   • –  reasons for the Allied victory and German collapse
     
   •