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March 29, 2024, 11:07:26 am

Author Topic: Selecting a Humanities 1&2 Subject in Year 10 [Specifically Aus&GloPol]  (Read 2586 times)

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vans

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Hey all!

I'm relatively new to the ATARNotes forums, but after scrolling through posts for a while, I've noticed a variety of threads on math/science based subjects, and fewer on english/hums. For that reason, I've decided to dedicate my first post towards why you should consider choosing a humanities subject [history, sociology, legal studies, business management, Australian and global politics etc.] as your 1&2 in Year 10.

I'm also aware that subject selections (for most people) would have been completed by now, but this may be helpful for future Year 9 students browsing the forums, or for those who are just curious!

Note: by all means, if your strengths lie in the field of maths and science, don't be afraid to select those as your 1&2's!

Firstly, this post may be slightly biased towards Australian and Global Politics (since it is my selected 1&2 of choice this year), however, it can also be applied to other humanities subjects.

A little bit of background info:
During my Year 10 subject selections in 2017, I originally considered either Chemistry 1&2 or Mathematical Methods (1&2) as my 'VCE Access' subjects for the following year, but after talks with various teachers about my personal skill level and the content within those subjects, I settled for Australian and Global Politics, a subject I wouldn't have considered at the start of the year, nor had I heard of it prior.

As a current Year 10 student, and one out of three students from my cohort who were given the subject, I found that after talking to my peers, majority of the students in my class were only in the subject as other classes weren't running that year.

In a generation that has constantly been told that english, math and science are essential for setting yourself up well for the future, most of us tend to focus on those subjects and pay less attention to humanities (unless, of course, if you thoroughly enjoy hums!). In my personal experience, humanities from Year 7-9 had been quite dry, and had put off a lot of the kids in my cohort from choosing it as a VCE access, or even a subject for their senior years.

However, from completing Unit 1 and a term of Unit 2 in Aus&GloPol, I have a comprised a few advantages of doing a humanities 1&2 in Year 10.

1. The content is interesting.
- Contrary to popular belief, humanities subjects differ from the norms of history and geography, with the specialised classes opening a wide range of unique areas of study for those who seek it. These topics allow you to have a deeper understanding of the world you live in as an individual, and the issues that shape society either in the past, presently or in the future.

2. It helps you with english!
- Most humanities subjects will involve a good amount of essay writing, but don't let that put you off! Constant exposure to essay writing techniques and short answer questions will greatly improve your skills in analysing, explaining, evaluating and discussing prompts and questions, which you may find improves your overall skill in english. The terms acquired from hums subjects can also increase your vocabulary and make your writing sound more sophisticated! Hand in hand, these two core subjects work together just like math and science.

3. It will broaden your perspective on societal issues. [Specifically Aus&GloPol]
- Prior to choosing Aus&GloPol as my 1&2, I had a small interest in human rights and issues in the global arena (such as the authoritarian regime of North Korea), which had expanded due to topics covered within the subject. People often think of the term 'politics' as solely the government of a state (country), however, in this subject, issues such as Same-sex marriage, Terrorism, People Movement (asylum seekers + refugees) and regime instability are covered, with the politics side being how state governments interact with these issues in regards to their own national interest. It's a lot more mind-opening thank you may expect.

Disadvantages:
1. It can be a lot of work.
-You really have to commit yourself to a 1&2 hums subject, just like any other subject you choose to undertake. If constant note taking, essay writing and analysis is not your interest, I suggest possibly reconsidering choosing hums as a subject as it really is something you have to have perseverance in. However, this is dependant on the teacher teaching the subject, so I do recommend speaking to specific VCE teachers on the workload and student's experiences with the subject.

Now I know that a lot of the previous points may be quite a bit to take in, but I do encourage current and future Year 9's, current Year 10s [etc.] to consider selecting a humanities 1&2 (if you have space for it) as it can be a very rewarding experience.

Be sure to look at the study design for the subjects you are considering as that would be the best way to gain an insight into the content you will be learning in the next year or two.

I hope this post was helpful, and I also hope to see more people choosing a humanities 1&2 in the future.
[VIC] Year 10: Australian and Global Politics 1&2

Year 11: English, Global Politics [Units 3&4], Mathematical Methods [CAS], Chemistry, Japanese, Music Performance

Year 12: English, Mathematical Methods [CAS], Chemistry, Japanese, Music Performance

K888

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Re: Selecting a Humanities 1&2 Subject in Year 10 [Specifically Aus&GloPol]
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2018, 06:37:14 pm »
+1
Fantastic! Humanities subjects are highly underrated. I did a humanities subject as my accelerated year 12 subject and really enjoyed it.

Thanks for such an amazing contribution in your first post!! :D

Joseph41

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Re: Selecting a Humanities 1&2 Subject in Year 10 [Specifically Aus&GloPol]
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2018, 06:38:01 pm »
+1
Awesome work. :) Welcome to the forums - incredible first post!

Really hope to see you around more.

Oxford comma, Garamond, Avett Brothers, Orla Gartland enthusiast.

hums_student

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Re: Selecting a Humanities 1&2 Subject in Year 10 [Specifically Aus&GloPol]
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2018, 07:21:56 pm »
+3
Woohoo!! I LOVE this post! As a hums student, I completely agree with everything you've talked about here ;D I'd also like to add that hums subjects - especially politics and history - are as far as I know the only VCE subjects where you can literally argue debate your way through every single class.

Welcome to AN :) Hope to see you around, especially around the humanities boards!
2019-21: Bachelor of Arts (Politics & Int'l Relations / Economics)

vans

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Re: Selecting a Humanities 1&2 Subject in Year 10 [Specifically Aus&GloPol]
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2018, 07:54:15 pm »
+5
Thanks guys!

I'm looking forward to contributing in the humanities boards - hopefully, maybe more next year when I actually undertake 3&4 Global Politics.
[VIC] Year 10: Australian and Global Politics 1&2

Year 11: English, Global Politics [Units 3&4], Mathematical Methods [CAS], Chemistry, Japanese, Music Performance

Year 12: English, Mathematical Methods [CAS], Chemistry, Japanese, Music Performance

Joseph41

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Re: Selecting a Humanities 1&2 Subject in Year 10 [Specifically Aus&GloPol]
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2018, 04:53:20 pm »
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Thanks guys!

I'm looking forward to contributing in the humanities boards - hopefully, maybe more next year when I actually undertake 3&4 Global Politics.

That'd be awesome. You can learn heaps from explaining concepts, too - it's a win-win! ;D

Oxford comma, Garamond, Avett Brothers, Orla Gartland enthusiast.