Pls send help to a newbie

[CaitlinSavins]

I'm starting History Extension in two weeks after dropping English Extension like a hot potato and I'll be frank - I'm in a mix of anticipatory and anxious moods. I think I'll be a-okay with the whole "What is History?" thing... I get abstract topics
My question is: can someone offer some advice and tips and tricks for History Extension? I can't find any notes or anything on it :/

[sudodds]

I'm starting History Extension in two weeks after dropping English Extension like a hot potato and I'll be frank - I'm in a mix of anticipatory and anxious moods. I think I'll be a-okay with the whole "What is History?" thing... I get abstract topics
My question is: can someone offer some advice and tips and tricks for History Extension? I can't find any notes or anything on it :/

Hello hello!
Here are my tips for history extension.
1. Consistently work on your major work - DON'T HOLD IT OFF because its a lot bigger than you expect. The major work is a blessing and a curse, because if you are willing to put in the hard effort to do well, you can pretty much guarantee a good internal mark based just on that because its worth 80% of your internal, but if you slack off in that area you're not gonna be in for a fun time,
2. Think about your major work topic early, and aim to solidify it early. I can almost guarantee that you will change your topic multiple times. Everyone I know did. But try and have a good idea of what you want to do as early on as possible, so that these changes don't come to late.
3. READ! A lot of people don't realise how important this is in extension, but if you don't know the main arguments and points of i'd say AT LEAST four historians for both part a and b, then you're running a bit of a risk in the exam when you are gonna be asked to reference two other relevant sources! If you look on BOSTES i think there is a reading booklet or something that is really good. It's over 100 pages with extracts from a bunch of different historians all from different background. Also, if you want a quick - but so worth it in regards to this subject - read, have a look at 'What is History' by E.H. Carr. Most markers swear by it.
4. Practice papers! Really one of the only ways to study, however don't even attempt to memorise extension essays. The question is always going to be different, and even if its not if you are not consistently referencing the source given then the markers are gonna get pissy.

Congratulations for starting history extension! I'm sure you're going to love it because it is a fantastic course Good luck! If you have any more questions ask away!!

[student16]

I'm starting History Extension in two weeks after dropping English Extension like a hot potato and I'll be frank - I'm in a mix of anticipatory and anxious moods. I think I'll be a-okay with the whole "What is History?" thing... I get abstract topics
My question is: can someone offer some advice and tips and tricks for History Extension? I can't find any notes or anything on it :/

All I can say is pick a topic for your major project that you really enjoy or have interest in. I had quite a few friends that dropped out because they hated their topic there for hated working on their major project. I chose a topic that I really found interesting, so working on my project wasn't always 'work', but rather for my own personal intrigue as well!

[mzaria]

Hello hello!
Here are my tips for history extension.
1. Consistently work on your major work - DON'T HOLD IT OFF because its a lot bigger than you expect. The major work is a blessing and a curse, because if you are willing to put in the hard effort to do well, you can pretty much guarantee a good internal mark based just on that because its worth 80% of your internal, but if you slack off in that area you're not gonna be in for a fun time,
2. Think about your major work topic early, and aim to solidify it early. I can almost guarantee that you will change your topic multiple times. Everyone I know did. But try and have a good idea of what you want to do as early on as possible, so that these changes don't come to late.
3. READ! A lot of people don't realise how important this is in extension, but if you don't know the main arguments and points of i'd say AT LEAST four historians for both part a and b, then you're running a bit of a risk in the exam when you are gonna be asked to reference two other relevant sources! If you look on BOSTES i think there is a reading booklet or something that is really good. It's over 100 pages with extracts from a bunch of different historians all from different background. Also, if you want a quick - but so worth it in regards to this subject - read, have a look at 'What is History' by E.H. Carr. Most markers swear by it.
4. Practice papers! Really one of the only ways to study, however don't even attempt to memorise extension essays. The question is always going to be different, and even if its not if you are not consistently referencing the source given then the markers are gonna get pissy.

Congratulations for starting history extension! I'm sure you're going to love it because it is a fantastic course Good luck! If you have any more questions ask away!!

My advice is to listen to this guy! MOSTLY ADVICE NO. 1!!!! I can't express how much I regret starting my major on the night before it was due. I had an advanced listening task the next day i needed to study for and a massive ancient history assignment on Hatshepsut. As someone who studied the modern, ancient, legal and extension course, I found it very difficult and really hated the course during 'What is History' (and also I broke up with my boyfriend and it was really awkward sitting next to him the entire time). But then we hit our case study, appeasement, and BAM i loved it!

PS: i managed to smash out my major in 6-ish hours (12/1AM-6AM), and get a 23/25 for my essay (which let me say, I don't think I deserved)

All the best!

[elysepopplewell]

Thanks to everyone who has contributed their thoughts and feels - you are the wonderful people who make ATAR Notes magic! 

[CaitlinSavins]

Thank you to everyone I start next Wednesday!
I've started reading What Is History by Carr, however I'm struggling to find notes and exemplar essays... this would be of so much help because it'll help me mould my writing into what the markers are looking for.

Any ideas of where I can find notes too?

[sudodds]

Thank you to everyone I start next Wednesday!
I've started reading What Is History by Carr, however I'm struggling to find notes and exemplar essays... this would be of so much help because it'll help me mould my writing into what the markers are looking for.

Any ideas of where I can find notes too?

Okay so these aren't exemplar essays, however my teacher marked them and I got an E4 for each if this helps However be careful about moulding your writing to this, as a big part of extension is developing your own style. My teacher who used to be a marker for extension said that he never saw one essay that looked the same while marking the HSC and thats a good thing You want to stand out in this course, however I get why you want to have a look at some responses as an extension essay is a lot different to other subjects, so hopefully these essays are of use The Section II essay is on Western Imperialism btw as that was my case study

Notes will be a bit trickier to find because its such a subjective course :/

[elysepopplewell]

Okay so these aren't exemplar essays

Hey Sudodds! Can you upload these in the "notes" tab? It would be super valuable for future students to come across! 

[sudodds]

Hey Sudodds! Can you upload these in the "notes" tab? It would be super valuable for future students to come across! 

Sure thing Just finished all my exams today, so I'll upload some of my other notes as well since I have time now

[shamus.clarke]

Hello world,

here is another newbie in need of help. I have submitted my proposal, which examines the validity of the Iroquois Influence Thesis. I am having trouble trying to make a dent or where to begin. Any advice would be supremely helpful!

[sudodds]

Hello world,

here is another newbie in need of help. I have submitted my proposal, which examines the validity of the Iroquois Influence Thesis. I am having trouble trying to make a dent or where to begin. Any advice would be supremely helpful!

Hey Shamus! Two major works (I saw your post on the drama thread) what a doozy, but defs managable with a bit of hard work (I mean if I could do it so can you!) 

Do you mean you're having trouble making a dent in the Major Work? In that case what I think would be a good place to start is to organise your  structure by writing a scaffold. What is going to be the focus of each of your paragraphs? In my opinion concept driven essays are the most sophisticated, to I recommend taking a look at your topic, and breaking it down into historiographical concepts (eg. postmodernism, linguistics, empericism etc.). If you struggle with that, the other way to do it is to do a paragraph on each syllabus dot point

Other things to do: READING! Read as much as you can upon your topic and the works of your featured historians/schools. Many people forget that their essay is a work of historiography and not history - The knowledge and understanding of what your historians are saying and why they say it is going to be the backbone to your response moreso than the actual events themselves (I'm not familiar with you topic so this may not be as relevant if it is not events focused, but just something to keep in mind).

Hope this helps!

Susie

[shamus.clarke]

Hi sudodds,

I actually have 3 major works (including PIP for SAC)! I've had a discussion with my mentor, and thought about your idea of focusing on historiographical concepts, and have organised a potential question for my Major Work, which is "To what extent has anglocentric historical revisionism minimised the role of the Iroquois Confederacy in the American Revolution?" DO you think this focuses enough on historiography? I have also found a great list of books that relate to the Iroquois and the American Revolution as well!

[sudodds]

Hi sudodds,

I actually have 3 major works (including PIP for SAC)! I've had a discussion with my mentor, and thought about your idea of focusing on historiographical concepts, and have organised a potential question for my Major Work, which is "To what extent has anglocentric historical revisionism minimised the role of the Iroquois Confederacy in the American Revolution?" DO you think this focuses enough on historiography? I have also found a great list of books that relate to the Iroquois and the American Revolution as well!

Wow! 3 major works is hard, but definitely do-able with some diligence and effort I think that sounds like a fantastic question! Having that focus on anglocentric historical revisionism will definitely make sure that you're integrating enough historiography, as that is now required to answer the question effectively That's great about finding all those books as well!

Great work Shamus, I'm sure you're going to smash your major work! If you need anything else just let me know

Susie