2012
HY3
HISTORY
ISSUES FROM THE 2012 EXAMS
HY3
In this unit we have some general concerns and need to
give guidance on a couple of issues.
Internet Usage
We see nothing wrong to using the internet to research and gather
material, including sources.
However we see too many “copy and paste” extracts from a
minority of candidates on the events – which are not that worthy and too many copy and paste extracts on the historiography
issues. We are aware that some sites are heavily used but it is
not enough to copy and paste. That is not adequate for this
exercise and there is nothing to be gained by copying and pasting
these details THOUGH there is much to be gained by gathering
the material and putting it to good use in the essay.
ISSUES FROM THE 2012 EXAMS
There has to be more
to the history
coursework exercise
than downloading
from Wikipedia or
other sites.
ISSUES FROM THE 2012 EXAMS
INTEGRATING SOURCE EVALUATION and
INTERPRETATION / HISTORIOGRAPHY
To achieve Level 4 the candidate
should consider the value of the
SELECTED source to the validity of
the interpretation and to the school of
history or historian they are
discussing.
ISSUES FROM THE 2012 EXAMS
INTEGRATING SOURCE EVALUATION and INTERPRETATION
/ HISTORIOGRAPHY
The integration of source evaluation, interpretation and
historiography is the best way to tackle HY3 and many
able candidates were able to do so to gain Level 4
marks. The emphasis in the essay should be on using
the sources to discuss both the interpretation and
historiography related to the set question. There
needs to be greater awareness of the development of
the historiography and how much value certain
historians / schools of history would place on SOME of
the particular sources selected for the essay.
ISSUES FROM THE 2012 EXAMS
WORD LIMIT
Although the vast majority of candidates and centres
kept to the word limit there were instances where this
was not the case and a penalty was applied. We
have said that 4000 words is the limit and will
continue to apply the penalty where it is breached.
Centres should ensure that candidates who breach
the word limit (4000 of their own words) are
penalised:
1 – 500 words should be deducted 2 marks.
501 – 750 words should be deducted 4 marks.
more than 750 words should be deducted 8 marks.
ISSUES FROM THE 2012 EXAMS
An example of the
type of essay at
HY3 that deserves
high marks at Level
4 can be found on
the WJEC website.
The web based
support does also
offer examples of
scripts at HY1 to
HY4 in the Teacher
Guidance Notes
section.
GUIDANCE ON HY3 FOR 2014
An amended submission is required for
HY3 for use in 2014 (the cohort starting
in 2012) which must be based on the
proposal form available on the WJEC
website. This will include a new style
mark scheme.
The deadline for submission for
approval is the 30th of November 2013 –
just over a year from now.
GUIDANCE ON HY3 FOR 2014
A new question is required which is
CLEARLY based on an interpretation by a
historian and capable of being challenged
by at least one other historian with a
differing or contrasting view on the
interpretation.
The new question will work best where
there is a clear development in the
historiography debate – e.g. structuralist /
intentionalist or Marxist / Revisionist.
GUIDANCE ON HY3 FOR 2014
Each question will need a document
pack.
You can re-use the approved pack if
it meets the criteria below and is
very closely related to the new
question.
SUMMARY OF THE DOCUMENT PACK CRITERIA FOR 2014
Each pack should contain a minimum of eight
sources and a maximum of ten sources
Each pack should contain a variety of different types
of sources.
Make sure that the sources used in the pack have a
detailed attribution to aid source evaluation.
Each pack should contain at least two sources
debating the specific interpretation to be studied.
Usually these would be two historians with differing or
contrasting views on the interpretation.
SUMMARY OF THE DOCUMENT PACK CRITERIA FOR 2014
Do not use MAPS as sources. They can be
used for class work instead.
Do not use more than one video as a source
in the document pack. These can be used in
class instead.
Do not use more than one page of A4 for any
source
Do not use more than one source from a
particular book / author. A variety is required.