Description of the course:

History provides learners with insights into their own lives and of the society and the wider world in which they live. By examining the past, learners can better understand their own communities, their country and the wider world.

The learner will acquire breadth and depth in their knowledge and understanding of the past through the study of Scottish, British, European and world contexts in a variety of time periods.

The main aims of the Course are to develop:

• a conceptual understanding of the past
• a range of skills including the ability to apply a straightforward historical perspective and comment on historical sources in a range of contexts
• a knowledge and understanding of the factors contributing to, and the impact of, historical events
• the skills of investigating historical events and forming views
• the skills of explaining historical events, and drawing straightforward conclusions.

The course is delivered in three units as follows:

• Historical Study: Scottish

In this Unit, learners will develop techniques to comment on historical sources. Events and themes of Scottish history will be studied from later Modern period through the topic Migration and Empire.

• Historical Study: British

In this Unit, learners will develop techniques to comment on the impact of a historical development. Events and themes of British history will be studied through the topic The Slave Trade.

• Historical Study: European and World

In this Unit, learners will develop techniques to comment on the factors contributing towards a historical development. Events and themes of European and world history will be studied through the topic Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Assessment:

There are 3 internal assessments for both National 4 and 5. Both courses require the completion of a project (AVU). The National 5 course also requires pupils to take a prelim and a final SQA exam in May/June.