The five students of Year 12 History Extension were excited and somewhat relieved to recently submit their Major Projects.
History Extension is a subject chosen by the best and brightest of our Modern and Ancient History students. These projects are the results of six months of research, planning, analysis, writing and editing, and each student was able to choose their own historical topic of interest, with a focus on how interpretations of that historical figure, event or myth has developed over time. As part of the project, they developed a proposal and focus question, maintained a detailed process log, created an annotated bibliography of their key sources, and ultimately produced a 2500-word essay that demonstrated their understanding of historiographical issues. The task required sustained independence, critical thinking, and a deep engagement with both historical debates and the work of historians.
This year, three of the students chose Medieval topics for their Major projects, which is a great idea as Medieval History is not usually a subject offered in Stage 6. Hannah focused on the myth of the ‘Dark Ages’ and how and why this has been perpetuated, Meredith delved into changing depictions of the Spanish Inquisition, including recent findings, and Jasmine compared the varying portrayals of English statesman and martyr, Thomas More. The other two students focused on more modern conflicts; Samuel looked at how the ideology and religion of different historians have influenced their writings on the Lebanese Civil War, while Aaron compared the depiction of German Prisoner of War camps in three different 20th century films, including The Great Escape.
Each student should be commended for their efforts and achievements. For those interested, you’ll be able to learn more about the History Extension Major Projects at Illuminate, our Major Work showcase later this year.
Mr Samuel Mills
Senior School History Teacher