Humanities: VCE History Revolutions

Brief notes from the Chief Examiner of 2016 on how to answer QC in a Source response on Russia and indeed same on France next semester

Q C:

Analysis or evaluation is central to discussion-  students need to weigh up the views

expressed in the source, they must try and give some competing evidence and views,

either causes or consequences of rev. Views= perspectives and interpretations of the event

or person

Structure of answer- begin with source, or a brief summative reference to the sources eg.

Both sources agree that or whereas sources 1 and 2 suggested that source 3 focused on…

Then use this analytical statement to introduce the interpretations of other historians as

well as additional primary evidence, use the linking words i.e. however, despite, in addition

etc

 Quotes should be integrated into sentences

 Don’t just put in a name of someone unless you are going to discuss them

 Weaknesses- wrong attribution of views to wrong historian, not referring to source,

demonstrating strengths/weaknesses (not relevant to current questions)

 Weakness- including events outside AOS- these will be disregarded by examiners

 Focus on challenge or conditions that lead to legislation or events depicted/sourced

Do not ignore the contention of the question, present other views by using terms such as “however,

whilst (the contention) was certainly critical in sparking uprisings…. As (historian) notes…

(historian) asserts that

Start with the source- a summative statement- Faced with a deadly “national famine” (source 2), the

(event) described by (historian) only intensified the economic challenges that were faced by new

regime…

analysis or evaluation of interpretation

weighing against competing evidence and views may include historians or contemporary perceptions

I would like to acknowledge the true author of this box: Sharon Hayes of Marian College Library in Sunshine Victoria.  All research and words are hers, I have simply copied and pasted her work.  Angus Pearson, Librarian, Kilbreda College.

• Russian Revolution Historiography
  Explore the ideas and interpretations of The Russian Revolution. Was the Revolution part of an inevitable process? Were the February and October revolutions truly popular revolutions? What factors were most crucial in bringing about revolutions in Russia - Social, economic, political modernisation?
• The Alexander Palace Time Machine
  Probably one for the monarchists but fantastic photos of the Winter palace and information on the Romanovs.
• Russian Revolution
  Wikipedia: A good overview and links for further research.

Within the Active History site there is now a link to French Revolution resources at a VCE level.

I would like to acknowledge the true author of this box: Sharon Hayes of Marian College Library in Sunshine Victoria.  All research and words are hers, I have simply copied and pasted her work.  Angus Pearson, Librarian Kilbreda College.

• Historiography of The French Revolution
  Use this Wikipedia article for an overview of the historians and their interpretations of The French Revolution. It will help you in further researching historiography of The French Revolution.
• Spark Notes: The French Revolution 1789-1799
  Free student resource with an easy to navigate structure. Starts with a summary, places the Revolution in it's historical context, highlights the main terms, people and events and provides a timeline. The main events are then analysed : the Ancient Regime, financial crisis, eve of the revolution, estates general and national assembly, Bastille and Constitutional Monarchy, role of peasants and women, first stage of the revolution, war, second stage of the revolution, reign of terror, Thermidorean reaction, Directory, Napoleon and the end of the Revolution (1799). 
  Concludes with a study questions, a test, and list for further reading.
• Liberty, equality, fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution
  One of the best sites on the French Revolution, authored by Lynn Hunt of UCLA and Jack Censer of George Mason University.
  You will find 12 authoritative essays on important ideas or events during the Revolution (social causes, enlightenment and human rights, monarchy embattled, women, war, terror and resistance, the Napoleonic experience, songs, legacies of the Revolution). Also includes an extraordinary archive of some of the most important documentary evidence from the Revolution, including 338 texts, songs, 245 images, 13 maps, a timeline and a glossary of terms.