Singapore Junior College H1 History

This course examines the key forces and developments that shaped the second half of the 20th century, focusing on the Cold War and its impact on international, regional, and local forces. The course aims to develop students' historical understanding, critical thinking skills, and ability to analyze historical sources.

Themes

The syllabus is divided into three themes:

• Theme I: The Development of the Cold War (1945-1991): This theme explores the origins and evolution of the Cold War, including the emergence of tensions between the USA and USSR, key events like the Berlin Blockade, the Korean War (1950-1953), and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), and the eventual end of the Cold War. This theme is assessed through a source-based case study.
• Theme II: The Cold War and East Asia (1945-1991): This theme examines the Cold War's impact on East Asia, focusing on the roles of China and Japan. It explores the complex relationships between these countries and the superpowers, including Sino-Soviet relations, Sino-American relations, and the Japan-USA alliance.
• Theme III: The Cold War and Southeast Asia (1945-1991): This theme investigates the Cold War's influence on Southeast Asia, including the Second Indochina War (1959-1975) and the Third Indochina War (1978-1991). It also examines the responses of ASEAN and Singapore to Cold War developments.

Assessment

The H1 History course is assessed through a single 3-hour examination paper. The paper consists of two sections:

• Section A: Source-Based Case Study (40%): This section assesses students' ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate historical sources related to Theme I: The Development of the Cold War.
• Section B: Essays (60%): This section requires students to write two essays, one on Theme II (The Cold War and East Asia) and one on Theme III (The Cold War and Southeast Asia). The essays assess students' historical knowledge, understanding of historical concepts, and ability to construct and support historical arguments.

Historical Concepts

The H1 History syllabus emphasizes six key historical concepts:

• Accounts
• Chronology
• Historical Empathy
• Evidence
• Cause and Effect
• Change and Continuity

These concepts provide a framework for historical thinking and are essential for understanding and analyzing historical events and issues.