Leaving Certificate Leaving Certificate HistoryHistory

The King of SubjectsThe King of Subjects

Why study history?Why study history?

““If I have seen further than others, it If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of is by standing on the shoulders of giants” – Isaac Newtongiants” – Isaac Newton

““You have to know the past to You have to know the past to understand the present” -understand the present” -

Dr Carl SaganDr Carl Sagan

Why study History?Why study History?

The study of history gives you a unique The study of history gives you a unique understanding of human society, and of the understanding of human society, and of the contributions that various individuals, and contributions that various individuals, and groups have made over time to shaping our groups have made over time to shaping our world as it is today.world as it is today.

It looks at human motivation, it is an It looks at human motivation, it is an enquiry into the “why” of things, the causes enquiry into the “why” of things, the causes and effects of events. As the American and effects of events. As the American Philosopher George Santayana said, “Those Philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”.condemned to repeat it”.

Leaving Certificate HistoryLeaving Certificate History

The Leaving Certificate History The Leaving Certificate History Course is made up of 4 modules and Course is made up of 4 modules and a Research Essay Component.a Research Essay Component.

Each of the modules comprising of Each of the modules comprising of 20% of the total, and the research 20% of the total, and the research essay accounts for the final 20%essay accounts for the final 20%

Leaving Certificate HistoryLeaving Certificate History

Students will study one full module of Students will study one full module of European/World HistoryEuropean/World History

Two full module of Irish HistoryTwo full module of Irish History

A documents course on European A documents course on European HistoryHistory

Leaving Certificate HistoryLeaving Certificate History

The following modules of World The following modules of World history will be studied:history will be studied:

1. The United States and the World, 1. The United States and the World, 1945-1989 ( in depth study of Race 1945-1989 ( in depth study of Race relations, Vietnam War, Moon Race relations, Vietnam War, Moon Race etc)etc)

Leaving Certificate HistoryLeaving Certificate History

The following modules of Irish History will be The following modules of Irish History will be studied:studied:

Movements for Political and Social Reform, Movements for Political and Social Reform, 1870 – 1914 (topics like The Home Rule 1870 – 1914 (topics like The Home Rule Movement under Parnell, The Cultural Movement under Parnell, The Cultural Revival, and the 1913 Dublin Lock Out and Revival, and the 1913 Dublin Lock Out and Strike)Strike)

The Pursuit of Sovereignty and the Impact of The Pursuit of Sovereignty and the Impact of Partition, 1912 -1949 (topics like The Partition, 1912 -1949 (topics like The independence Movement, The Eucharistic independence Movement, The Eucharistic Congress and The Belfast Blitz)Congress and The Belfast Blitz)

Leaving Certificate HistoryLeaving Certificate History

Documents Course (European Documents Course (European History)–History)–

Students will study only the following Students will study only the following 3 Case Studies:3 Case Studies:

The Nuremburg Rallies and Nazi The Nuremburg Rallies and Nazi PropagandaPropaganda

The Soviet Show Trials under StalinThe Soviet Show Trials under Stalin The Jarrow MarchThe Jarrow March

Leaving Certificate HistoryLeaving Certificate History

Each of the Modules of History on the Each of the Modules of History on the new Leaving Certificate History new Leaving Certificate History Course considers history from a Course considers history from a number of perspectives – number of perspectives –

PoliticalPolitical EconomicEconomic CulturalCultural

Leaving Certificate HistoryLeaving Certificate History

The Written Paper is worth 400 The Written Paper is worth 400 marks and the Research Study marks and the Research Study Report is worth 100 marksReport is worth 100 marks

The length of the written paper is The length of the written paper is 2hrs and 50 minutes2hrs and 50 minutes

The research essay is submitted at The research essay is submitted at Easter time, before your main paper.Easter time, before your main paper.

Leaving Certificate HistoryLeaving Certificate History

The Research Essay can be on any The Research Essay can be on any topic that you are interested in from topic that you are interested in from Modern to Ancient History, any topic Modern to Ancient History, any topic before 1993.before 1993.

Students score exceptionally well in Students score exceptionally well in this area as it generally is born out of this area as it generally is born out of their own special area of interest.their own special area of interest.

Skills acquired studying HistorySkills acquired studying History

Studying history provides students with a wide range of transferable Studying history provides students with a wide range of transferable skills, which are important in many career fields. Understanding and skills, which are important in many career fields. Understanding and analysis of issues and events are of key importance to historians analysis of issues and events are of key importance to historians and can be applied in many other fields of work. Skill areas and can be applied in many other fields of work. Skill areas developed in studying history include: developed in studying history include:

an ability for clear expression both oral and written an ability for clear expression both oral and written

putting forward ideas and arguments in a concise manner putting forward ideas and arguments in a concise manner

gathering, investigating and assessing material gathering, investigating and assessing material

condensing facts, ideas and arguments condensing facts, ideas and arguments

basing conclusions on research basing conclusions on research

organising material in a logical and coherent way organising material in a logical and coherent way

Where can history take me?Where can history take me?

““TV is a very hard industry to break into but TV is a very hard industry to break into but my history degree certainly helped me get my history degree certainly helped me get my first break. My first job involved working my first break. My first job involved working on a range of history docu-dramas and the on a range of history docu-dramas and the company involved told me they had company involved told me they had specifically chosen me because of my history specifically chosen me because of my history skills! I am now looking to move on and find skills! I am now looking to move on and find work in TV research, so all of my research work in TV research, so all of my research skills will come into use once again! History skills will come into use once again! History is a brilliant degree to do because it offers is a brilliant degree to do because it offers such a range of skills that are beneficial in so such a range of skills that are beneficial in so many areas of employment” many areas of employment”

Where can history take me?Where can history take me?

““Following my graduation I trained as a Following my graduation I trained as a journalist at my local newspaper. The journalist at my local newspaper. The research and writing skills I learnt while research and writing skills I learnt while studying History proved invaluable to studying History proved invaluable to the job, as I tracked down a good story the job, as I tracked down a good story and tried to write engaging copy. and tried to write engaging copy. Sticking to deadlines is an absolute Sticking to deadlines is an absolute must in journalism and again, my time must in journalism and again, my time as a history student prepared me for as a history student prepared me for producing work to set deadlines.”producing work to set deadlines.”

Where can history take me?Where can history take me?

““"When I studied History I didn't think I'd "When I studied History I didn't think I'd end up as a partner in a major City law firm. end up as a partner in a major City law firm. But that's what happened, and I found that I But that's what happened, and I found that I wasn't alone in my firm in having taken up wasn't alone in my firm in having taken up law after studying history as a degree law after studying history as a degree subject. Now, I'm in charge of recruiting subject. Now, I'm in charge of recruiting students to train with us, and we are still students to train with us, and we are still finding plenty of compelling candidates who finding plenty of compelling candidates who come from a history background. Lawyers come from a history background. Lawyers need to assimilate information and put need to assimilate information and put forward arguments, and that's just what forward arguments, and that's just what history students learn to do.”history students learn to do.”