L2 History (L2HIS)

Want to do a well respected course that will really help you boost your literacy skills, improve you evaluation skills and help you to understand the way your world and the humans in it is actually working around you? Then do History!

Students will gain a deeper level of insight into influences that have shaped society, not only in the past but also NOW, in the present and indeed will be able to predict the future!
They will develop further research, analytical and writing skills. 

Conflict and Tragedy

•We start off by looking at a the tragedy of the sinking of the Lyttelton–Wellington ferry Wahine on 10 April 1968. Although the main cause of the accident was the atrocious weather conditions, the subsequent inquest also acknowledged that errors of judgement had been made both on board the ferry and on shore – what happened and why did things go so wrong? This involves looking at sources from the event to decide what really happened, as practice for our first internal.

•We then move on to look at the formation of the ANZACs and their first campaign in Gallipoli. We look at the causes and consequences of this event and the mistakes that were made, as well as how it impacted NZ. We also look at how the event has been represented through film.

•We then move to the rise of Communism, studying the Russian Revolution and the consequences of this.

•This study of the impact of Communism leads us to the 1950s, 60s and 70s, to look at the causes, consequences and main events of the Vietnam War, including the protest movements in America, and the music that came out of that era. We also look at the significance of the war to New Zealand and what impact it has had here since, including looking at two local soldiers who were killed in the war.

For your first and second internal you will research an event that involves conflict/tragedy/conspiracy. This could be the Gallipoli campaign, or another event of your choice.