HERE'S ONE I MADE EARLIER

In February Barry Johnson an advisor from AQA came into Loreto to talk to A2 history students about how to do well in their A level, what pitfalls to avoid and how to write a good study. Barry also went through the markscheme showing what history examiners are looking for when they mark the Unit 3 exam papers. The students' advice was that we should do it every year!

WE'RE BACK

After a six month break the Loreto History blog is back with news, views and advice for history students and those Loreto students who wish they had chosen to do history: which let's face it is pretty much everyone. So keep your eyes peeled and join in with your comments.

HISTORY IN THE HEADLINES

For all you budding historians, journalists and writers the Guardian newspaper and the Historical Association are running a competition called "History in the Headlines". The competition is for you to construct a headline story from the sources in the Guardian archives. Just think of the primary documents you will get access to! Ms Cooper and Mr Prowle will help you with this, but further details can be found on the HA web site Start thinking over summer and we will get started as soon as you enrol!!

SUMMER READING

The exams will soon be over so what will you do with all that time on your hands. How about some summer reading? Teachers and university lecturers up and down the land complain that students do not read. Prove them wrong. But what to read??? As a history student why not a history book? You could try something covering the history of the world in just 300 pages; or a whole book about just thirteen days. You can read about the end of history; or look at how the subject started in a very different way from today. You can look at a different type of history or read something for your A2 units. you can read a history mystery and go into a period you know nothing about. There is political history; economic history; social history. Even the history of the World Cup! So you have no excuse. Me, I'm looking forward to sun, sea, sand and "Bobby and J Edgar" by Burton Hersh.

LITTLE SHIPS

Summer is coming and long stretches of sandy white beaches in France look so inviting. But imagine being in such an exposed position in a war, being strafed by enemy planes. That was the fate of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk. This year we have been celebrating the 70th anniversary of one of the most powerful and poignant events in British history when 41 Royal Navy destroyers and over 600 other 'little ships' braved Channel weather and the Luftwaffe to rescue 338,000 British and French soldiers. 'Operation Dynamo' in reality was a tale of confusion and retreat and 5,000 deaths. But the courage of those Little Ships meant the BEF lived to fight another day.

NOT SAD REALLY

OK as a teenager you are likely to use the summer for sun, sea and extra shifts at Tesco. But as a history student you could visit a couple of museums. Maybe it sounds a bit geeky but you are doing history and you really love the subject!(?) And didn't someone say the geek would inherit the earth. Even summer gets boring sometimes and you might be surprised how much you will enjoy it. And on a very practical level it is something to put on your university application.
Manchester Museum still has its amazing Darwin extravaganza where you can find out about the life and work of one of the world's most important thinkers. At the IWMN you can take in the life of sailors at war. And the Museum of Science and Industry has a range of historical characters telling you about their lives, including James Watt and William Huskisson, politician and first victim of a railway accident. Studying history can encompass science, technology, politics, war, the family. These exhibitions can give you just a taste.

MAKING CHOICES

If you are in your AS year getting ready for your exams you might also be thinking about your future and your degree choice. Some history departments offer subject specific open days once you have applied, but in the meantime why not use summer to go to general open days to help you start your decision making.