X
xeuyrawp
Guest
Dear all,
I've noticed a few things in relation to subject choices in general, that is: A subject with a major work is appealing. This could be for a number of reasons, usually revolving around the fact that a major work could be completed in my own time, it can be easily completed because I know a lot about the area, and I know I'm lazy so I can leave it to the last minute.
The latter of these is the general theme that I'm picking up from these forums; I just read a thread where a guy was doing the PIP for Society & Culture, 4U English, and History extension.
From experience, let me say that Major works are a bitch. I did 4U English, Ext History, and D&T. Due to me having a procrastinating attitude, my DT work sucked, majorly. Lucky for me, I'm good with graphic design, and I made a work that eventually got a very high mark. I basically winged my way through the work, and turned it into quasi-art.
Unfortunately, you can't do this with your ext hist mw. I read on the board that someone did their Ext History mw in one night and got 47. I said to him, and I still believe, that that is a lie. From seeing all my peers in the course work and get marks, or laze about and fail, as well as my current students (2 of which have gotten their work back) - one worked and did well, one did less work and did less well, I can say that marks = work.
If you're a big procrastinator, doing lots of major work subjects is not the right choice. If you're dedicated and passionate about the work, and do work consistently, I can't recommend major work subjects enough- they are an easy way to get good marks for you.
Remember also that extension history has a huge dropout rate. Talk to your friends in the year above, add people on msn from the year above, talk to people on this board. "Is this subject right for me?". I'm all for having a go, but people who drop out of the classes, people who fuck up their MW, people who don't work, drag the class down. This is because 1. scaling comprises of comparison of class achievements and 2. classes learn as a group. Not to mention, you're wasting your own time.
People also drop out because they don't understand the huge amounts of theory that goes with the subject. Luckily, you can do your mw on a topic that could aid your theory knowledge. It basically comes down to, 1. it's a difficult theory subject, 2. the mw is also difficult, and 3. you need constant work and reading on BOTH.
Remember also that it's easy to leave something late, then everything snowballs. You know, you decide to watch TV one night instead of working on your proposal, then suddenly you ask to hand your proposal in later, make up a lie for it, then working on your proposal when you should be working on your english. This happens, it happened to me. Try not to let it happen, but if it does, get help. Don't just sit in your room and cry, tell your teacher and your parents, so they can help you. Admit that you fucked up, and you will get help.
Like many of the subject, this subject is intensive in English. If you don't know how to properly write essays, it's not for you. If you get back your advanced English paper and get "your essay style and structure is not good" on your paper, it's not for you. A huge part of history, both the mw and the theory, is the ability to present your ideas in a coherent, structured fashion. Your ability to write an essay with a "webbed structure" (rather than a "linear structure" that you would expect in an Ancient or Modern history essay) is essential.
This is all a moot point if you don't do research. A big thing I see is "I don't know about a question". If you don't know about a subject area, you form your question from your research. You read a tonne on your subject area, or various areas (if you don't know what you want to do), and then you form your question. After further research, you might edit your question. You might even change your question a bit the final night of editing. The point is that: Don't bother asking "what should my question be" if you haven't bothered doing the research. This is part of historiography- "What do historians think are important issues. Are they correct": these issues (or lack thereof) are what you get your question from.
After you do this research, you write your essay. A general plan is important, but I always forward that it's good to just write an essay, and then trash parts/all of it if you don't like it. This is because it's hard to plan a webbed structure, and although certain issues should be present (made in your plan), the structure is hard to outline before you write.
Lastly, remember that most people on this board, including myself, will always be willing to help out if you're courteous and to the point in what you need help with.
I say to the new year 12s that 'Go for it! Try out ext history. If you don't like it, though, and you find the going tough, I'd drop it before it does damage to you in terms of time, stress, and bad grades.'
I've noticed a few things in relation to subject choices in general, that is: A subject with a major work is appealing. This could be for a number of reasons, usually revolving around the fact that a major work could be completed in my own time, it can be easily completed because I know a lot about the area, and I know I'm lazy so I can leave it to the last minute.
The latter of these is the general theme that I'm picking up from these forums; I just read a thread where a guy was doing the PIP for Society & Culture, 4U English, and History extension.
From experience, let me say that Major works are a bitch. I did 4U English, Ext History, and D&T. Due to me having a procrastinating attitude, my DT work sucked, majorly. Lucky for me, I'm good with graphic design, and I made a work that eventually got a very high mark. I basically winged my way through the work, and turned it into quasi-art.
Unfortunately, you can't do this with your ext hist mw. I read on the board that someone did their Ext History mw in one night and got 47. I said to him, and I still believe, that that is a lie. From seeing all my peers in the course work and get marks, or laze about and fail, as well as my current students (2 of which have gotten their work back) - one worked and did well, one did less work and did less well, I can say that marks = work.
If you're a big procrastinator, doing lots of major work subjects is not the right choice. If you're dedicated and passionate about the work, and do work consistently, I can't recommend major work subjects enough- they are an easy way to get good marks for you.
Remember also that extension history has a huge dropout rate. Talk to your friends in the year above, add people on msn from the year above, talk to people on this board. "Is this subject right for me?". I'm all for having a go, but people who drop out of the classes, people who fuck up their MW, people who don't work, drag the class down. This is because 1. scaling comprises of comparison of class achievements and 2. classes learn as a group. Not to mention, you're wasting your own time.
People also drop out because they don't understand the huge amounts of theory that goes with the subject. Luckily, you can do your mw on a topic that could aid your theory knowledge. It basically comes down to, 1. it's a difficult theory subject, 2. the mw is also difficult, and 3. you need constant work and reading on BOTH.
Remember also that it's easy to leave something late, then everything snowballs. You know, you decide to watch TV one night instead of working on your proposal, then suddenly you ask to hand your proposal in later, make up a lie for it, then working on your proposal when you should be working on your english. This happens, it happened to me. Try not to let it happen, but if it does, get help. Don't just sit in your room and cry, tell your teacher and your parents, so they can help you. Admit that you fucked up, and you will get help.
Like many of the subject, this subject is intensive in English. If you don't know how to properly write essays, it's not for you. If you get back your advanced English paper and get "your essay style and structure is not good" on your paper, it's not for you. A huge part of history, both the mw and the theory, is the ability to present your ideas in a coherent, structured fashion. Your ability to write an essay with a "webbed structure" (rather than a "linear structure" that you would expect in an Ancient or Modern history essay) is essential.
This is all a moot point if you don't do research. A big thing I see is "I don't know about a question". If you don't know about a subject area, you form your question from your research. You read a tonne on your subject area, or various areas (if you don't know what you want to do), and then you form your question. After further research, you might edit your question. You might even change your question a bit the final night of editing. The point is that: Don't bother asking "what should my question be" if you haven't bothered doing the research. This is part of historiography- "What do historians think are important issues. Are they correct": these issues (or lack thereof) are what you get your question from.
After you do this research, you write your essay. A general plan is important, but I always forward that it's good to just write an essay, and then trash parts/all of it if you don't like it. This is because it's hard to plan a webbed structure, and although certain issues should be present (made in your plan), the structure is hard to outline before you write.
Lastly, remember that most people on this board, including myself, will always be willing to help out if you're courteous and to the point in what you need help with.
I say to the new year 12s that 'Go for it! Try out ext history. If you don't like it, though, and you find the going tough, I'd drop it before it does damage to you in terms of time, stress, and bad grades.'
Last edited by a moderator:
