The amount of content included in the course is often overwhelming (depending on

how deeply you study the course) and it is therefore imperative that you stay on top
of your classwork and also get a head-start in the holiday period.
VCE History Revolutions has been likened by many examiners and lecturers to a
university subject, and subsequently, it requires a great deal of time and commitment
on your behalf.
For the holidays, I recommend the following:
a) Familiarise yourself with the study design. This can be found on the VCAA website.
It is often very vague and broad at times, but that is the nature of a subject like
history. Each dot point must be explore thoroughly and extensively, as it is easy to fall
into the trap of not studying each point adequately. The study design, due to its broad
nature, can be daunting and confusing, so if you have any difficulties interpreting it,
let me know.
b) Examine the preconditions of the revolution. For example, the study design states
that for the American Revolution, the timeframe to be studied is 1763-1776. It would
therefore be advantageous to take a brief look at the decade prior to 1763. This is not
a dot point on the study design, but it should be studied in order to gain a full
understanding of the back drop to the revolution. Although Area of Study One (Ideas,
Movements, Events and Leaders) examines the direct and indirect causes of the
revolution, it is important to examine some of the events and disputes that occurred
prior to the start of the study design. This will enable you to study Area of Study One
with ease, as you will already have sufficient background information under your belt.
Looking at the preconditions is probably more relevant to the American Revolution
than the other revolutions (for example, France).
c) In preparation for Area of Study One, divide your folder into distinct sections. I
would suggest dividing it into the following (this allows an organised and systematic
approach to locating information when studying for the exam and for SACs):
*Ideas
*Events
*Movements
*Leaders
*Historiography (what historians believe and the various interpreations associated
with these historians)
*Timeline and important dates
*Creating a new society
d) Study the key themes of Area of Study One in your text book- read through all the
events chronologically, summarising as you go. Complete any relevant activities in the
text book which seem to relate to what you are studying. As you study the events,
you will begin to get a feel for the Ideas, Movements and Leaders which appear along
the way. Take notes on these into to the corresponding sections of your binder.
e) As you read and study the information, begin to develop a timeline and familiarise
yourself with the key dates- these are extremely important. Not including dates can
drag down a SAC from an A+ to an A.
f) Don't be afraid to seek further information from other sources for extra detail or
clarification on information that you do not understand. Visit your local library- it can
be an invaluable source for information on the four revolutions. The internet is also a
great source, but ensure that the site you are visiting is reliable and trustworthy.
g) By the conclusion of the holidays, I recommend having a basic understanding of all
the key information which relates to Area of Study One. Have some rough notes.
Think critically about what you are reading- how does a particular idea relate to key
events? An important element of Revolutions is to analyse what you are reading and

learning- make critical judgements about everying you are reading. From this, you
can compare your own ideas and beliefs with the interpretations of historians.
History is essentially a fascinating subject and if you are willing to exhibit dedication
and a desire for a better understanding of the key concepts, it can be an extremely
rewarding subject.
Good luck guys
If you have any queries or questions, don't hesitate to post them
or send me a PM or email. I'm also in regular contact with VCE teacher and author,
Steve Thompson, who I can pass any questions on to.