Introduction

This topic provides an overview of this course, and the resources which support it. You should gain awareness of the content, and depth of detailed knowledge and understanding required.

Read and Make Notes

Read the advice in the FAQs in General Resources.
Read and make brief notes from Chapter 1 (pages 5 to 22) of the Stephen Lee textbook, European Dictatorships 1918-1945.
You will notice that the language and analysis are more challenging than the AS textbooks.
Think about your note-taking technique. There is some good guidance here:

READ – Taking Notes at A Level History (The Historical Association)

We also recommend that you follow these tips:

1. Use the subheadings that are given in the chapter.
2. Limit the length to three or four sentences under each subheading – there’s no point in copying out the whole text.
3. Make notes with a purpose – here you are interested primarily in Italy, Russia and Germany, so focus on developments in those countries.
4. Make sure you have summed up the significance of the issue – so first, how did the period before 1914 relate to the rise of the dictators?

Tasks

Read through the Programme of Study document carefully now and make a list of the assessment objectives.
List the main topics and dates.
Check you know which exams you’ll be sitting, and the contribution each will make to your mark. How does the structure of the questions differ from AS?

Terminology

Which new terms have you found in the first chapter of the textbook?
Make a list and check definitions.
You need to show that you are comfortable with the vocabulary that relates to History as an academic discipline. You should find the lists here very helpful:

EXPLORE – History Words (Alpha History)

A really helpful way to revise terminology is to make flashcards for the key terms, where you write the term on one side (checking spellings very carefully) and the definition, and perhaps an example, on the other side so you can test yourself regularly.
You will have amassed a lot of terminology by the end of this course and this is why making flashcards and learning as you go along is highly recommended, so that you are not overwhelmed when it comes to revising.
You are also more likely to use a broader range of terminology in your assignments if you are continually learning these new words. You will see regular reminders about terminology throughout the course.