DSE World History Course Complete Guide

Theme 1: 20th Century World Development40%

Core Units:

• 1914–1918: World War I
• 1919–1939: Interwar International Relations
• 1939–1945: World War II
• 1945–1991: Cold War Era

In-depth Research:

• Analysis of the flaws in the Versailles Treaty
• The impact of nuclear weapons on international relations

Theme 2: Modernisation and Transformation30%

Industrial Revolution:

• British Case: Factory system and social change
• Comparative Study: Meiji Restoration of Japan vs. China’s Self-Strengthening Movement

Colonialism:

• African Partition (Berlin Conference 1884)
• Indian Independence Movement (Gandhi’s Nonviolent Resistance)

Theme 3: Conflict and Cooperation20%

International Organisations:

• League of Nations: Failure in handling the Ethiopian Crisis
• United Nations: Analysis of the Security Council’s power structure

Regional Conflicts:

• Middle East Issues (Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict)
• Balkan Wars (Role of Nationalism)

Theme 4: Culture and Ideas10%

Enlightenment Movement:

• Comparison of Voltaire and Rousseau’s ideas
• Influence of Enlightenment thought on the American Declaration of Independence

Globalisation:

• Discussion of the McDonaldization phenomenon
• Case studies of anti-globalisation movements

Paper 1: Data Analysis2 hrs 15 min · 50%

Question Type: Provides text, images, or statistical data and requires comparison, verification and evaluation of historical sources.

Key to High Scores: Be specific in citing data (e.g., “According to the curve in Data A…”) and present a balanced historical viewpoint (avoid absolute conclusions).

Paper 2: Essay1 hr 30 min · 30%

Sample Question: “Nationalism in 20th-century Europe did more harm than good.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Essay Framework:

1. Define key terms (e.g., nationalism)
2. Present arguments for (e.g., contributing to the unification of Germany)
3. Present counter-arguments (e.g., causing the Balkan conflict)
4. Provide a conclusion (contextualise with time and place)

School-based Assessment (SBA)20%

Research Report: Example — “Comparing the Rise of Hitler and Mussolini”, requiring the use of primary sources and academic references.

Field Study: e.g., a special study at the Hong Kong History Museum or a survey of WWII sites (such as the Stanley Military Cemetery).

Mastering Chronology

Create a dual-axis timeline to compare events in Eastern and Western history side by side.

Mnemonics

Use memorable phrases to fix key dates in memory, such as: “1492, Columbus sailed west to discover the New World.”

Concept Differentiation

Distinguish between commonly confused concepts, such as Capitalism vs. Imperialism, and Fascism vs. Nazism.

Simulated Situations

Role-playing the Paris Peace Conference (negotiating between different countries) or Cold War crisis decision-making games (the Cuban Missile Crisis).

Interdisciplinary Connections

• Economics: The Great Depression and Keynesianism
• Geography: Resource conflicts and war relations

Local University Admissions

• The University of Hong Kong (HKU): Specialisation in World History Studies
• Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK): Global Studies (requires DSE World History at grade 4 or above)

Overseas Pathways

• UK: Some universities offer direct admission to second-year History programmes.
• Australia: The subject is included in ATAR scoring, with humanities subjects receiving additional weight.

Data Analysis Three-Step Method

1. Description: Objectively state the contents of the data.
2. Interpretation: Analyse the author’s position or the limitations of the historical source.
3. Application: Answer the core question of the topic, demonstrating comprehensive analysis.

Essay Golden Structure

1. Introduction (Define terms + stance)
2. Argument 1 (Facts + scholarly viewpoints)
3. Argument 2 (Counter-argument + rebuttal)
4. Conclusion (Comprehensive evaluation + historical insights)