CSEC Caribbean history outline
GOODBYE SUMMER, hello school! I am very excited to work with you guys this school year as you prepare for CSEC exams in May/June 2019. The first lesson in this year’s series will be an overview of the course outline (syllabus).
TOPICS – CORE & THEMES
The syllabus consists of nine themes and 10 core topics. The themes span the period from the late 1400s to the late 1900s (up to 1985) and are divided into three sections. The focus is on Caribbean history. You have to complete one theme from each section – your teacher/school will decide which themes to complete. The core represents a broad historical overview of Caribbean history and its areas with which students should be familiar. You have to complete all core topics. Please note that you may find overlap in a few of the themes and core topics. For example, if your teacher selects the theme ‘Caribbean economy and slavery’, you would not return to a study of the core topic ‘The economic revolution and the coming of the enslaved Africans’.. This is due to the fact that the objectives of the core are also covered in
topics outlined in the theme. Please see below the theme and topics. The themes:
SECTION A
I The indigenous peoples and the Europeans I Caribbean economy and slavery
I Resistance and revolt
SECTION B
Metropolitan movements towards Emancipation
I Adjustments to Emancipation, 1838-1876 I Caribbean economy, 1875-1985
SECTION C
The United States in the Caribbean, 17761985 Caribbean political development up to 1985 Caribbean society 1900-1985
Please see below the core topics.
CORE TOPICS
1. The indigenous poples of the Americas
2. The Europeans
3. The economic revolution and the coming of the enslaved Africans
4. Slave resistance
5. Emancipation and apprenticeship
6. The coming of the Chinese, Europeans (Madeirans, Germans, French), Indians and Africans
7. The Establishment of the Peasantry, 1838 to 1900
8. The United States’ influence in the Caribbean
9. Popular Protests in the 1930s
10. Movements towards Independence and Regional Integration up to 1985
THE EXAMINATION
The examination consists of three components – a multiple-choice paper ( 01), an essay paper ( 02) and a research project – School-Based Assessment (SBA) (Paper 03/1). Students who opt to do the subject privately will complete the alternative to School-Based Assessment (Paper 03/2).
Paper 01 consists of 60 multiple-choice items valued at 60 marks for 35 per cent of the final grade. Paper 02 consists of 18 short-answer and essay questions, with two questions set on each of the nine themes. This paper is valued at 75 marks and accounts for 44 per cent of your final grade. You are reminded that the paper is divided into three sections and you are required to answer one question from each section. The questions will be in varying format, such as extended essays, short-answer questions, and they may also require the use of stimulus material. Stimulus materials are those of a visual, verbal and/or auditory nature used to communicate certain ideas to enable them to be researched, or to stimulate discussion of relevant topics. Stimulus material may include diary extracts, photographs, graphs/charts, political cartoons, statistical tables and so on. Each section of the paper will focus on these varying formats and you will find your teacher exposing you to these throughout the school year.
Lastly, you will also complete the SBA or the alternative to SBA, which is valued at 35 marks and will be 21 per cent of your final grade. School candidates will be given the option of completing the research paper ( 03/1) individually or as a group – this decision will be determined by your teacher/school. Students completing Paper 03/1 will be required to do one project and it will be graded by your teacher/school. Candidates completing Paper 03/2 will be required to do a two-hour paper comprising source documents assessing their enquiry, knowledge and communication skills.
Debbion Hyman is an independent contributor. Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com.