Wednesday, July 4, 2007

How to answer Source-Based Question (SBQ)

Here's the answer format for Source-Based Question
  1. Inference
  2. Evidence (use " ____" to quote your evidence)
  3. Your own knowledge (only those which are relevant)

You MUST have these three parts in your answer.

Here's a sample question and answer:-

Source A

This source describes the two cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation (2500 – 1500 BCE) which are Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro show surprising similarity although they were separated by about 350 miles. In each city the archaeologists found a fortress built on raised ground and large assembly halls built for religious ceremonies. In Mohenjo-Daro there was a “Great Bath”. To the east of this bath was a big building thought to be a palace of either a king or high priest. All houses were connected directly to an excellent sewage system running across the entire city. Both cities shared the same system of weights and measures. Artefacts made of copper and ornaments with precious stones show there was flourishing trade with other countries.

Adapted from A History of India, 4th edi by Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, Routledge, 2004.

Answer

(Inference 1) The source tells us that the Indus people were knowledgeable / capable / organised in planning the construction of their city. (Evidence 1) I know this becasue the source says "as stated in the source “show surprising similarity although they were separated by about 350 miles."

(Inference 2) The source tells me that the Indus people built their cities according to the needs of the people. (Evidence 2) I know this because the source says that was a sewage system built to dispose waste, religious halls for people to pray and a public bath for people to cleanse themselves.

(Your own knowledge) From my own knowledge, granaries were also built in the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro to store food for the Indus people. This also shows that the Indus people were capable in planning their cities.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

History CE - 16th July 2007 (Mon)

To all Sec 1 History students,

Here's the format of your CE paper:
  • 10 Multiple-choice question
  • 9 Short answers questions
  • 2 Source-Based questions

You will be tested from Chapter 1-4.

Remember to prepare well for your CE! All the best!

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Southeast Asian Civilisation - the Jawi Script

One of the earliest Malay script is known as the Jawi.

Here's a fantastic flash presentation on the history of the Malay script done by the Singapore National Library Board. Lots of amazing and beautiful artefacts! One of them is from the Srivijaya Kingdom (artefact on the right)!

China: 7000 years of Innovation!


Singapore Science Centre is holding a wonderful exhibition on China. Very much related to what we are and will be learning.

Check out the website and visit the exhibition if you can!

Friday, June 29, 2007

Shang Civilisation

Shang Civilisation is said to be the first dynasty in the history of China. It existed about 3500 years ago!
  1. Introduction to Shang Civilisation

    http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/shang.htmlmnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/shang.html and http://www.w/su.edu:8080/~dee/ANCCHINA/SHANG.HTM
  2. Oracle Bones http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/shang.htm

  3. Shang Dynasty Coins http://www.seaeaglecoin.com/shang.html
Pictures on the right: Bones of horses belong to the Shang Civilisation and a Shang Coin.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Indus Valley Civilisation



http://www.harappa.com/index.html

This website shows you both the ancient and present day Indus Valley.
Great pictures and slideshows.

If you want to zoom in to certain sub-topics, here are some options:

  1. intro http://www.harappa.com/har/indus-saraswati.html
  2. a walk through Mohenjo-daro http://www.harappa.com/har/moen0.html
  3. a walk around Harappa http://www.harappa.com/walk/index.html
  4. study of the Indus Script http://www.harappa.com/script/index.html

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Why the title "history unwritten"?

Some of you may be curious about the title of this blog. Well rememeber what I shared with you about your own history? That as you are learning about the history of the world in school, you are also writing your own history with each day of your life that you live. And your history is barely written. So what would your history be?

The word "unwritten" is actually borrowed from Natasha Bedingfield's song "Unwritten". You can listen to the song here, I hope.

Why I've created this blog

To all my history students,

This is a blog created especially for you. There are so many things I want to share with you about History but time and space is limited in the classroom. Hence, I've started this blog!

This is the place where you can:-

  1. find links to other wonderful and useful websites related to what we are learning in class
  2. post questions related to what we are learning in class or what you have read
  3. share your thoughts and feelings, again, related to what we are learning in class or what you have read!

So this bolg is strictly for the discussion of History (= alright?

My desire is for you to discover for yourself the wonders and fun of learning History.

Have a wonderful journey ahead!