The significance of Studying Social Studies
Social studies is the appreciation and critical analyses of global and local real-world issues.
Social Studies equips students with the ability to understand different perspectives, analyse, negotiate and manage complex situations as they evaluate information, consider different viewpoints and exercise discernment in reaching well-reasoned conclusions and making responsible decisions.
Social studies empowers students to acquire skills required to understand developments within their society and the larger world as well as bettering their understanding of their roles in shaping the future of the nation.
Source based skills equips students with the ability to interpret and evaluate sources and given information distinguish between fact, opinion and judgement while detecting bias and eventually, draw conclusions based on reasoned consideration of evidence and arguments.
Structured Response skills reinforce student’s ability to analyse societal issues through different perspectives and construct reasoned arguments and make informed judgement and recommendations.
Students will explore contemporary and global issues:
| Issue 1: Exploring Citizenship and Governance |
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| Issue 2: Living in a Diverse Society |
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| Issue 3: Being Part of a Globalised World |
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The significance of studying History
History is not the passive memorisation of dates, places, events and dead people. History serves as a bridge to appreciating the interconnectedness of the world we live in today.
The study of History helps students gain a deeper understanding of the past events which come to shape the world today and the ability to critically examine how the past has shaped, and continues to shape, relationships between societies, nations and people.
History education in Singapore seeks to develop in students a critical appreciation of past human experiences and connections between the past and present.
Studying History acquaint students with an understanding of how the past has been interpreted, represented and accorded significance for different reasons and purposes while developing an inquisitive mind in students to probe and ask relevant questions about the past and examine a range of sources critically in their historical context to reach substantiated judgements about the past. Thus, sharpening students’ ability to hone the ability to construct their own interpretations of the past, and put forth cohesive and well-substantiated arguments based on evidence.
Students will explore contemporary and global issues:
| Elective + core History |
| The World in Crisis
Enquiry Question: What forces and developments changed Europe and the Asia–Pacific in the first half of the 20th century? |
| ● Impact of World War I
○ Peace Settlement ■ Aims and the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and its immediate impact on Germany ○ Attempts at collective security by the League of Nations ■ Successes and failuresof the League of Nations in the 1920s and 1930s ● Rise of authoritarian regimes and its impact in the interwar years ○ *Case study of Communist Russia ○ *Case study of Nazi Germany ● World War II in Europe and the Asia–Pacific ○ Reasons for outbreak of WWII in Europe ○ Reasons for outbreak of WWII in the Asia–Pacific ○ Reasons for the defeat of Germany ○ Reasons for the defeat of Japan |
| Bi-Polarity and the Cold War
Enquiry Question: How did the Cold War impact the world order in the post-1945 years? |
| ● Cold War and the bi-polar world order
○ Reasons for the Cold War in Europe ● Manifestation of the Cold War outside Europe ○ *Case study of Korean War, 1950–53 ○ *Case study of Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 ● Reasons for the end of the Cold War |
| Core History syllabus 2174 |
| European Dominance and Expansion in the late 19th century
Enquiry Question: How were systems and societies transformed by colonialism? |
| ● Extension of colonial rule and its impact on Southeast Asia since 1870s
○ *Case study of Malaya, 1874–c.1900 Establishment of British colonial rule in Malaya ○ Case study of Vietnam, 1870s–c.1900 Establishment of French colonial rule in Vietnam ○ Case study of Indonesia, 1870s–c.1900 Establishment of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia |
| Decolonisation and Emergence of Nation States
Enquiry Question: Was the attainment of independence in colonies shaped by the decline of Europe and Cold War politics? |
| ● Decolonisation and emergence of nation-states in Southeast Asia
○ Struggles for independence in Southeast Asian states in the post-World War II period ■ Impact of World War II on decolonisation ■ Impact of the Cold War on decolonisation ■ Responses of the locals ● *Case study of Malaya ● *Case study of Vietnam ● *Case Study of Indonesia |