History exemplar of school based

3.1.1 ESSAY QUESTION AND MARKING GUIDELINE

TOPIC 1: THE COLD WAR (CASE STUDY: VIETNAM)

‘The Vietnam war was lost in the living rooms of America - not on the battlefields of Vietnam.’

With reference to this statement, to what extent do you agree that the media played a significant role in the USA’s defeat in the Vietnam War by 1973? [50]
MARKING GUIDELINE (Concise)
SYNOPSIS

The Vietnam War was the first, and arguably the last, war where journalists were given free access to troops and battlefields and allowed to cover and report the war as they saw it, without censorship. Some historians have argued that uncensored reportage from the war front played a key role in the growth of an anti-war movement in America. Candidates should state clearly and defend their line of argument with regards to the role of the media, and the other factors which played a role in the US defeat in Vietnam. These factors include the USA tactics and training; the strength of Vietnamese nationalism and the support for Vietnam from USSR and China.

MAIN ASPECTS
Candidates should include the following aspects in their response:

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  Introduction: Candidates should contextualise the question (who, what where, when) and outline very briefly the main line of argument.
  

ELABORATION

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  Independent Role of Media
  
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  Media role in growth of an anti-War movement
  
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  USA’s military tactics
  
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  Chinese and USSR support of Viet Cong
  
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  Unpopularity of South Vietnamese regime
  
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  Determination and skill of Viet Cong compared with US conscripts.
  

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  Any other relevant point
  

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  Conclusion: Candidates should sum up their argument with a relevant conclusion.
  

MARKING GUIDELINE (Comprehensive)
The purpose of this comprehensive marking guideline is to show how each of the main aspects in the essay could be elaborated.
Although this is a more comprehensive marking guideline, please note the following:

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  In all of the following paragraphs additional or alternative examples could be used to substantiate the main point being made.
  
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  Learners should always be given credit for including any other relevant information which supports their line of argument.
  

SYNOPSIS

The Vietnam War was the first, and arguably the last, war where journalists were given free access to troops and battlefields and allowed to cover and report the war as they saw it, without censorship. The result of this independence was that shocking and disturbing images of the war found their way into newspapers and, through the graphic pictures on television, into the living rooms of ordinary Americans – many of whom had family and friends fighting in Vietnam. This was a public relations disaster for the US government. Some historians have argued that uncensored reportage from the war front played a key role in the growth of an anti-war movement in America. This movement criticised US involvement in the war and the military’s methods. The loss of morale and support for the war was a contributing factor in the USA’s defeat. Candidates should state clearly and defend their line of argument with regards to the role of the media, and the other factors which played a role in the US defeat in Vietnam. These factors include the USA tactics and training; the strength of Vietnamese nationalism and the support for Vietnam from USSR and China.
MAIN ASPECTS
Candidates should include the following aspects in their response:

• 
  Introduction: Candidates should contextualise the question (who, what where, when) and outline very briefly the main line of argument.
  

ELABORATION

• 
  Independent Role of Media (Main point of paragraph)
  

- (Explanation of main point) The media (TV, Radio, Newspapers) did not always report uncritically on the American war effort or the US military actions in Vietnam. They exposed human rights abuses, revealed military failures and allowed Americans to see the impact that the war was having on ordinary Vietnamese civilians.

- (Select examples to illustrate / substantiate main point)

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  January 1963, when journalists reported the defeat of the South Vietnamese army at the Battle of Ap Bac, contrasting sharply with official U.S. government and military reports that the battle had been a victory.
  
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  In June 1963, photographs of a Buddhist monk burning himself to death in protest against the U.S.-backed South Vietnamese government appeared on front pages of newspapers in America.
  
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  During the Tet offensive of 1968, which US military viewed as a tactical victory, prominent US journalist Walter Cronkite said during a nationally televised newscast that it did not look like America could win the war
  
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  In June 1969, pro-government Life magazine published 242 photographs of American soldiers who had died in one week in Vietnam. It was sub-titled ‘one week’s toll’. On December 5^th Life magazine published shocking pictures of Vietnamese women and children massacred by US soldiers at My Lai; On 15 May 1970 Life magazine’s cover page stated ‘Tragedy at Kent’ and pictured a wounded student after police had killed four students on Kent University campus
  
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  Pictures of the effects of agent orange (birth defects, deforestation) and napalm (civilians with terrible burns) were published in magazines and newspapers and film footage of ‘search and destroy’ missions where US soldiers burned Vietnamese villages to the ground appeared in US television
  
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  Any other relevant examples
  

- (Link back to essay question) Some historians have argued that as a result of the media independence and lack of censorship, there was increased criticism within US of the military tactics, a loss of trust in the ability of the military to win the war and a loss of morale among soldiers.

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  Media role in growth of an anti-War movement (main point of paragraph)
  

- (Explanation of main point) The media played an important role in publicizing and spreading the ideas of the anti-war movement through newspaper reports and televising demonstrations.

- (Select examples to illustrate / substantiate main point)

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  A growing number of people (especially young students on USA campuses) opposed USA involvement in Vietnam and refused to be conscripted into the army. The media showed images of students burning draft cards.
  

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  Rallies, demonstrations and marches were held across USA and covered by local and national television stations.
  
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  Media coverage of the destruction of Vietnamese villages and the murder of civilians, which took place in the name of ‘democracy’ shifted public opinion in American away from supporting the war.
  
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  Any other relevant examples
  

- (Link back to essay question) The media played a role in exposing the horrors of war which resulted in growing numbers of Americans joining the anti-war movement. A gallop poll published their findings that US public support for American involvement in the Vietnam War dropped from 61% in 1965 to a low of 28% in 1971.

- (Link to second part of essay) However, anti-war sentiment at home was not the only reason why the USA lost the war in Vietnam.

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  USA’s military tactics (main point of paragraph)
  

- (Explanation) The US was ill-equipped and trained to fight a guerrilla war Vietnam. They lost out to the more experienced Viet Cong who knew the jungles and had the support of local people.

- (Select examples to illustrate / substantiate main point)

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  The US tactic of air strikes were not effective against the Viet-Cong’s guerilla tactics. US soldiers were ill-equipped and trained to fight a ground war and lost out to the more experienced Viet Cong who knew the jungles and had the support of local people
  
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  US resorted to ‘search and destroy’ tactics, destroying whole villages of people and failed to win the support of the South Vietnamese people
  
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  The use of aerial bombing, chemical weapons to deforest the jungle and napalm did intimidate and kill the Vietnamese people but did not win their ‘hearts and minds’.
  
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  These tactics lost the USA a great deal of support among Vietnamese people and fuelled the anti-war feeling back in the US
  
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  Any other relevant points
  

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  Chinese and USSR support of Viet Cong (Main point of paragraph)
  

- (Explanation) Although the Viet Cong did not have the chemical weapons and sophisticated weapons that were used by the USA they did receive weapons, aid and support from the USSR and China.

- (Select examples to illustrate / substantiate main point)

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  Support from China and the USSR made it very hard for USA troops to disarm the guerrillas.
  

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  Unpopularity of South Vietnamese regime (main point of paragraph)
  

- (Explanation) The USA tried to prop up an unpopular regime that many of the South Vietnamese people did not support

- (Select examples to illustrate / substantiate main point)

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  Many South Vietnamese, mainly peasant and rural based, supported the North Vietnamese. They did not want USA to ‘liberate’ them from the communist threat.
  
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  The South Vietnamese government was essentially a military dictatorship which was supported by the wealthy elite – it was opposed by the majority of the peasant class
  

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  Determination and skill of Viet Cong compared with US conscripts.
  

- (Explanation) The Viet Cong were highly disciplined and dedicated guerrilla soldiers fighting to free their country (Vietnamese saw it as a war of liberation).

- (Select examples to illustrate / substantiate main point)

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  They also had the support of the majority of Vietnamese people
  
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  In contrast the US army was made up mainly of very young, inexperienced conscripted soldiers who served only a one-year tour of duty.
  

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  Any other relevant point
  

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  Conclusion: Candidates should sum up their argument with a relevant conclusion.
  
  • 
    EG: The uncensored media coverage of the Vietnam War was a significant factor in the US defeat in the Vietnam War but, as this essay has shown, there were a range of other reasons which contributed to the US withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973.
    

3.2 TASK 2: RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT


GUIDELINES ON HOW TO CONDUCT A RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT: GRADE 12
Introduction
The Research Assignment in Grade 12 accounts for 20% of the total School Based Assessment (SBA). It is, therefore, essential that this be a significant piece of work. This assignment offers learners the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, knowledge and understanding of History which they have acquired during the course of the FET phase.
The Research Assignment can be written on any section of the Grade 12 curriculum. There are, however, two sections in the curriculum, which are not formally examined in the final Grade 12 examination:

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  Topic 3: An overview of Civil Society Protests
  
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  Topic 5: Remembering the Past: Memorials
  

One of these topics could be investigated in greater depth through the Research Assignment.

Some points to consider when planning a research assignment.

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  The choice of research topic needs to be made taking into consideration the context of your school and the available resources to which learners will have access.
  
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  This assignment provides learners with an opportunity to embark on a process of historical enquiry. Conducting original research involves the collection, analysis, organisation, evaluation of information and the construction of knowledge.
  
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  Clear, written instructions with due dates and the assessment criteria must be given to learners at the beginning of the school year to allow adequate time for the preparation and completion of the assignment.
  
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  The progress of learners, with regards to the research assignment, must be monitored on an on-going basis.
  
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  It is essential that learners do their original work. To reduce the likelihood of plagiarism, the key question or research topic should be changed every year.
  

Learners are expected to fulfil the following requirements in their Research Assignment.

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  Analyse and answer the key question.
  
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  Identify a variety of relevant source material to help answer the key question.
  
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  Select relevant examples from the source material which can be used to substantiate the line of argument.
  
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  Organise relevant information in order to write a coherent and logical answer to the key question.
  
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  Write an original piece of work, using their own words.
  
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  Correctly contextualise all sources, including Illustrations and maps, which have been included.
  
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  Reflect upon the process of research and consider what has been learnt.
  
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  Include a list of references (bibliography) of all the resources which have been consulted in the course of researching and writing the assignment.
  

Some suggestions of what can be done with the Research Assignments when they are completed.

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  The Research Assignments should be displayed at your school, community hall or local library. Exhibiting the learners’ work is very important. It gives learners a sense of purpose and shows them that their ideas and efforts are of value to their school and community.
  
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  Learners could give an oral presentation of their research projects to the class, grade, school or local community. This gives learners the opportunity to speak about their research and share their ‘new’ found knowledge.
  
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  Organise a class debate on the key question.
  
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  Hold a History evening, or weekend morning, at which learners are given an opportunity to present their work to friends, family and members of the community. Such an event can be used to showcase the work of the History department and help to promote the subject.
  

TABLE SHOWING LEARNERS HOW TO STRUCTURE AND CARRY OUT RESEARCH
Key Question:

STRUCTURE OF A RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT	SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO CARRY OUT RESEARCH
Hint 1: Before you start writing your research assignment	Analyse the key question and make sure that you fully understand what it being asked and any historical terms which are used in the question. Identify possible sources of information which will help answer the key question. These could be found in your school, local or mobile library, on-line, in the community. Start to read and gather information about the key question
Hint 2: During the research process	Ensure that you have a plan so that your time is used effectively to meet deadlines. Use the template to help structure your note taking. [Annexure C, p.29] At all times keep the key question in mind. Keep asking yourself whether the information you are gathering is relevant to the question.
WRITING UP THE RESEARCH
Cover Pages	Use the ‘Cover Page for a Research Assignment’ and ‘Monitoring Log’. [Annexure A, p.27 and Annexure B, p.28]
Introduction (Write approximately ½-1 page).	Explain the approach that will be taken in your research assignment Indicate the line of argument that will be taken to answer the key question.
Background (Write approximately 1-2 pages)	Explain the historical context of the question. Give enough background information to help the reader understand why the key question you are answering is relevant and significant.
Body of Essay (Write approximately 2-3 pages)	In this section you present and substantiate your argument. Select evidence from your readings which could be used to substantiate (support) your answer to the key question. Use quotations selectively. If you do quote directly from any source: a book, an oral interview, an internet article, it should be put inside inverted commas and fully referenced.
Hint 3: During the writing process	Do not leave the writing up stage until the last few days before the due date. Make sure that you plan your time effectively to meet the deadlines and that you have allowed enough time for revisions and proofreading. Always write in full sentences and organise the body of your research assignment into paragraphs. At all times keep the key question in mind. Keep a list of the references you use as you go along (eg: if you quote from a book or include an image then write down the details of where it came from before you forget.)
Conclusion (Write approximately ½ -1 page)	In this paragraph you should sum up the argument that was sustained and developed in the body of your research assignment.
Reflection (write approximately ½ - 1 page)	In this section you should discuss what you have learnt from this research assignment. Explain what insights, skills and knowledge you have acquired while undertaking this research, identify any challenges you faced during the research process and how you overcame them.
Bibliography	List ALL the resources that you used during the preparation of your research assignment. An example of how to correctly format a bibliography is included. [Annexure D, p.30].
Hint 4: Before you submit your research assignment	Check that you have complied with the following requirements: Front Cover Introduction Background Body of evidence Conclusion Reflection Bibliography Proofread your work thoroughly to check for coherence, spelling and grammatical errors.