NationStates Jolt Archive

In my current school year, it is compulsory to study "containing communism" as a history module. Essentially, it consists of the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts, and the role played by the USA, Soviet Union, and other potentates, in each.

Korea, as it happens, is all hunky-dory, in light of our having a competant teacher for that section. However, we (my class, not a reflection of ego;) ), have a newly trained incompetant teaching us Vietnam, whose knowledge extends no further than having watched platoon. Thus, with a 50/50 chance of Vietnam being examined in the summer, and in light of the fact that it is taught by informed, competant teachers in the US, I wonder if any decent poster could possibly help me, either in a direct fashion, or through suggested reading and websites.


p.s. In light of recent posts, I know I don't deserve even the slightest help, however, I am genuinely sorry for any offence caused, and for being an unreasonable reactionry. I am trying to be nicer.:)

Hunky-dory? The Korean War? The war that is still going on, 50+ years in the future? You know North and South Korea never did sign a peace treaty... It was also considered the first war to be lost by the west.

Hunky-dory? The Korean War? The war that is still going on, 50+ years in the future? You know North and South Korea never did sign a peace treaty... It was also considered the first war to be lost by the west.

My apologies for any misunderstanding. Hunky-dory in regards to teaching.

In my current school year, it is compulsory to study "containing communism" as a history module. Essentially, it consists of the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts, and the role played by the USA, Soviet Union, and other potentates, in each.

Korea, as it happens, is all hunky-dory, in light of our having a competant teacher for that section. However, we (my class, not a reflection of ego;) ), have a newly trained incompetant teaching us Vietnam, whose knowledge extends no further than having watched platoon. Thus, with a 50/50 chance of Vietnam being examined in the summer, and in light of the fact that it is taught by informed, competant teachers in the US, I wonder if any decent poster could possibly help me, either in a direct fashion, or through suggested reading and websites.


p.s. In light of recent posts, I know I don't deserve even the slightest help, however, I am genuinely sorry for any offence caused, and for being an unreasonable reactionry. I am trying to be nicer.:)

for some first hand insight Robert McNamara Sec. of Defense(I think) at the time and his documentary "Fog of War", there are websites related to it, excellent information on the cold war from someone who was there and took part in the politics...

Is there anything specific that you want to know?

I'll find the course specifications for you.....

Is there anything specific that you want to know?

In my current school year, it is compulsory to study "containing communism" as a history module. Essentially, it consists of the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts, and the role played by the USA, Soviet Union, and other potentates, in each.

Korea, as it happens, is all hunky-dory, in light of our having a competant teacher for that section. However, we (my class, not a reflection of ego;) ), have a newly trained incompetant teaching us Vietnam, whose knowledge extends no further than having watched platoon. Thus, with a 50/50 chance of Vietnam being examined in the summer, and in light of the fact that it is taught by informed, competant teachers in the US, I wonder if any decent poster could possibly help me, either in a direct fashion, or through suggested reading and websites.


p.s. In light of recent posts, I know I don't deserve even the slightest help, however, I am genuinely sorry for any offence caused, and for being an unreasonable reactionry. I am trying to be nicer.:)
I must be doing the same course as you. Small world...*

*Of course, you will probably meet someone doing the same course/board, but still...

I must be doing the same course as you. Small world...*

*Of course, you will probably meet someone doing the same course/board, but still...

I see your point all the same.

Upon that issue, where the hell does OCR get off on asking counter-factual questions, in light of their being impossible to answer to even a passable degree?

I see your point all the same.

Upon that issue, where the hell does OCR get off on asking counter-factual questions, in light of their being impossible to answer to even a passable degree?
Simple: they write the exams, accountable to noone, so they do what the hell they want with them. Take my OCR Biology exam I had this morning. Books say: at resting potential, Na/K pump remains open. Diagram on paper says: at resting potential Na/K pump remains closed.

Which question are you specifically talking about?

Simple: they write the exams, accountable to noone, so they do what the hell they want with them. Take my OCR Biology exam I had this morning. Books say: at resting potential, Na/K pump remains open. Diagram on paper says: at resting potential Na/K pump remains closed.

Which question are you specifically talking about?

All that twaddle about "What would Kennedy have done had he lived?". It is completely non-sensical, given that we have no indication, and no intellectual mandate, to guess what Kennedy would have done.

All that twaddle about "What would Kennedy have done had he lived?". It is completely non-sensical, given that we have no indication, and no intellectual mandate, to guess what Kennedy would have done.
I haven't done that yet (we've only just started Vietnam) but that really is BS. To be able to answer that kind of question, you'd have to have much more specialised knowledge than an A-Level course. Looking in the study guide the History department at my school printed off, there's no mention of what Kennedy would have done at all. Hardly mentions him, in fact, and skips on to LBJ.

Kudos to you Chris...for your apology and attempts at calming it. Well done! (not being sarcastic or derogatory...it is honestly meant)

You could start by looking at what led up to the Bay of Tonkin incident by way of French and British colonialism.

Then how rapid the militarization of the US advisor's led to them being involved in direct combat against the NVA and their irregular forces.

The rest they say is history...

I haven't done that yet (we've only just started Vietnam) but that really is BS. To be able to answer that kind of question, you'd have to have much more specialised knowledge than an A-Level course. Looking in the study guide the History department at my school printed off, there's no mention of what Kennedy would have done at all. Hardly mentions him, in fact, and skips on to LBJ.

Other than that, the course isnt that bad actually.

General Studies tomorrow then?

Other than that, the course isnt that bad actually.

General Studies tomorrow then?
Nope, or at least not according to my exam timetable.;)

Nope, or at least not according to my exam timetable.;)

hmmmm:p

*rushes off to check exam timetable*

for some first hand insight Robert McNamara Sec. of Defense(I think) at the time and his documentary "Fog of War", there are websites related to it, excellent information on the cold war from someone who was there and took part in the politics...

that is such an excellent documentary. it also discusses the firebombing of japanese cities during ww2, the development of the seat belt, and the cuban missle crisis. he wasnt sec of def for the whole war. i think lbj replaced him after a while but at least he was replaced when nixon came in. his stories are amazing.

i like the documentary "hearts and minds" also. its focused on vietnam and livens up history with lots of news footage from the time. not that its in any way fair and balanced, just very interesting.

hmmmm:p

*rushes off to check exam timetable*
We might be doing all our modules in May/June, so it's possible that you might be doing an exam when I don't. I know it is possible to do the OCR History containing communism exam in January, but because we do the origins of the Cold War first, not containing communism, we have to do all our exams in May/June, because there's no modular available for origins.

Urgh, I wish I could get an A2 in Exam Boards Studies...

All that twaddle about "What would Kennedy have done had he lived?". It is completely non-sensical, given that we have no indication, and no intellectual mandate, to guess what Kennedy would have done.

actually if you took my advice and watch the Fog of War you would have an indication of what Kennedy would have done. McNamara and Kennedy discussed it in the documentary...He was looking for a way out...you don't listen, you deserve to fail...