Modern History

This term in Modern History we look at communism in Australia. Item 2909 looks at women's involvement in the Communist Party of Australia from the 1920's to the 1950's, Item 2910 discusses the shifting view of the Communist Party of Australia in the times of WWII and the cold war, Item 2911 takes a detailed look at the workings, influence and eventual failure of the Communist Party of Australia and Item 2912 discusses the battle in the parliament for the suppression of communism in the early 1950's.

History Extension

Articles on John F. Kennedy are included this term. Item 2913 examines the major political events of Kennedy's presidency from a revisionist interpretation, Item 2914 looks at John F. Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis and Item 2915 profiles John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev from a political and personal perspective.

Ancient History

Agrippina the Younger is discussed this term with Item 2916 analysing rhetorical stereotypes in relation to Agrippina the Younger and explores why they have enjoyed a great literary tradition. Item 2917 discusses the family of Agrippina the Younger.

Society and Culture

Item 2918 discusses skilled migrants and employment in Australia, Item 2919 focuses on Muslim women's concept of citizenship in Australia and the nature of their public participation before and after the United States terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001 and Item 2920 discusses the role of sport and recreation for newly arrived young refugees and migrants.

English

This term in English we look at Stephen Frears' film The Queen. Item 2921 examines the film's juxtaposition of the royal establishment and the British public's mourning of Lady Diana Spencer's death, while Item 2922 discusses the film's portrayal of the contradictions between the public image and the private individual and explores the contrasts of power at work in the film. Item 2923 discusses reviews of the film and the media scrutiny of public figures.

http://www.film-philosophy.com/2006v10n3/nochimson2.pdf. This is a link to reviews of films featured in the New York film festival in 2006. The first review is of The Queen.

Also this term Tara June Winch's novel Swallow the Air is discussed. Item 2924 centres on the main character May's journey and how it can be understood in the broader context of Indigenous experience and Item 2925 discusses the resonating themes of the book including family, loss and determination.

Web link

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~abr/JunJul06/On%20review.htm. This is a link to a review of Tara June Winch's Swallow the Air.

Community and Family Studies

Item 2926 details the effects of divorce on children and adolescents taking into account the life stage of the individual involved.

http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/afrc9/cartwright.html. This is a link to a conference paper that discusses the results from a New Zealand study. The study presents interviews from 40 young adults living in New Zealand who have experienced the separation/divorce of their parents during childhood or adolescence.

Economics

Item 2927 explores Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and the consequences they have for the Australian economy and Item 2928 discusses some of the disadvantages and contest of interests that Australia faces under the Australia-US free trade agreement and the criticism it has received from community interest groups.

PDHPE

This term we discuss health inequalities and health reform in Australia. Item 2929 looks at health inequalities in relation to gender, Item 2930 discusses a campaign to improve health and social conditions for Indigenous people and successful initiatives in this area and Item 2931 discusses issues associated with preventative health reform.

Biology

Item 2932 explains Mendel's study of heredity and contains descriptions of various experiments carried out by Mendel including monohybrid crosses, dihybrid crosses and the chi-square test. Item 2933 describes the chemical composition of genes, the fundamental unit of heredity and Item 2934 explains the process of reproductive cloning and some of the issues that surround it.

Legal Studies

Item 2935 discusses the detail of the industrial relations reforms as related by Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard, Item 2936 explains the process of intercountry adoptions in Australia and outlines the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, Item 2937 discusses the lack of appropriate law in regards to end of life medical practice, Item 2938 outlines recent criminal cases that have changed the law either by influencing the interpretation of the law or by influencing the development of the law, Item 2939 discusses the role of the International Criminal Court, Item 2940 discusses a recent Australian court case where a conviction of slavery was handed down to the respondent and Item 2941 discusses the misleading environmental claims that businesses can sometimes make and the consequences they have.

Infocus Newsletter

Infocus is starting an E-newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to receive news of new resources, free web resources and events of interest to HSC students, please visit the website and fill in your name and email address under About infocus or go to http://infocus.sl.nsw.gov.au/res/about.cfm

Upcoming Exhibitions at the State Library of NSW

Charles Darwin Down Under, 1836

Open: 4 April 2009 - 26 July 2009

Venue: Picture Gallery

Follow Charles Darwin's footsteps through original paintings, manuscripts and books documenting his 1836 visit on the HMS Beagle to Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Bathurst, Hobart and Albany. 2009 marks the bicentenary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species.