PORTFOLIO (COMPLETE
ANSWERS) Semester 1
2025 - DUE May 2025
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, Section A: Introduction
Personal Statement [1]
My name is [Your Full Name], and I am currently a student at the University of South Africa
(UNISA) enrolled in HSY1511. I am passionate about understanding the historical forces that
have shaped both Africa and the wider world.
Portfolio Purpose [2]
The purpose of this portfolio is to reflect on and consolidate my learning throughout the
HSY1511 course. It demonstrates my understanding of historical concepts, analytical skills, and
essay-writing abilities, and includes key assessments, reflections, and final outputs.
Course Overview [2]
HSY1511 Course Objectives:
To gain an understanding of significant developments in the history of Africa and the
world from the 17th century to the early 21st century.
To acquire an appreciation of the critical place of Africa in the history of the world.
To gain an understanding of some major themes in the history of Africa and the world
over the last four centuries, and to come to understand the important place of Africa in
these developments.
Develop an understanding of the historical roots of current African society, and acquire
respect, appreciation and understanding of different societies, cultures, and points of
view.
To produce effective learning, analytical and critical skills which are appropriate to the
discipline of History and are transferable to other disciplines and other contexts.
Assessment 1 Reflection [10]
1. How historians systematically study the past:
Historians use a systematic approach that includes gathering evidence from primary and
secondary sources, critically analyzing the reliability and perspective of these sources,
and constructing narratives or arguments that explain historical events.
2. Analytical skills learned from studying history:
Studying history develops skills such as source evaluation, argument construction, pattern
recognition, and understanding cause and effect. These skills are transferable to many
other fields and enhance critical thinking.
3. Main components of a well-written paragraph:
A well-written paragraph includes a clear topic sentence, supporting evidence or analysis,
and a concluding sentence that ties back to the main argument or leads into the next
paragraph.