Persecution of People
This subtopic explores the reasons why people are persecuted, the experiences they endure, and the lasting effects on individuals and communities. Learners gain insight into historical and contemporary examples of persecution, building empathy and understanding of human rights.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The WJEC Entry Level Certificate in Humanities (Entry 2) is a foundational qualification designed to introduce students to key themes in history, geography, and religious studies. It focuses on developing basic knowledge and understanding of the world around us, including how people lived in the past, the features of different places, and the beliefs and practices of major religions. This qualification is ideal for students who are building confidence in their learning and need a stepping stone to further study.
Studying this course helps students make sense of current events by understanding their historical and geographical contexts. For example, learning about local history or the geography of the local area can help students appreciate their community's heritage and environment. The course also encourages respect for different cultures and beliefs, which is essential in today's diverse society.
This qualification fits within the wider subject of Humanities by providing a broad introduction to the disciplines of history, geography, and religious studies. It prepares students for progression to higher-level qualifications, such as GCSE Humanities or other Entry Level certificates, by building essential skills like source analysis, map reading, and discussing different viewpoints.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Chronology: Understanding the order of events in time, using terms like 'past', 'present', 'before', and 'after'.
- →Place: Recognising different types of places (e.g., city, village, coast) and their basic features.
- →Belief: Knowing that different people have different beliefs and practices, such as in Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism.
- →Evidence: Using simple sources like pictures, objects, or stories to find out about the past or a place.
- →Change and Continuity: Identifying things that have changed or stayed the same over time.
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- know causes of persecution of people, know what happens during persecution of people, know how experience of persecution has affected people
- know causes of persecution of people, know what happens during persecution of people, know how experience of persecution has affected people
- Identify common causes of persecution, such as differences in religion, race, or political beliefs.
- Describe ways people are mistreated during persecution, including discrimination, violence, and exclusion.
- Explain how the experience of persecution can affect individuals and communities emotionally, socially, and economically.
- Recognise examples of persecution in historical events or current affairs.
- know causes of persecution of people, know what happens during persecution of people, know how experience of persecution has affected people
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Identify at least one cause of persecution, such as religion, race, political beliefs, or disability.
- Describe what happens during persecution using simple terms, e.g., discrimination, violence, loss of rights, or imprisonment.
- Explain how persecution affects people's lives, e.g., feeling unsafe, forced to flee their home, loss of family, or impact on mental health.
- Award credit for identifying at least one cause of persecution, such as religious intolerance or racial hatred.
- Evidence of understanding what happens during persecution, e.g., mention of forced migration or physical harm.
- Demonstration of how persecution affects people, e.g., emotional distress or loss of cultural identity.
- Award credit for correctly naming at least one cause of persecution drawn from learning materials.
- Award credit for describing at least one form of persecution with a simple example.
- Award credit for stating at least one effect of persecution on a person or group.
- Accept evidence in the form of drawings, simple written work, or oral accounts as appropriate to the learner's needs.
- Award credit for clearly identifying at least two distinct causes of persecution (e.g., ethnic hatred, religious extremism), with simple explanations.
- Look for evidence that the learner describes specific actions or events that constitute persecution, such as denial of rights, physical attacks, or forced relocation.
- Credit responses that illustrate how persecution has affected people, referencing emotional impacts (fear, loss of identity), social consequences (community breakdown), or long-term trauma.
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡Use simple, clear language and refer to the examples discussed in your course, like the Holocaust or modern refugee crises.
- 💡When describing effects, try to mention how people might feel (e.g., scared, alone) and what they might lose (e.g., their home, job, or family).
- 💡Remember to show understanding that persecution can happen in different ways, not just through direct harm.
- 💡Use concrete examples from case studies or news stories to support answers.
- 💡When describing effects, consider both immediate and long-term impacts on individuals and families.
- 💡Provide simple, clear explanations with examples to meet the 'know' objectives.
- 💡Use specific examples from case studies covered in class to support your answers.
- 💡Remember the assessment may ask you to link causes, events, and effects in a simple sequence.
- 💡Practice using key vocabulary such as 'discrimination', 'prejudice', 'victim', and 'rights' to show understanding.
- 💡Use concrete examples from different historical periods or contexts (e.g., religious persecution in the Roman Empire, the Holocaust, modern-day cases) to demonstrate breadth of understanding.
- 💡When explaining how persecution affects people, consider both immediate and long-term consequences, and try to mention both individual and community-level impacts.
- 💡Structure your answers by first stating a cause, then describing what happens during persecution, and finally linking to the effects, showing clear progression.
- 💡Use the sources provided in the exam carefully. Look at pictures, maps, or short texts for clues to help answer questions. Even a simple label can give you marks.
- 💡Keep your answers simple and clear. You don't need long sentences. Bullet points or short phrases are often fine, as long as you answer the question directly.
- 💡If you are asked to give an opinion (e.g., 'Do you think...?'), always give a reason. For example, 'I think this because...' shows you are thinking about the topic.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Confusing persecution with bullying or personal conflicts; persecution involves systematic mistreatment of a group.
- Thinking persecution is always physical; it can also be psychological, social, or economic, such as exclusion from work or education.
- Not recognising that persecution can be carried out by governments or powerful institutions, not just individuals.
- Confusing persecution with general bullying, failing to recognise its systemic and group-targeted nature.
- Believing persecution only occurs in historical contexts, not recognising contemporary examples.
- Assuming persecution is always violent, overlooking psychological or economic persecution.
- Confusing persecution with general conflict or war.
- Assuming all persecution involves physical violence, overlooking forms like verbal harassment or social exclusion.
- Struggling to differentiate between cause and effect when explaining persecution.
- Confusing persecution with general prejudice or discrimination without recognising the systematic and targeted nature of persecution.
- Assuming all persecution involves violence, overlooking non-physical forms like economic oppression or erasure of culture.
- Failing to connect causes to effects, such as not linking historical events to present-day psychological or social impacts.
- Misconception: History is just a list of dates. Correction: History is about understanding why events happened and how they affect people's lives, not just memorising dates.
- Misconception: Geography is only about naming countries and capitals. Correction: Geography also involves understanding landscapes, weather, and how people interact with their environment.
- Misconception: All religious people believe the same things. Correction: Even within the same religion, there can be different beliefs and practices, and not everyone follows a religion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for WJEC-CBAC Persecution of People
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Basic literacy skills: Being able to read simple sentences and write short answers.
- •Awareness of the local area: Knowing the name of your town or city and some local landmarks can help with geography topics.
- •Understanding of time: Knowing the difference between 'a long time ago' and 'recently' is useful for history.
Coursework AI Review
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- know causes of persecution of people, know what happens during persecution of people, know how experience of persecution has affected people
- know causes of persecution of people, know what happens during persecution of people, know how experience of persecution has affected people
- Causes of persecution
- Forms of persecution
- Effects on victims
- Historical and contemporary examples
- Human rights and protection
- know causes of persecution of people, know what happens during persecution of people, know how experience of persecution has affected people
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