First Year Module
Module Leader: Dr Harvey Osborne
Rationale and Content:
This module will introduce students to the skills and methods necessary for historical research and writing at BA level. In addition to assisting students in acquiring and reflecting upon the generic study skills required to succeed in Higher Education, it will also introduce the analytical, technical and linguistic tools necessary for the creation of historical knowledge. There will be particular emphasis on: the skills required to write history; primary and secondary source analysis; and research strategies. Students will also be introduced to some of the key concepts involved in the study of the past. The module will develop skills and provide information that will be consolidated on the other modules studied in the history programme.
The content can be divided into two main sections. The first relates to an understanding of the nature of history and its role in contemporary society, key to that will be the consideration of what historians do and how they do it. This section of the module will consider approaches to historical sources, problems with their interpretation and the nature of historiography. It will also discuss why and how concepts are used by historians. In addition, we will consider the tension between different understandings of history and the questions generated, for example, does a Tudor Day at Kentwell Hall have as much value as a research trip to read the sixteenth century court papers at the National Archive? Does Wilfred Owen’s poetry tell us as much about the First World War as the writing of historians such as Paul Fussell or Peter Simkins?
The second section will train students in more practical skills, including those required to write history, conduct source analysis and undertake research. There will be a series of exercises relating to: writing, including summarising, paraphrasing, using quotations, style and presentation, referencing; textual analysis, including techniques to differentiate argument from evidence, note-taking, practices to avoid plagiarism; and those relating to research, including the compilation of bibliographies and the use of the internet. Through the analysis of texts and the consideration of technique, the module aims to make students aware of the relationship between the creation of historical knowledge and precise, structured writing. History is about analysis, but it is also about the ability to construct an engaging narrative: the best historians tell great stories. Good writing helps to clarify ideas and informs analytical skills.
Learning and Teaching Strategies:
This module will be delivered each week in two 2-hour workshop sessions. The first session of each week will focus on issues relating to the nature of history, historical sources and concepts. The second session will generally work with similar materials but will be focused on practical skills. In each session, students will collaboratively engage in a series of textual commentaries and/or short exercises and present their conclusions. Peer feedback will form an important part of the learning process.
Assessment:
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Module
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Mode
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Weighting %
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Length
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Submission date
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History Skills
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Defined task: Formative piece of writing (diagnostic - not formally assessed)
Individual Presentation (not formally assessed)
Essay
Defined task: (Course Journal)
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N/A
N/A
50
50
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500 words
5 minutes
2,000 words
2,000 words equivalent
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Week 4
Week 12
Week 10
Week 12
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Recommended introductory reading:
J.Tosh, The Pursuit of History, 3rd Edition (London, 2002 edition)
J.Arnold, History, a Very Short Introduction, (Oxford, 2000).
M. Abbott, History Skills: A Student's Handbook, 2nd edition, (London: Routledge, 2008).
I. Mabbet, Writing History Essays: A Student's Guide, (Basingstoke and New York, 2007).
Further reading:
R. Barrass, Students Must Write: A Guide to Better Writing in Coursework and Examinations, (London:Routledge, 1995).
J. Black and D.M. MacRaild, Studying History, 2nd Edition, (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave, 2000).
M.Coles, A Student's Guide to Coursework Writing, (Stirling: University of Stirling, 1995).
B.Greetham, How to Write Better Essays, (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave, 2001).
L. Jordanova, History in Practice, 2nd edition, (London: Hodder Arnold, 2006).
R.Marius, A Short Guide to Writing about History, (New York: Longman, 1999).
A.Marwick, The New Nature of History, (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave, 2001).
J.Rose, The Mature Student's Guide to Writing, (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave, 2001).
W.Storey, Writing History: A Guide for Students, (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2004).