MODULE SPECIFICATION
Code: UPHPGN-30-2 Title: Theory and Practice of History Version: 9
Level: 2 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15
Module type: Project
Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities Field: History
Faculty Committee approval: QSC, Chair’s Action Date: 16th July 2009
Approved for Delivery by:
(indicate name of affiliated institution if module will only be delivered by them)
Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: Awards up to BA (Hons)
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: One other standard Level 2 or Level 3 History module
Entry requirements:
(if the module is offered as CPD or stand alone, indicate the entry requirements)
Excluded combinations: UPHPHG-30-3 – The Theory and Practice of History
Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this module students will be able to demonstrate:
• an awareness of the ways in which history has developed as an academic discipline. (assessed through portfolio and secondary sources essay)
• sufficient knowledge of historiography to enable them to read secondary sources in a critical manner and feel confident about employing a theoretical framework in their own research. (assessed through portfolio and secondary sources essay)
• the ability to understand and contribute to historical debates and identify significant differences in historical focus and in the selection and interpretation of evidence (assessed through portfolio and primary sources essay)
• an appreciation that controversy and debate are the features of every kind of history. Gained through the study of non time-specific and abstract issues like objectivity, narrative, Marxism or gender in the context of the historical controversies they engendered (assessed through all elements)
• the ability to analyse primary sources, comment on their historical context and demonstrate an awareness of the methodological issues associated with different forms of primary evidence (assessed through portfolio and primary sources essay)
• the ability to use a range of research techniques and to critique those techniques (assessed through portfolio)
• the ability to reflect on their learning process (assessed through portfolio)
Syllabus outline:
The module is a practice-based introduction to research skills in history. Most of the practical work is focused on the development of a research portfolio. The module covers:
What is history?
What is historiography?
What are primary sources and how can they be used?
How do theories of history affect practice?
What are secondary sources and how can they be used?
The module will include practical activities in archival search; ways of reading sources; statistical analysis; web-based research; identification of genres; oral history.
It will also include introduction to theories of history and historiography.
When practicable, the module will include field trips to the National Archive &/or the Colindale Newspaper Library &/or local archives.
Students taking this module at Level 3 will be required to show evidence of self-reflection on their dissertation work as part of their portfolio preparation.
Teaching and learning methods:
The module builds extensively on work already initiated in the Level 1 history modules, particularly in relation to historical skills.
A number of weeks are set aside for practical activities and concentrated discussion in seminars on how to go about producing the course work for assessment.
In seminars, students use primary documents and secondary readings that reflect themes taught in other modules, in order to think about the variety of methodological and theoretical approaches that are possible.
Lectures are used to provide background information, define terms and give some guidance with regard to the strengths and limitations of each approach. Seminars will provide students with the opportunity to examine the approaches in more detail and to formulate and express their own views.
Reading Strategy
There is very little reading that is specific to the module. Most of the recommended reading for seminars is available online, primarily from JSTOR, and accessed through uweonline.
However, this is a practice-based, rather than reading-based, module. Students reflect on the texts and sources they are using in their other History module(s). The availability of suitable texts is therefore dependent on how well resourced those other modules are.
Indicative Reading List: The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.
Appleby, Joyce et al |
Telling the Truth About History (NY: Norton, 1994) |
Bentley, Michael. |
Modern Historigraphy: An Introduction (London: Routledge, 1991) |
Black, J. and MacRaild, D. |
Studying History (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1997) |
Burke, P. (ed) |
New Perspectives on Historical Writing (Oxford: Blackwell, Polity Press, 1991 2nd edn, January 2001). |
Carr, E.H. |
What is History (London: Palgrave, 2001 – originally 1961) |
Green, A & Troup, K (eds) |
The Houses of History: A Critical Reader in Twentieth-Century History and Theory (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1999). |
Jenkins, Keith |
Re-thinking History (London: Routledge, 1991) |
Jordanova, L. |
History in Practice (London: Arnold, 2000). |
Tosh, John. |
The Pursuit of History (3rd edn, Harlow: Pearson, 2000). |
Tosh, John. |
Historians on History (Harlow: Pearson Educational, 2000). |
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 100%
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Primary sources exercise (1000 words) 15%
2. Secondary sources analysis (1500 words) 20%
3. Portfolio of work (7,500 words) 65%
4. Primary sources exercise (1000 words) 15%
[best mark of 1 and 4 to go forward]
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Portfolio of work (8,500 words) 80%
2. Secondary sources analysis (1500 words) 20%
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)