HIS-10036: Modern Local History from c.1750

School of Humanities

HIS-10036

Modern Local History from c.1750

Co-ordinator:

Dr Nigel Tringham Room: CBB0.061, Tel:33282

Teaching Team:

Miss Amanda Roberts, Dr Nigel Tringham, Dr Alannah Tomkins, Dr Ian Atherton, Mrs Christine Edge, Miss Jo-Anne Watts

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

1

Credits:

15

150

School Office:

Tel: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for

History Dual Honours (Level 1)
History Major (Level 1)
History Minor (Level 1)
History Single Honours (Level 1)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Barred Combinations

None

None

Description

Local history is the core of all history. In recent years it has enjoyed something of a renaissance among professional historians (forming, for example, part of the National Curriculum) and has strong links with family history and genealogy. This module is designed to help students master some of the practical skills of English local history in the modern era, from c.1750 to the present day. It will look at the ways that local communities in England can be studied as they underwent many of the key processes of the modern era such as industrialization, urbanization and secularization. Unlike most level-one History modules, where the emphasis is on analyzing what other historians have said on a particular topic, this is a practical, hands-on History module introducing students to the skills and techniques of doing local history. Many of the examples and illustrations will be drawn from the history of Staffordshire, Cheshire and the Midlands, but this is not a module on the history of any one place. Rather, it provides students with many of the tools to undertake research into places in the past, or to put genealogical work in a wider context to understand how individuals and families lived within communities.

This module introduces students to the field of local history, particularly to the techniques and processes of researching and writing local history in the modern era (c. 1750 to the present day). It covers many of the key sources for the history of local communities in England and how they can best be utilized to study local communities and their inhabitants from c.1750.

Intended Learning Outcomes

recognize and explain the main approaches to the modern local history of English communities will be achieved by assessments: 1
assess critically different historical explanations will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
assess the balance between continuity and change in the history of local communities in England from c.1750 will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
evaluate primary sources in their historiographical context will be achieved by assessments: 2

20 hours in seminars and workshops; 70 hours in seminar preparation; 60 hours in researching and writing assignments.

Description of Module Assessment

01: Essay weighted 50%

An essay of c. 2000 words
One essay on a local-history theme chosen from a list set by the tutor.

02: Exercise weighted 50%

A document exercise of c. 2000 words
One document exercise requiring students to analyze and interpret a primary source.

Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.