HIS-10030: Historical Research and Writing

School of Humanities

HIS-10030

Historical Research and Writing

Co-ordinator:

Dr Rachel Bright Tel:33466

Teaching Team:

Miss Amanda Roberts, Dr Philip Morgan Mrs Christine Edge Prof Axel Schaefer Dr Anthony Kauders Dr Christoph Dieckmann Miss Jo-Anne Watts Dr Laura Sandy Dr Robert Gray Mr Craig Doughty, Dr Benjamin Anderson, Miss Julia Lawton

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

1

Credits:

15

150

School Office:

Tel: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for

American Studies Dual Honours (Level 1)
American Studies Minor (Level 1)
American Studies Single Honours (Level 1)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description

This course introduces first-year students to the study of History at university. It will provide you with the particular skills you will need to study History and which you will apply throughout your degree course. Your tutor will devise a historical topic or debate through which to identify and apply the skills needed to undertake historical research and writing. The lecture programme provides an introduction to the practises expected of and the resources available to a History student at Keele. It also introduces you to the range of historical research undertaken by History staff at Keele - the questions asked; the techniques used; the range of historical writing produced and its relevance to today. Small group seminars supported by a series of exercises will provide the means to locate the acquisition and development of skills within the study of a specific historical debate or topic.

The course is assessed by a number of written exercises and an essay. Although primarily designed for History students, this course will also appeal to students of other Humanities and Social Science subjects.

As a useful start to thinking about History, we suggest you read:

John H. Arnold, History. A very short introduction (Oxford University Press, 2000)

There are also a number of books which focus on the practical skills required of a history student. We suggest:

I.W. Mabbett, Writing History Essays. A Student&©s Guide (Palgrave, 2007)

If you don&©t acquire Mabbett, you might want to consider one of the following books which would provide a useful reference for you during this course and throughout your undergraduate studies in history:

Mary Abbott (ed.), History Skills. A student&©s handbook (Routledge, 1996)

Jeremy Black & Donald MacRaild, Studying History (Palgrave, 2000)

John Tosh, The Pursuit of History (Longman, 4th edition 2006)

To introduce students to the skills required to study History at university. In particular, to develop discipline-specific skills such as bibliographic skills and literature searches; historical writing; the evaluation and interpretation of primary and secondary sources; the application of key historical concepts.

Intended Learning Outcomes

use the library and electronic resources to locate and critically evaluate secondary sources will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,4
distinguish between different types of historical sources and their uses will be achieved by assessments: 3,4
use appropriate citations and bibliographic conventions and understand what plagiarism is will be achieved by assessments: 1,4
distinguish between narrative and analysis and be able to structure an argument will be achieved by assessments: 4
understand the contested nature of history will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,4

10 lectures, 10 seminars, 30 seminar preparation, 40 research and write lecture log and associated exercises, 10 research and write bibliography and essay plan, 10 research and write document exercise, 40 research and write essay.

Description of Module Assessment

01: Essay-Plan

Essay plan with bibliography
Essay plan with supporting bibliography, properly formatted including books and articles. This is in preparation for the coursework essay.

02: Portfolio weighted 40%

Exercises forming a lecture log
Exercises relating to 5-7 lectures, with a total word count of 1500-2000 words

03: Exercise weighted 20%

document exercise
A critical commentary on a set of primary sources.

04: Essay weighted 40%

An essay of c.2000 words

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

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