HIS-40002 - Approaches to historical research

Coordinator: Kristen C Brill Tel: +44 1782 7 33201

Lecture Time: See Timetable...

Level: Level 7

Credits: 30

Study Hours: 300

School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

In this module, students consider two broad questions which will help them plan and prepare their dissertation: What methodological approach may best suit my project? What, if any theories may suit my project?
In order to answer these questions, students will be introduced to different approaches to the research and writing of history, engage with debates on the status of historical knowledge, and examines the sources and resources available. The module aims to broaden studentsż understanding of methodological debates within history and to provide conceptual and other tools for their own research work. The core seminars are led by specialists within the department and are open to all postgraduates in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Throughout, students are encouraged to reflect on the relevance of the material under consideration to their own research topic.

Aims

- introduces different approaches to the research and writing of history
- engages with debates on the status of historical knowledge
- examines the sources and resources available.
- broadens studentsż understanding of methodological debates within history
- provides conceptual and other tools for their own research work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate familiarity with different approaches to the research and writing of history: 1,2,3
Engage with debates on the status of historical knowledge: 1,2,3
Examine the sources and resources available to do the dissertation, especially relating to methodology and theory: 1,2,3
Demonstrate a firm understanding of methodological debates within history: 1,2,3
Demonstrate a firm understanding of the conceptual and other tools available for their own research work: 1,2,3

Study hours

11 x 2-hour seminars
2 research seminars at Keele of c.2 hours each.
66 hours for weekly class preparation
208 hours for researching, preparing and writing assessments

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 70%
3000 words
The topic of this essay is flexible, and should be decided through discussion with your supervisor and module convener. Below are suggestions, although this should be treated as guidance, not definitive instruction. Students may: - Reflect on one or two methodologies covered in the module and relate them to their intended dissertation topic (methodology includes sources themselves and frameworks of interpretation). - If you are not yet sure of your dissertationżs topic, especially if you are a part-time student, you can explore a particular aspect of historical methodology or theory which interests you and may later be useful. - You may also use the essay as a feasibility study for a particular topic, identifying potential sources and identifying relevant methodologies and if there are any potential issues.

2: Reflective Diary weighted 20%
1,500 word reflective essay
This assignment is about you as a postgraduate really starting to participate actively in Keele's research culture, and this allows you time to reflect on what that means and how you may fit within it. This essay requires you to reflect on any 2 research seminars that you have attended during semester 1. These can be any academic events hosted by the university. If in doubt, check with the module convener. Official Keele Arts, KPA, or HUMS research events may be most appropriate. A list of Humanities events is available on the KLE Postgraduate Noticeboard, and further events are listed on Keele's own events website. This assignment requires you to reflect critically on any 2 of these seminars. This will include providing an accurate and brief summary of the speakerżs argument including identifying their critical/theoretical methods and how their research is adding to their field. You should then reflect on what the strengths (and, if appropriate, any weaker areas) of the paper were, and also what you learned from listening to it (was the topic or methodology of relevance to your work in some way? did you think the argument was particularly well executed ż could you mimic its structure?). What about the presentation itself? What worked well, or what did not work so well?

3: Presentation weighted 10%
Presentation (c.5 minutes)
All students give a presentation in Week 12. This presentation is your chance to present your essay plan for the module to the rest of the audience, and explain why the chosen theories or methodological approaches relate to your dissertation topic. There will be time for questions at the end. PowerPoint is not required but is recommended.

HIS-40002 - Module Specification School of Humanities Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

HIS-40002 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences