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School of Global Studies

Ideas of History (V1375)

Ideas of History

Module V1375

Module details for 2023/24.

15 credits

FHEQ Level 5

Module Outline

This module is about different ways of doing history. By studying a variety of approaches to history you will sharpen your critical skills in evaluating different types of historical writing. Ranging from Whig history in the nineteenth century, to non-western historical traditions, and to recent innovations such as microhistory and the history of emotions, the module will introduce you to some key approaches to history and to some fundamental methodological issues in our discipline. What explains the differences in the ways historians have tried to make sense of the past? What are the key methodological concerns that have shaped the writing of history? What counts as evidence, and what, indeed, counts as historical writing? The plurality of approaches to history introduced in your weekly lectures attests to the diversity of possible perspectives on historical change and agency, sources and evidence, and to the changing relationship between historical writing and its context.

Module learning outcomes

Deploy established knowledge of key approaches to history and classic texts in historiography to undertake critical analysis of historical information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis.

Deploy knowledge of the complex factors that shape the writing of history at a given time and place to reflect on current historical practice.

Think critically about the status of historical knowledge, understand how different intellectual traditions deal with key methodological issues in history-writing, and apply that understanding to a precise historical problem.

Critically evaluate a specific approach to history, and communicate information and arguments in a variety of formats.

TypeTimingWeighting
Coursework100.00%
Coursework components. Weighted as shown below.
EssayA1 Week 1 50.00%
Group PresentationT1 Week 11 (10 minutes)50.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Autumn SemesterLecture2 hours01111111111
Autumn SemesterSeminar1 hour11111111111
Autumn SemesterLecture2 hours10000000000

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Prof Darrow Schecter

Assess convenor
/profiles/2356

Dr Hana Qugana

Assess convenor
/profiles/526043

Dr Christopher Warne

Assess convenor, Convenor
/profiles/112524

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