Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 18 x 1 hour |
| Seminars / Tutorials |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay: 2 essays (1 x 4,000 words, 1 x 2,500 words) | 40% |
| Semester Exam | 3 Hours | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
a) Demonstrate familiarity with a substantial body of historical knowledge in the field of modern and contemporary British political, social and cultural history.
b) Engage in source criticism, discussion and understanding of the scope and variety of sources in modern British history.
c) Demonstrate familiarity with a wide range of historical techniques relevant to a comparative study of political and social developments.
d) Gather and sift appropriate items of historical evidence
e) Read, analyse and reflect critically on secondary and primary texts, in particular contemporary reportage and other media sources.
f) Develop the ability to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of particular historical arguments and where necessary challenge them.
g) Develop oral (not assessed) and written skills which will have been improved through seminar discussions and essays
h) Work both independently and collaboratively, and to participate in group discussions (not assessed).
Brief description
This option module considers British history from the turn of the twentieth century until the fairly recent past (the fall of Margaret Thatcher). It will focus primarily on political developments but will, in addition, incoroporate social, economic and cultural change. The main theme of the module is the changing character of British politics throughout the twentieth century - its structures, discourse, political culture - and how these developments reflect, and in turn influence, other aspects of British society. Central to this theme are such topics as the evolution of a mass democracy, the impact of the two World Wars, Britain's search for an international post-war role, the development and downfall of a politics of concensus.
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6