Module Identifier HY12120  
Module Title INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Dr Steven Thompson  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Dr Eryn M White, Dr Peter A Lambert, Professor Roger D Price, Dr Martyn J Powell, Professor Phillipp R Schofield, Dr Richard G Coopey, Dr Iwan R Morus, Dr Jeffrey L Davies, Professor William D Rubinstein, Dr Michael F Roberts  
Course delivery Lecture    
  Seminars / Tutorials   5 x 2 hour seminars  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment 1 x precis (1,000 words) 30%; 1 x bibliographical exercise (1,500 words) 20%; 1 x short project (2,000 words) 50%100%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to

a) undertake simple but essential bibliographical exercises
b) read secondary historical material with a degree of critical awareness
c) recognise the need to adopt best practice in undertaking research
d) engage with historical debate and offer observation on the relative merits of historical positions
e) represent their engagment with the secondary literature in oral (not assessed) and written (assessed) work
f) reflect critically upon their own historical perspective and anticipate the relevance of acquired skills for further study at degree level

Brief description

This course is intended to provide students new to the study of history at degree level with some of the more important yet basic `skills' which they will need during the course of their degree. Through a series of seminars, based around selected key texts, students will be introduced to a range of skills, techniques and practical exercises intended to cover fundamental elements not only of undergraduate study but also of historians' practice. Accompanying lectures will complement this skills-based approach and establish, in a broad framework, issues central to the historical endeavour.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
A. Northedge (1990) The good study guide
B. Southgate (1996) History, what and why?: ancient, modern, and postmodern perspectives
E.H. Carr What is history?
G. R. Elton (1969) The practice of history
J Clanchy & B Ballard (eds) (1992) How to write essays: a practical guide for students
J. Appleby, L. Hunt & M Jacobs (eds) (1994) Telling the truth about history
J. Tosh (1991) The pursuit of history 2nd.
M. Abbott (ed.) (1996) History skills: a student?s handbook
M. Reeves (19080) Why History?
M. Stanford (1994) A companion to the study of history
R. Barnes (1992) Successful Study for Degrees

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4