HSMSR1-Historical Skills and Resources

Module Provider: History
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Rohan Deb Roy
Email: r.debroy@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module aims to provide students with the necessary methodological, bibliographical and archival skills in preparation for their dissertation work. The module also introduces material culture and the history of the book as the basis for future training in museum or archival studies.

Aims:
This module aims to provide students with the necessary methodological, bibliographical and archival skills in preparation for their dissertation work. The module also introduces material culture and the history of the book as the basis for future training in museum or archival studies.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate research methodologies and techniques and their application, especially with respect to the use of a wide range of primary sources


• Work independently on a well-defined set of sources


• Examine critically the value and relevance of the chosen primary sources


• Place the primary sources used in this module within the wider historical and historiographical contexts


• Identify the appropriate bibliographical resources


• Collate a wide range of primary and secondary information to into a coherent piece of written work


• Develop their communication and media skills by presenting their findings in a concise blog post aimed at a non-specialist audience

Additional outcomes:
This module encourages students to work on their own on a set of primary sources and to learn how to manage their project and to select the relevant information among a wide range of primary and secondary sources.

Outline content:

This module is developed in partnership with the Museum of Rural Life (MERL) and Special Collections at the University of Reading. It provides students with hands-on training on primary sources from 1500 onwards. Students will work in the Special Collections Reading Room at MERL. They will first receive four induction sessions from the MA Director and from MERL members of staff. Later, they will work on their own on a set of primary sources in the MERL Reading Room while one member of staff will be of assistance to answer any queries they may have and to give advice. In the Spring Term, they will submit a 4,000 word essay (excluding notes and bibliography) and 300 word blog on the primary source they have studied.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
This module offers specific training on primary sources in the form of seminars. Students will also have the opportunity to carry out independent study and to manage their own project through hands-on sessions in the MERL Reading Room. The presentation and the essay will help students develop their oral and written communication skills.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars		8
Project Supervision		8
Guided independent study:		284
Total hours by term	0	300	0
Total hours for module	300

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	90
Set exercise	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:
n/a

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

This module will be assessed by one essay of 3,000 words (excluding endnotes/footnotes and bibliography) and a social media (blog/vlog/podcast/gallery) (1000 words) to be submitted by Monday of Week 1 of Summer Term  The social media piece will be assessed and will count 40% of the overall mark for this module. The essay will count for 60% of the overall mark for this module. There is a 5% leeway on the word count before a penalty is applied.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50%

Reassessment arrangements:
A further essay of 4,000 words to be submitted by 1st September.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023