HS1011: Everyday Life in a Medieval Town: Reading, 1100-1500

Module code: HS1011

Module provider: History; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Ruth Salter, email: r.j.salter@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 5 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module explores medieval Reading as a case-study for thinking more broadly about life in medieval England (c. 1100-1500).

The aims of the module are to:

• Introduce students to Reading’s medieval history and to ‘everyday life in medieval England
• Introduce students to a range of primary materials and the analytical skills required to study the Middle Ages
• Encourage students to reflect critically upon the study of local history and its place within wider academic study, and with regards to public history

The purpose of the module is to equip students with an understanding of life in England during the high to later Middle Ages (with a focus on Reading) and to develop their skills and ability to analyse ideas in historical context in subsequent modules.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand how ideas and events are shaped by their historical contexts
2. Be aware of differing historiographical interpretations
3. Organise material and articulate arguments effectively in writing
4. Demonstrate familiarity with bibliographical conventions and mastery of library skills

Module content

The module will begin by setting the scene of early-medieval Reading: what was there before the monastery, how important was Reading pre-Norman Conquest, was there a nunnery at St Mary’s in the Butts? Attention then turns to the twelfth century and to Henry I’s foundation of the abbey: what can we learn about life in the monastery, what was the relationship between monastery and town/royalty/visitors etc.? As we move through the High Middle Ages into the Later Middle Ages, we will think about the development of the town itself and the rise of the guilds: what types of commerce was Reading involved with, how important was the Guild, how did the arrival of the Grey Friars impact the town? We finish our exploration with the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which marked the end of monastic interests in the town. This module will also include a tour of medieval Reading, taking in what is left of Reading Abbey’s ruins and the other medieval survivals.

The module is assessed through two assessments. The first is a primary source analysis relating to Reading’s history (from a selection provided by the convenor). The second is a ‘hometown case study’ which asks students to use the skills they have developed in the module and to apply these to a study of their hometown’s medieval history (additional guidance and support for this will be provided by the convenor).

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching is by eleven weekly two-hour seminars, supplemented by online activities as directed and independent study.

Fortnightly workshop sessions will give practical advice on working towards the assessment and practice time for skills related to the module.

Study hours

At least 27 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Staff will devise formative assessment appropriate to the module content.

Reassessment

Additional costs