HS1EE: Exploring Evidence

Module code: HS1EE

Module provider: History; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Daniel Renshaw, email: d.g.renshaw@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: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Exploring Evidence is a core element of part one of the history degree for single-honours students that aims to hone the analytical skills of students by considering the nature of primary sources, and the ways in which historians can make use of them to explore historical junctures and questions. Students will examine a range of primary materials over the semester, set by the seminar leads, which can include prose, poetry, music, illustration, and architecture, discussing the historical context in which the materials were created, the ideas and beliefs underpinning them, and their physical nature, and will gain an understanding of how the source acts as a lens on wider cultural, social and political historical currents. Different theoretical and methodological approaches to examining primary materials will be presented and considered. The module will instil key skills including how to analyse a source and locate it in a wider context, how to communicate these ideas to peers, and an understanding of the different approaches that can be taken in evaluating historical evidence.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Critically examine a primary source and identify relevant information for historians
2. Be aware of the role of primary research in the work of historians
3. Appreciate the difference between different kinds of source material, and the influence and impact of primary materials over time and how this impacts historical understanding
4. Place primary sources in a wider historical context

Module content

Exploring Evidence is split into two parts, with one seminar lead teaching on one set of sources for the first half of the semester, and another seminar lead on a different set of sources for the second half of the semester. Each seminar lead will choose their primary material, and set appropriate reading and independent research around it.   

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Tutor-led seminars will be the focus of this module, which will provide students with guidance and offer space for group discussion of the material, as well as individual self-directed document analysis, both in the seminars and outside of it. Architectural sources could involve field trips to the source if practical. Teaching will take place in-person, with relevant resources available on Blackboard.

Study hours

At least 22 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.

Reassessment

Additional costs