HSMBHT: Becoming a Historian: Theory and Themes

Module code: HSMBHT

Module provider: History; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Rohan Deb Roy, email: r.debroy@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: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to familiarise students with a variety of branches of historical study, to encourage them to think about the shared and differing concerns and approaches of historians in different areas, and to explore the ways in which historical study in different areas has developed and changed over time. Using a wide variety of case studies drawn from the seminar leaders' own research specialisms, it will ask what assumptions and traditions have shaped historians' approaches to particular historical topics, and whether different types of history and historical sources inevitably call for different methodologies.  

This module aims to 

• Encourage discussion among the cohort of students about historical theories and approaches across historical periods 
• Introduce students to a range of historical specialisms and the theories and methodologies developed and used by historians in these areas 
• Consolidate and develop students’ academic skills in research and writing.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Engage with different disciplines, methods, and conceptual approaches within historical practice. 
2. Discuss and critique methods, conceptual approaches, and key themes within the historiography of a specific case study or type of history 
3. Articulate the value of different approaches, including interdisciplinary approaches, to the study of history 
4. Critically assess the impact of primary sources on the practice of different types of history 
5. Present ideas and evidence clearly and effectively in academic writing 
6. Develops the ability to work as a group and to take part in academic debates and discussions. 

Module content

The module begins with seminars aimed at consolidating and developing the academic skills needed by historians at postgraduate level, before moving onto sessions discussing theoretical and methodological issues within history, including periodisation and the scale and scope of history. We then consider the ways in which historians of very different periods approach key themes which run across these periodisations (e.g. gender, health and medicine). Seminars then move on to look at areas of historiography and methodology with a more specific early modern or modern focus. Over the course of the term students may address topics in economic history, social history, political history, religious history, cultural history, military history, intellectual history, international and imperial history, rural history, gender history, medical history, oral history, or other types of history according to staff specialisms. Each seminar will focus on one or two case studies chosen to illuminate the nature and problems of a particular type of history. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Active discussion of readings and ideas presented by the seminar leader will encourage students to sharpen their understanding of the material presented and develop an informed and critical stance about theoretical, methodological, and interpretative issues within the discipline of History.The skills sessions within this module are practical sessions which help students revise and consolidate key skills, while encouraging all students to actively work to develop more advanced skills as historians, in both research and academic writing.

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 50% 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.

Students are encouraged to discuss their essay plan with a member of staff. 

Reassessment

Additional costs