HIS5712 - Research & Discovery

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a broad understanding of a specific historical case study
Demonstrate the ability to select and use a range of primary sources to test a hypothesis, based on an understanding of the limitations and advantages of primary sources
Recognize and assess the validity of competing interpretations of the sources of the subject to be studied in their research projects
Undertake a detailed analysis of a specified primary source
Write up a piece of research in the form of a coherent, logical, well-argued individual research report, including all necessary academic apparatus

Content:

Students undertake a study testing a hypothesis provided by the teaching team, initially interpreting primary sources that they have been provided with, but then progressing to individual research reports using primary sources (qualitative and quantitative) e.g. press reports, official documents, ephemera, statistical data and artifacts etc., that they must locate themselves in e.g. edited collections, as digital resources or through online museums. Precise topics offered each year depend on staffing. Indicative topics would include: the Civil Rights Movement in the USA during the 1950s-70s; Women in Nazi Germany; Twentieth-Century Childhood(s); Victorian Working Women.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning will be supported through weekly introductory plenary sessions and workshops, which will include framing mini-lectures, student report back/presentations, intensive work on sources and strategies for interpretation, roleplay and group exercises. Students will be be undertaking guided independent study on their research reports outside of the classses from week 4, and to support this the taught sessions will move in week 5 to focus on project work, underpinned by the in-class workshop sessions. As they move into this phase, students will be encouraged to tweet or blog their findings as they go, in order to build up a body of raw material that they can use in the reports, encourage ongoing engagement with the material, and to learn how to construct a ‘professional’ social media presence as a skill for employability.

Workshops & plenary lectures
Hours: 20
Intended Group size: 20

Group project work in class
Hours: 10
Intended Group size: 20

Guided independent study
Hours: 170

Further details relating to assessment
Seen Source Analysis:
Students are given a short primary source, or extract, and asked to analyse it in depth with a framing question, e.g. if the topic was the Civil Rights Movement, the question might be: ‘Of what value is the following extract to the historian of the Civil Rights Movement in America, c. 1945-1970?’ They are required to prepare a commentary of 1000 words on the source, or extract of a source, provided. The commentary should critically evaluate the value of the source.
They are given detailed guidance as well as assessment criteria in the Module Handbook, an effective answer will involve ranging backwards and forwards over the criteria, the precise form and balance depending on the source provided.
The source might be visual or written, quantitative or qualitative, e.g. a political cartoon, lyrics from a protest song, tabulated data of TV viewing figures re a speech by President Nixon, arrest figures, an extract from Brown vs. the Board of Education etc.

Example Report:
Using the documents provided, and your own research, write a report with the title: ‘Challenging disadvantage: the Civil Rights Movement in America 1945-70’
And answering the hypothesis:
The Civil Rights Movement was successful because of…
(One of the following):
• Non-violent protest
• The courage of individuals
• The consensus of north & south, black & white
• The role of women in the Movement
• Religious conviction
• The response of the Presidents
• The support of the media

Assessment will reflect the emphasis on research design and an understanding of the use of documents in the process of research. Break your Report down into the following sub-sections (these MUST be included):
Abstract
Introduction
Methodology
Research
Findings
Conclusion
They may provide an appendix of supporting material, e.g. figures that they have tabulated in the process of analysing a larger data set.

Students are given detailed guidance about the report re its structure, as well as assessment criteria, in the Module Handbook. Each hypothesis is tagged with several primary sources as an initial platform from which to work, these are provided in the CLARCS pack. Students will need to then seek, select and interpret additional resources, framed by the current debate on their topic.

Assessment:

001 Seen Source Analysis 1 x 1,000 words Sem 1, Week 8 30%
002 Research Report 3,000 words Sem 1, Week 12 70%


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