HIS 2004 Approaches To History

SubjectCat-NbrClassTermModeDescriptionUnitsCampus
HIS2004253312, 2003EXTApproaches To History1.00TWMBA
Academic Group:FOART
Academic Org:FOA003
HECS Band:1
ASCED Code:090305

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: Maurice French
Moderator: Libby Connors



PRE-REQUISITES:

Pre-requisite: HIS1000 or HIS1001


SYNOPSIS:

This course will provide an introduction to the development of historical writing and current debates in the philosophy and methodology of the discipline of History. The course is divided into two parts. The first part surveys the evolution of the discipline of History from the ancient world to the present. The second part focuses on the methodological issues of objectivity/subjectivity, positivism/relativism, and postmodernism. Each section will emphasise the interrelationship between the transmission and control of ideas, and the structure of society; an important theme in each part will be the nature of ideology and hegemony. This course cannot be taken by students who have passed USQ97106 History and Society.


OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course students will be able to:

  • define and describe the basic stages in the production of History and Historiography;

  • describe the principal features in the development of Historiography;

  • show an awareness of epistemology - the origins, nature, methods, and limits of knowledge - as reflected in the discipline of History;

  • define ideology and discuss the role of ideas in society;

  • explain the positivist-idealist dichotomy and discuss the objectivity-subjectivity debate;

  • evaluate the impact of postmodernism on the study of History.



    • TOPICS:


    DescriptionWeighting (%)
    1. Defining and Studying History

    1.1. What is history?

    1.2. Why study history?

    1.3. Historical Evidence
    		 25.00
    2. The Development of Historiography

    2.1. Classical Historiography

    2.2. Judaic-Christian and Medieval Historiography

    2.3. Early Modern Historiography

    2.4. Leopold von Ranke and the Critical School

    2.5. Post-Rankean and Twentieth Century Historiography

    2.6. The Post Modernist Critique
    		 25.00
    3. Ideology, Marxism and Positivism

    3.1. Background to Social Analysis

    3.2. Rise of Ideology

    3.3. Fundamentals of Marxism I

    3.4. Fundamentals of Marxism II

    3.5. Marxism and History

    3.6. Postmodernism
    		 25.00
    4. The Nature of Historical Knowledge

    4.1. Science and Art of History

    4.2. Historical Explanation

    4.3. Historical Objectivity

    4.4. Purpose of History
    		 25.00

    TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

    Books can be ordered by fax or telephone. For costs and further details use the 'Book Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au by entering the author or title of the text.

    Evans, R.J. 1997, In Defence of History, Granta Books, London.

    Tosh, J. 2000, The Pursuit of History, 3rd edition, Longman, London.




    REFERENCE MATERIALS:

    Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

    Appleby, J., Hunt, L., Jacob, M. 1994, Telling the Truth about History, Norton, New York/London.

    Bebbington, D. 1979, Patterns in History, Intervarsity Press, Leicester.

    Carr, E.H. 1987, What is History?, 2nd edition, Penguin, Harmondsworth.

    Elton, G.R. 1969, The Practice of History, Collins, London.

    Hughes-Warrington, Marnie 2000, Fifty Key Thinkers on History, Routledge, London.

    Jenkins, K. 1991, Re-Thinking History, Routledge, London and New York.

    Marwick, A. 1989, The Nature of History, 3rd edition, Macmillan, London.

    Marwick, A. 2001, The New Nature of History: Knowledge, evidence, language, Palgrave, Basingstoke.

    Tey, Josephine 1975, The Daughter of Time, Penguin (any edition), Harmondsworth.

    Tosh, J. (ed) 2000, Historians on History, Pearson Education, London.




    STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

    ACTIVITYHOURS
    Directed Study78
    Examinations2
    Private Study85


    ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

    DescriptionMarks Out ofWtg(%)RequiredDue Date
    CMA TEST 1100.000.00N11 Aug 2003
    1 X 1500 WORD PAPER100.0020.00Y29 Aug 2003
    CMA TEST 2100.005.00Y29 Sep 2003
    1 X 2000 WORD PAPER100.0040.00Y24 Oct 2003
    CMA TEST 3100.005.00Y03 Nov 2003
    EXAMINATION 2 HOURS100.0030.00YEND S2(see note )
    NOTES:
    .
    Students will be advised of the official exam date after the timetable has been finalised.

    IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

    1. Attendance requirements:
      There are no attendance requirements for this external course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
    2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
      To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item.
    3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
      If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval, then a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each of the first FIVE working days late, after which a zero mark will be given.
    4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
      To be assured of a passing grade, students must demonstrate, via the summative assessment items, that they have achieved the required minimum standards in relation to the objectives of the course by obtaining at least 50% of the total weighted marks for all summative assessment.
    5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
      The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
    6. Examination information:
      The exam for this course is a RESTRICTED EXAMINATION, and candidates are allowed access to * writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination); * Translation dictionary. Students whose first language is not English, may, with the Examiner's approval, take an appropriate non-electronic translation dictionary into the examination. Students who wish to use a translation dictionary MUST request and receive written approval from the Examiner at least one week before the examination date. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage;
    7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
      Any deferred or supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.
    8. University Regulations:
      Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/SECARIAT/calendar/Part5/ or in the printed version of the current USQ Handbook.

    ASSESSMENT NOTES

    9.(a) The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner. (b) Students must regain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within five days if required by the Examiner. (c) In accordance with University's Assignment Extension Policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner of a course may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances such as documented ill-health. (d) Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in the course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of the course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete-Makeup). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study. (e) Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or sit for an examination at the scheduled time, may apply to defer an assessment in the course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).