HIS2004 Approaches To History

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
HIS 2004 91295 2, 2009 EXT Approaches To History 1.00 Toowoomba

Academic group: FOART
Academic org: FOA003
Student contribution band: 1
ASCED code: 090305


Contents



STAFFING

Examiner: Catherine Dewhirst
Moderator: Libby Connors



REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: HIS1000 or HIS1001 or HIS1003



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.




OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.
define and describe the basic stages in the production of History and Historiography;
2.
describe the principal features in the development of Historiography;
3.
show an awareness of epistemology - the origins, nature, methods, and limits of knowledge - as reflected in the discipline of History;
4.
define ideology and discuss the role of ideas in society;
5.
explain the positivist-idealist dichotomy and discuss the objectivity-subjectivity debate;
6.
evaluate the impact of postmodernism on the study of History.



TOPICS


Description Weighting (%)
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

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Evans, RJ 1997, In defence of history, Granta Books, London.

Tosh, J 2006, The pursuit of history, 4th edn, Pearson Education, Harlow, England.




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, EH 1987, What is history?, 2nd edn, Penguin, Harmondsworth.

Elton, GR 1984, 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.

Lambert, P & Schofield, P (eds) 2004, Making history: an introduction to the history and practices of a discipline, Routledge, London & New York.

Marwick, A 1989, The nature of history, 3rd edn, MacMillan, London.

Marwick, A 2001, The new nature of history: knowledge, evidence, language, Palgrave, Basingstoke.

Tey, Josephine 1975, The daughter of time, Penguin, Harmondsworth.
(any edition)

Tosh, J (ed) 2009, Historians on history, 2nd edn, Pearson Education, London.




STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY HOURS
Directed Study 78.00
Examinations 3.00
Private Study 85.00



ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date Objectives assessed Graduate skill Level assessed Notes
CMA TEST 1 100.00 0.00 17 Aug 2009 1, 2      
1 X 1500 WORD PAPER 100.00 20.00 09 Sep 2009 1, 2      
CMA TEST 2 100.00 5.00 09 Oct 2009 1, 2      
1 X 2000 WORD PAPER 100.00 40.00 23 Oct 2009 3, 4, 5      
CMA TEST 3 100.00 5.00 02 Nov 2009 3, 4, 5, 6      
EXAMINATION 2 HOURS 100.00 30.00 END S2 All     (see note 1)
NOTES
1.
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 successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
  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 receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
  6. Examination information:
    The exam for this course is a CLOSED examination, and candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination.
  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/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

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 retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if requested 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) In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the examiner's convenience. (e) Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements. (f) 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. (g) 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).
10. Students will require access to email and have internet access to UConnect for this course.

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.