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Module Catalogue

HI2K9-30 Historical Research

Department
History
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
Sophie Mann
Credit value
30
Module duration
22 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

This 30 CAT module is core for single honours history students, and optional for joint honours students. As a core module it complements teaching in specialised History modules, by providing a broad context for an understanding of the discipline of history. As well as covering themes and approaches to historical research, broadly conceived, it will enable students to undertake a research project on a topic of their own choosing, as preparation for the dissertation in the final year.

Module aims

This module aims to introduce students to the different methodologies and theories used in history writing. History requires a deep engagement with and sensitivity to the present, its possibilities and challenges. History has been continuously ‘re-written’ by historians to ‘make meaning’ of an ever-changing present. This module focuses on current themes and approaches to history writing and introduces students to the dynamic research culture of the department. Students will be guided by tutors through the complexities of research in an interactive and artisanal experience.

The module also aims to develop students’ research and communication skills, to instil a sense of intellectual curiosity, initiative, and creativity, and to explore and interrogate a wide range of sources and approaches for the purposes of historical research, in preparation for the final year dissertation.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module will introduce students to current themes and approaches to history writing. Examples include Marginality, Race, Gender, Environmental History, Microhistory, Public Memory, Emotions History, Intellectual History, various types of Global History, etc. The themes and approaches treated may change from year to year depending on staff availability.

The module will also introduce students to various types of source material (oral, material, visual, printed, quantitative, government records, digital, etc); and writing and research skills including editing, integrity, and ethics.

Staff on the module will share their own research interests and introduce students to research culture.

Students will have the opportunity to present their research topic, questions, approaches and sources in ‘works in progress’ seminars led by the students. The aim of these sessions is to share current research and elicit peer feedback.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an awareness of, and engagement with, a range of theoretical perspectives / methodological approaches in historical writing
  • Generate ideas through applying current historical methods to the analysis of primary source material.
  • Analyse and evaluate the contributions made by existing scholarship.
  • Communicate ideas and findings, adapting to a range of situations, audiences and degrees of complexity.
  • Design and undertake a piece of historical research

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Research element

Research project

Subject specific skills

see learning outcomes

Transferable skills

see learning outcomes

Study time

Type Required Optional
Lectures 20 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Seminars 20 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Tutorials (0%) 2 sessions of 1 hour
Private study 260 hours (87%)
Total 300 hours

Private study description

History modules require students to undertake extensive independent research and reading to prepare for seminars and assessments. As a rough guide, students will be expected to read and prepare to comment on three substantial texts (articles or book chapters) for each seminar taking approximately 3 hours. Each assessment requires independent research, reading around 6-10 texts and writing and presenting the outcomes of this preparation in an essay, review, presentation or other related task.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Seminar Contribution 10% No
Reassessment component
1000 word reflective essay in lieu of seminar contribution Yes (extension)
Assessment component
2000 word essay 20% Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Research Proposal 20% Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Research Project 50% Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Written feedback via Tabula, student/tutor dialogues in one-to-one tutorials, peer feedback during workshops

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-V100 Undergraduate History
  • Year 2 of UHIA-V102 Undergraduate History (Renaissance and Modern History Stream)

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 2 of UENA-VQ32 Undergraduate English and History
  • Year 2 of UENA-VQ34 Undergraduate English and History (with a term in Venice)

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-V1V7 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with a term in Venice)
  • Year 2 of UHIA-VM13 Undergraduate History and Politics (with a term in Venice)

This module is Option list E for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-VL15 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with a term in Venice)

This module is Option list F for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-VM11 Undergraduate History and Politics
  • Year 2 of UHIA-VL13 Undergraduate History and Sociology