Department of History

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Reflective History 24-hour take-home exam

Guidelines and Exam Paper

You will be given access to the examination paper in hard copy from the School Office on the day of the examination. This may be collected between 2 and 3pm. An electronic copy will also be made available from 2pm on the day. The examination paper will contain questions for all Reflective History units - you will only need to use that section of the paper which relates to the unit you have taken. You will be required to answer one question from a list of four questions for that unit.

The questions are intended to assess students' ability to reflect on the main ideas covered in the unit as well as on their own changing understanding of the issues involved and their own evolving skills as historians. The 24-hour format is intended to encourage answers which are more thoughtful and imaginative than is possible in more orthodox exams. Although students may wish to consult secondary sources in the writing of the exam, the nature of the question will be such that this will normally not be necessary.

Answers should be word-processed, and of between 2000-2500 words (excluding footnotes). The upper word limit should not be exceeded. Overly long or short answers will be penalised. In general, you should seek to format and present your answer in the manner of a regular essay. It should therefore include footnotes and a bibliography listing any relevant items which you consulted while preparing for the exam - even if you did not consult the work in question during the exam period. 

Students will be required to submit their answer to the School Office within 24 hours of the start of the examination - i.e. by 3pm the day following the release of the question paper. Students may submit earlier than 3pm if they wish. Receipt of work will be recorded and receipts issued to students. Late work will be penalised at the rate of five marks per hour.

Students will be required to attach a cover sheet to their answer which will need to be signed to confirm that it is their own work and not plagiarised in whole or part. Co-operative essays (i.e. two or more students working together to produce a single answer which all submit) will not be permitted. A hard copy of the cover sheet can be picked up at the time of picking up the exam paper. Alternatively you may print out a copy via the link given above.

Students with extra time/illness

Students who have been given extra time as a result of approved Special Arrangements should e-mail their answer, together with a completed 24-hour reflective history cover sheet, to the following e-mail address: hums-schooloffice@bristol.ac.uk by the extended deadline but should also hand in a hard copy to the School Office on the next working day. If a student fails to attend as a result of illness, they must obtain a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner as soon as reasonably practicable. This certificate should be submitted to the School Office.