| Unit name | The Politics of the Past |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HIST20144 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Hanna |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
Units in our History in Public optional panel push you to consider the ways that knowledge of the past is presented and communicated outside the academy. History is valued by wider society because it can inform public debate and be applied to solve practical problems – but it can also be appropriated for less noble ends and invoked to justify questionable positions. As historians yourselves, it is essential that you have a grounding in the uses and abuses of your discipline beyond the university walls, and that you can develop the communication skills you will need to bring the best of history to bear in the public arena.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
As the first year of our History programme emphasises the need for a strong foundation in multiple chronologies, the second year emphasises the need for strong foundations in multiple geographies and approaches. Units in the History in Public optional panel will help to prepare you for our Year 3 History at Work units, which have a more practical/applied focus, and for the Practice-Based Dissertation option.
An overview of content
This unit focuses on the politics of history in British public life, focusing on the sites where history is constructed and curated. It will explore how history has been used, contested, and debated within British public life, giving students a nuanced sense of how public battles over the ownership of the past operate, and the ability to place these conflicts within their historical context. Potential topics include: the uses of history in radicalism and conservatism; the Royal family and its use of the past; commemoration of migration through festivals; the erection of statues; the commemoration of wars; rural landscape and history; and family history in the home.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
History in Public units will provide you with a much better sense of how history has been mobilized in the public sphere, and how and why history matters to different audiences and groups. They will give you a stronger sense of the relevance of your degree beyond the university, and help you to think about how you might apply the skills of the historian after you graduate.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Classes will involve a combination of class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will have the opportunity to present their ideas for the presentation pitch in seminar groups, and will receive feedback from seminar tutors.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The summative assessment will have two parts:
When assessment does not go to plan:
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the format or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are confirmed by the School/Centre shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. HIST20144).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
