| Unit name | Researching and Writing History |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HISTM0055 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Wainwright |
| 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?
As our core TB2 unit, Researching and Writing History aims to introduce postgraduate students to the nature and practice of historical research, focussing especially on the process of designing an extended independent research project or practice-based output. Areas covered will include: developing research questions; exploring relevant existing scholarship and recognising ‘gaps’ in the literature; identifying appropriate primary sources; assessing the suitability of different methodologies and theoretical approaches; choosing suitable practice-based methods; organising and analysing research materials; improving academic and public-facing writing; evaluating audience engagement; and presenting research ideas to others.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Across TB2 students will begin to enhance their primary source research capabilities, developing specialist knowledge in areas of expertise within the Department of History. Research and Writing History complements our TB2 Specialist Option Units by encouraging students to reflect upon their own developing historical research interests, and to transform them into potential research projects or practical historical outputs. More specifically, the unit serves as a preparation unit for either the research dissertation or the practice-based dissertation, taking students through the early stages of project development. With weekly peer and staff support, they will cultivate their familiarity with library and archival resources, departmental expertise, and deepen their own ability to work independently to develop historical knowledge and practice in new and existing areas.
An Overview of Content:
Our History MA is designed to support students through a journey to becoming independent historical researchers and practitioners. Researching and Writing History acts as an essential stepping stone towards the culmination of this journey: either a research dissertation or a practice-based dissertation. This unit assists students in developing not only their research and practice-based skills, but also offers a supportive environment through which to explore potential dissertation topic ideas, to assess their feasibility, and to receive formal and informal feedback on those ideas as they develop.
Students will work collaboratively with staff and peers to workshop ideas. This will include the completion of weekly independent research and project development activities, and the presentation of their findings and progress to others.
How will you be different as a result of taking this unit?
This unit will encourage you to follow interests that you have developed over the programme, and to dive headfirst into what it means to be a practising historian. Students will work on independent research projects in an exploratory manner, testing out new ideas and building confidence in their own capabilities as independent researchers.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
This unit will be taught through a weekly 2-hour seminar based on the unit content and a weekly 1-hour asynchronous activity designed to help support your assessment. The seminar will be based around workshopping students’ project designs, and their completion of the asynchronous tasks. Students will engage in ongoing peer review of each other’s work, as they test out ideas, and identifying any ongoing challenges associated with the development of their dissertation.
The asynchronous activities are designed to build your confidence in reading, thinking and writing independently, providing structured tasks to be completed on your own.
Taken together these activities will encourage students to reflect on their research, writing, and historical practice, and establish networks of peer support.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Poster (ILO 6) [0%]. (TB2, Week 9). This assessment gives students an opportunity to present a poster, summarising their project (including research questions, existing literature, and proposed methodology/ source base, or practice-based interventions) to staff and peers for informal feedback, before submitting their summative research or project proposal.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Proposal 2,000-word for either a research dissertation or a practice-based project (ILOs 1-5) [100%]. (TB2 Week 10).
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 form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic 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. HISTM0055).
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.
