Module overview
As an alternative to one modular option on the History MA you can pursue an Individually Negotiated Topic or INT in each semester. This enables you to develop a personal interest in a specific historical topic under the supervision of member(s) of staff in the History discipline with specialist knowledge and research experience in that field, who can guide your study and help you to develop a small research project in that field. You will be supervised one-to-one or one-to-two, or exceptionally in groups of three or four, over a small number of meetings totalling up to six hours. Each meeting will be devoted to specific readings, comprising primary sources and historiography.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Cognitive Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- evaluate a wide range of historiography and engage critically with that material
- develop an analytical and critical approach to both primary sources, and to dominant and emerging methodological approaches
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- knowledge of a specific historical theme or an aspect of a specific period
- understanding of the significance of that aspect of a period or historical theme within the larger context of History as a discipline
- knowledge of dominant, important, and emerging methodological approaches to and historiographical debates about the specific historical theme or aspect of a specific period
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- critically and persuasively present your own approach to and construct an argument about any given topic within the subject of History
- find primary sources and historiography of relevance to any given topic within the subject of History
- evaluate extant methodological approaches to and assess scholarly debate about any given topic within the subject of History
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- write a sustained piece of work
- evaluate scholarly arguments and analyse primary evidence
- formulate and communicate your own evidence-based argument
- research and plan independently
Syllabus
This module allows you to undertake independent research on a historical subject of your choice, with guidance from the INT convenor/s. You will normally have a small number of supervisions up to a total of six hours over the course of the module. You will normally be supervised one-to-one or one-to-two. The INT group will only exceed two students, up to a maximum of four, in exceptional circumstances. The supervisions will focus on readings selected in consultation with the INT convenor/s, comprising both primary sources and items of historiography.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
- a small number of supervisions up to a total of six hours.
Learning activities include:
- individual study and research time
- accessing research materials (possibly including archival material) and on-line resources
- preparation of an essay question and essay plan in consultation with the INT convenor/s
Innovative or special features of this module:
- the opportunity it offers you to undertake in-depth independent research into a topic of your own choosing
- access to sustained, individual (or very small group) teaching from members of staff with particularly deep knowledge in a field.
Unscheduled research time will enable you to work independently, to manage your own study arrangements, and to develop a project within a field of particular interest to you, and which you will have selected in the light of the research interests of member(s) of staff within the discipline of History. One-one/small group meetings will give you the opportunity to present and discuss our knowledge of the field, as well as your work in progress. The individually negotiated nature of this topic will also prepare you for dissertation work and for communicating and working effectively with colleagues.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Independent Study | 144 |
Teaching | 6 |
Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Essay | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Essay | 100% |