Course Catalogue

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This course is compulsory for all Junior Honours students of Economic and Social History, with the exception of students who are spending semester 1 of their Junior Honours year on an international exchange programme. The course is designed to provide training in key skills, extending work conducted in Levels 1 and 2, in the areas of research, writing and presentation. It provides students with valuable experience of project-based group work.

Course meets in weekly two-hour blocks once a week on campus, with time within blocks divided between meetings with the entire RESH 1 class and meetings with project group. Course primarily meets in Semester 1 (17-19 contact hours), with 1-3 contact hours early in Semester 2 to support students completing final projects.

Entry to Honours in Economic and Social History

One group project, using a range of primary sources and incorporating quantitative information. (6,600 words for groups of three students; 8,800 for groups of four. Smaller or larger groups will be assigned proportional word counts.) (60% of final grade)

One group presentation, based on the project. Students are marked on the presentation both individually and as a group. (15mins for groups of three students; 20mins for groups of four. Smaller or larger groups will be assigned proportional times). (30% of final grade, calculated as 0.7a + 0.3b, where a = mark for student's contribution to the presentation, and b = overall mark for group presentation)

One reflective statement. Students are required to reflect on and evaluate their experience working in a team. (10% of final grade; 400 words)

Each student must also submit a personal log-book, and each group must submit minutes of their meetings. These are not awarded marks but are required for full credit.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

■ To develop historiography and bibliographical skills.

■ To develop analytical skills in using primary sources and organising research findings effectively in written and oral presentations.

■ To build teamwork and encourage a reflective approach and self-directed learning through group-working on a project and on a presentation

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Work co-operatively within a group of 3 - 5 students sharing responsibility and accountability for an effective joint oral presentation and research report under the supervision of a staff member and incorporating feedback from peers and staff.

■ Identify, conceptualise and conduct an original research project on a given topic in economic and social history.

■ Apply knowledge, transferable skills and understanding of literature review techniques; appropriate research methodologies; organisational, communication and presentation skills to produce an original research presentation and report in economic and social history using both secondary and primary sources.

■ Analyse relevant historiography and critically relate this to and incorporate within the selected research project and identify and critically evaluate primary source material to substantially inform the research project

■ Take the transferable skills and graduate attributes they have developed forward to produce their dissertation or independent writing/research project.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.