Course Catalogue

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This special subject concentrates on the internal political and social history of France from the failure of reform efforts at the end of the ancient regime to the White Terror of 1795. On the basis of a wide range of source material, we shall look at the rapidly shifting ground of politics and reform, the growth of 'public opinion', social and economic confrontations, the domestic impact of war, the trial of the king, and the nature of Terror government.

Three hours per week in each semester.. This is one of the honours options in History and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Successful completion of Junior Honours in history.

None.

Assessment

2 essays (one in each semester) 10% each

2 seminar papers (one in each semester) 6% each

Seminar contribution (one assessment in each semester) 4% each

Examination: 2 x 120 minute examinations, worth 60% overall

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which 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. 

The following aims are shared by all History special subjects:

1. to prepare students for independent and original analysis of a complex range of evidence, including source materials, thereby developing intellectual skills that will be of benefit in a wide range of careers.

2. to show students how a professional historian works.

3. to familiarise students, through source-criticism, with a wide range of problems of interpretation arising from different usages of language, underlying meanings and intentions, differing standards of objectivity, and the variety of purpose and intent associated with historical evidence (written, visual or other).

4. to ensure, through student-led discussion, that the relative validity of alternative historical interpretations is fully recognised.

5. to encourage students to develop the confidence, imagination, skills and self-discipline required to master a similarly demanding brief in the future, whether in historical research or in any sphere or employment where these qualities are valuable.

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

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