This course focuses on core issues in historical research that have stimulated debate and reflection within the discipline across time and national boundaries. It assists students to explore those issues, developing skills in both critical analysis and problem-based research design. The focal issue, or issues, will vary from year to year, but will include themes such as 'Nature and History', 'History and the Body', 'History and the Nation' and 'Issues in Contemporary Historical Writing'.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Analyse key issues in modern history.
- Formulate and respond effectively to complex historical questions.
- Identify and interpret primary and secondary source materials that can inform answers to those questions.
- Construct sustained, structured, evidence-based arguments that address questions of historical enquiry.
- Present, discuss and evaluate historical research in oral form.
Indicative Assessment
Document analysis exercise: 1500 words (10%) [LO: 2, 3, 4]Research Essay – draft version: 2,000 words (20%) [LO: 2,3,4]
Research Essay – final version: 5,000 words (50%) [LO: 1, 2, 3, 4]
Tutorial presentation (15 min) (10%) [LO: 3, 4, 5]
Tutorial participation (10%) [LO: 5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Either:3 contact hours per week (1 x 2 hour reading seminar and 1 x 1 hour workshop) for 13 weeks. Students are expected to spend an additional 17 hours per week completing assigned readings, conducting research, and preparing for assessments (total 260 hours).
Or:
6 contact hours per week (2 x 2 hour reading seminar and 2 x 1 hour workshop) for 7 weeks, with 14 hours course reading and assignment preparation time. 20 hours per week in the final six weeks, conducting research and writing of final essay, and preparing and presenting an oral presentation of a case study (total 260 hours).
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Course readings will be made available to students through Wattle.Preliminary Reading
No preliminary reading is necessary, though students may wish to seek guidance in relation to the annual theme.Weekly readings will combine historical documents and recent
scholarship to focus on a weekly theme.
An example would be:
- Darwin, C., The Descent of Man [1871], in Watson (ed.),
Darwin the Indelible Stamp (Philadelphia: Running Press, 2005), pp.732-60.
- Spencer, H. ‘Progress: Its law and causes’, Westminster
Review, 67 (April 1857).
- Hawkins, M. Social Darwinism in European and American Thought, 1860-1945: Nature as Model & Nature as Threat (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997), pp.21-58.
Assumed Knowledge
Completion of a cognate Major
Specialisations
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 12 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 12.00 | 0.25000 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $5436 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $7752 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8994 | 18 Jul 2016 | 29 Jul 2016 | 31 Aug 2016 | 28 Oct 2016 | In Person | N/A |