This course develops a critical understanding of diverse historiographical approaches in the discipline of history. It provides students with an in-depth appreciation of contemporary historiography in order to develop skills in both critical analysis and problem-based research design.  The course will be team-taught by the School of History in seminar format to promote a community of researchers and scholars. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. analyse key issues in historical enquiry from a variety of historiographical perspectives;
2. provide and respond to feedback in the process of identifying and formulating solutions to complex historical questions;
3. identify and interpret primary and secondary source materials that can inform answers to those questions;
4. construct sustained, structured, evidence-based arguments that address questions of historical enquiry; and
5. reflect critically on the processes of historical research and writing.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction: Debates in Historiography
2	Was there a global Middle Ages?
3	Does agency matter to political history?
4	Are the social categories of 'women' and 'men' universal concepts for historical analysis?
5	Can we trust historical accounts of the ancient world?
6	Has racism been integral to European, particularly British, imperialism and colonialism?
7	Does the city belong in environmental history?	Research Essay Outline & Bibliography due - Friday 22 April, 5pm
8	Does the history of humanitarianism belong in the history of war?
9	Was the nation-state the inevitable political form of post-colonial societies?
10	What is the role of the individual in History?
11	Is there a place for microhistory in the era of global history?
12	Conclusion	Reflection Journal due - Friday 27 May, 5pm

Tutorial Registration

Wattle

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Research Essay - Outline and Annotated Bibliography	25 %	22/04/2022	1,2, 3, 4
Reflection Journal	15 %	27/05/2022	2,3
Research Essay (Final)	50 %	06/06/2022	1,2,3,4,5
Class Contribution	10 %	*	1,2,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Research Essay - Outline and Annotated Bibliography

This assessment task is designed to prepare you for researching and writing your Research Essay (Assessment Task 3).

Select one of the debates covered in the course and consider its relevance to your own research interests. In the Draft Essay Outline, briefly situate this debate in its historiographical context and outline its contribution to the relevant field of historical enquiry. For instance, how might the debate inform your understanding of a particular area of historical research? In the Annotated Bibliography component, justify your selection of at least 4 scholarly sources for your Research Essay.

Draft Essay Outline (1200 words)

• Introduction
• Thesis statement (argument)
• Research questions
• Key points (structured logically)
• Demonstration of understanding of relevant historiographical issues

Annotated bibliography (800 words) – minimum 4 scholarly sources

• Demonstrate source content, quality and relevance to your research essay
• Provide concise expression of the source’s argument, research methods, limits and conclusions
• Correct citations

Ensure your written expression is clear and polished, and that you apply consistent referencing standards (eg. Chicago Manual of Style).

Assessment Task 2

Reflection Journal

This task requires you to reflect on the contents of the course, demonstrating an understanding of the historiographical issues arising from your readings and class discussions. The journal will also provide you the opportunity, where appropriate, to apply key concepts and frameworks to examples arising in your research. The tone of the journal is informal (personal pronouns are fine).

It is an opportunity to reflect on the seminar and discussions that followed.

Word limit: 1000 words

Value: 15%

Due date: Week 12 – Friday 27 May 5pm

Assessment Task 3

Research Essay (Final)

This should be a more polished and extended version of your Draft Essay Outline (Assessment Task 1).

For this version, you should aim for a research essay that demonstrates your incorporation (or at least, consideration) of the suggestions from feedback on the draft.

The process of polishing is one of paying attention to how you have written your account. It is not unusual for essays to change significantly at this stage, especially in

terms of structure, style, and explanation.

Please ensure that your submitted work does the following in this order:

• give the essay a title at the top of the first page.
• provide a 200-300 word statement (part of the word limit) on how your work has changed since the draft version. Be as specific as possible and be certain to note how, if at all, your argument and presentation has changed.
• offer a complete and carefully arranged bibliography, which forms the basis for complete and accurate footnotes (Chicago Manual of Style).

Word limit: 5,000 words

Value: 50%

Due date: Monday 6 June, 5pm

Assessment Task 4

Class Contribution

Each student will be assigned a specific week to post questions for the presenter on Wattle prior to the seminar.

Additional contributions can include, but are not limited to, informed discussion of the week’s readings during the seminars and debriefs; critique of the readings;

comment on independent reading in historiography, etc.

Value: 10%

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students