Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module practises contemporary history: the history of the present. It will consider all aspects of life in Britain, and Britain's relations with the wider world.

It will

1. introduce and immerse the students in critical reflection around the social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of contemporary British history.

2. support students to better identify then develop their skills, including those traditionally associated with history teaching (independent research and study; critical and reflective thinking; information literacy; written expression), as well as broader skills.

Both aims are addressed in the teaching content and methods and in the assessment types. The module also aims to support the wider progression of the students and what is expected from them at Stage 2, building on their foundational Stage 1 year and preparing them for Stage 3. The wealth of primary material makes this area highly suitable for dissertations.

Outline Of Syllabus

Subjects covered may include politics, social attitudes, the economy, the nations, culture, media, foreign affairs, defence policy, education, gender, and sexuality.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

A rounded understanding of the history of contemporary Britain achieved through the widest variety of sources.

1. That students should be able to use multiple types of sources and media to understand the complexities of contemporary Britain including official publications, government records, fiction and poetry, art, business records, newspapers, social media, cinema and TV.

2. That students should be able to understand the key patterns of social, economic, cultural and political aspects of Britain. That students should be able to think critically about the issues and legacies presented by the study of contemporary history.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Overall this module aims to ensure a defined progression for students from Stage 1 to Stage 2 and to prepare them for Stage 3. This is driven primarily to defined work on key skills (outlined below), as well as the content and approaches taken in the teaching and independent study elements of the module described above.

Practical skills

•       to use and critically evaluate primary sources
•       to identify and retrieve information from a wide variety of sources

Key skills

•       to achieve effective oral and written communication
•       to show initiative, self-discipline and self-direction in learning
•       to improve performance through reflection, self-assessment and using feedback effectively

Cognitive (thinking) skills

•       To critically evaluate, analyse and discuss a wide range of source materials.
•       To construct extended written assessments supported by relevant historical evidence.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will introduce topics and provide expert orientation and exposition on a broad range of themes and issues, supplemented by the module reading list.

Seminars will also consolidate the learning progress from lectures, and weekly readings by enabling students to focus on connected issues and material in greater depth.

Both lecturers and Seminars will often led by ongoing events which allows for the exposition and appreciation of historical context.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Work submitted during the delivery of the module forms a means of determining student progress. Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing. The written exercise is intended to offer the chance for feedback and understanding writing technique which the research essay will build upon.

The research essay is an extended piece of writing based on primary materials, intended to prepare students for their stage 3, including dissertations.

Students will be able to choose freely from a wide variety of questions and topics.

General Notes

N/A