History Skills: Preparing for Postgraduate Study (Online) (10 credit points)

Pre-requisites for enrolment

N/A

Special Information

N/A

Content of Course

Week 1 - What is History?

Discussion of the practice and value of history. There will be an emphasis on the importance of questions in historical study, considering some of the frameworks/perspectives that historians explicitly or implicitly choose to adopt in their work.

 

Week 2 - Working with Secondary Sources

Discussion of strategies to find and use secondary sources appropriately and effectively, stressing the importance of discriminating between different types of material (i.e. textbooks, journal articles, monographs and collections of essays).

 

Week 3 - Working with Primary Sources

A reminder of some of the key issues to consider (provenance, point of view, etc), although students will also be encouraged to reflect on the wide variety of sources that can be used. Students at this level (and beyond) are most likely to encounter primary sources in mediated form (i.e. digitized, printed and/or translated), so the significance of this will also be discussed.

 

Week 4 - William Wallace and the Scottish Wars of Independence

An overview of the road to war and the course of the conflict, including an introduction to the story of William Wallace.

 

Week 5 - Robert Bruce and the Declaration of Independence

Discussion of the next phase of the Wars of Independence, while also recognising the complexities of Robert Bruce’s position in Scotland (including some brief coverage of the Declaration of Arbroath).

 

Week 6 - Robert Bruce and the Declaration of Arbroath

A focus on the chronicle as a key source for medieval Scottish history (and medieval history more generally), using Bower’s Scotichronicon as a specific example. 

 

Week 7 - Aspects of Late Medieval Pilgrimage

An accessible overview of the topic, (including spiritual and practical aspects), covering the experience of high-status people and (where possible) more ‘ordinary’ people. The lecture will also stress the wide variety of source material used by historians of medieval pilgrimage.

 

Week 8 - Essay Writing and Feedback 1

Formulating a question and identifying appropriate sources.

 

Week 9 - Essay Writing and Feedback 2

Taking notes and establishing an effective structure.

 

Week 10 - Writing Week

Time to write.

 

Week 11 - Essay Submission

Deadline will be advised.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. assess and analyse primary historical sources, showing a detailed knowledge of their historical context;
2. analyse critically historians¿ opinions supported by enhanced understanding of their theoretical context;
3. apply historical analysis skills to a topic case study;
4. communicate ideas and knowledge of specialist areas clearly, and engage in debate with peers.

Sources

Core Readings

Tracey Loughran (ed.), A Practical Guide to Studying History: Skills and Approaches (2017), ebook
Hakim Adi (ed.), Black British History: New Perspectives (2019), ebook
Edward J. Cowan (ed.). The Wallace Book (2007), ebook
Edward J. Cowan, For Freedom Alone: The Declaration of Arbroath (2013), ebook
Edward J. Cowan and Lizanne Henderson (eds.), A History of Everyday Life in Medieval Scotland, 1000-1600 (2011), ebook
L. Jordanova, History in Practice (2nd edn, 2016), ebook.
S. Barber & C.M. Peniston-Bird (eds.), History Beyond the Text: A Student's Guide to Approaching Alternative Sources (2008), ebook
P. Claus & J. Marriott, History: An Introduction to Theory, Method & Practice (2013), ebook
D. Cannadine, What is History Now? (2004), ebook
K. Harvey (ed.), History and Material Culture: A Student's Guide to Approaching Alternative Sources (2009), ebook
J. Tosh, The Pursuit of History (2002), ebook
Joan Tumblety (ed.), History and Memory: Understanding Memory as Source and Subject (2013), ebook

Assessments

10 credit courses have one assessment. Normally, the assessment is a 2000 word essay, worth 100% of the total mark, submitted by week 12. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40%. There are a small number of exceptions to this model which are identified in the Studying for Credit Guide.

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.