HY119     
Thinking Like A Historian

This information is for the 2019/20 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Taylor C. Sherman SAR M.10

 

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BA in History and BSc in International Relations and History. This course is available on the BSc in Politics and History. This course is not available as an outside option. This course is available with permission to General Course students.

This course is optional for General Course students whose home department is International History. This course is optional for first year BSc Government and History students. Students for whom the course is optional must commit to the course when they choose it.

Course content

This course offers hands-on tutorials in the skills required to get the most out of classes and write essays for History courses. Students are taken through each of the skills required: reading well and taking good notes; asking good questions of sources, classmates and teachers; turning notes into essays; developing persuasive arguments in essays and presentations; identifying and using historiography; writing well; revision and improvement. A training session on presentation skills is also included.

 

Teaching

7 hours and 30 minutes of workshops in the MT.

1.5 hour workshop each week in weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 of the Michaelmas Term only. 

Formative coursework

Formative work for this course involves step-by-step drafting of an essay for HY113 or HY116.

Indicative reading

Ludmila Jordanova, History in Practice (2nd edn., 2016).

Mary Abbott, History Skills (2nd edn, 2008).

Black and MacRaild, Studying History (3rd edn. 2007).

Assessment

There is no summative assessment for this course.

Key facts

Department: International History

Total students 2018/19: 85

Average class size 2018/19: Unavailable

Capped 2018/19: No

Value: Non-credit bearing

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Specialist skills