Module: HIS5111-20 Making History: Sources the Building Blocks of History

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Dr Sarah Hackett

Module Tutor Contact Details: s.hackett@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Historians draw on both material and written evidence in their work; archaeology has been defined as the study of past people and societies through their material culture. Objects, landscapes and buildings represent a physical record of the past; oral testimony offers another – and sometimes an alternative – view of it.

Confronted with such a wealth of possible evidence, how do historians select, analyse and interpret these sources? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What insights are offered by one source, and obscured by another? How has the choice of source shifted over time, and what does this tell us about the purpose and practice of history?

This module explores a variety of forms of evidence as the basis for understanding how we research, analyse and interpret past and present human society. It provides an introduction to the study of material culture and the use of material evidence to understand past people, societies, human behaviour and beliefs; and it further develops your skills in selecting and interrogating written, visual and oral sources.

2.Outline syllabus:

This module takes a cross-disciplinary approach, and draws on history, archaeology, anthropology, cultural geography and heritage studies to identify and interrogate historical sources. Some of the key topics include

• Personal, private and public records

• Evidence in images

• What is material culture?

• Artefacts as historical evidence

• Object biographies

• Oral history, testimony, and witness

• Perspectives and position

• Presenting research to a public audience

3.Teaching and learning activities:

The module will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops. The lectures will introduce the key concepts and case studies that we will then explore in the seminars and workshops. There will also be workshop sessions to support the development of research, writing and presentation skills. As part of the module we will visit museums and heritage sites in order to look critically at the presentation and interpretation of material culture in different contexts, as a basis for further debate and discussion and there will be the opportunity to undertake independent archival research.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Coursework

• Description: Research Project Report (2000 words)

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Coursework

• Description: Group Project and Individual Summary (equiv 3000 words)

• % Weighting: 60%