ATS3797 - Truth, power and structure: Understanding history and politics - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Arts

Coordinator(s)

David Waldron

Unit guides

Offered

Gippsland

  • First semester 2017 (Online)

Notes

Students need to contact the Arts Student ServicesArts Student Services (http://future.arts.monash.edu/contact-arts/) desk to enrol in the unit.

Synopsis

This unit provides students with a broad understanding of the nature and practice of history and politics. The subject aims to encourage students to critically examine different theoretical approaches and to reflect on how these influence their own work. Students will also learn about historical and political research methods and will be required to critically examine their own methods of interpreting sources and writing about historical and political issues and events.

Outcomes

This unit is designed to equip students with an understanding of important theories and to provide knowledge of and skills in historical and political research methods.Students successfully completing this subject will be able to demonstrate skills in:

  1. Formulating a viable research question around which an argument can be constructed, and identifying a central focus with clear parameters for research.
  2. Locating primary and secondary sources, and carrying out independent research.
  3. Providing and critically analysing evidence in support of an argument.
  4. Reflecting upon the difficulties of objectivity in history and politics and the importance of analysing the contexts in which texts and data are produced.
  5. Reviewing historical/political texts, questioning conclusions and recognizing historical and political debates.
  6. Developing a structured project with a logical introduction and conclusion and presenting a sustained argument based largely on documentary sources.
  7. Utilizing conventions in academic writing by providing correct citation, footnoting and bibliographic details.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 100%

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Prerequisites

12 points of second year history-politics

Prohibitions

GSC3504, HPL3504