Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis Is history useful, and, if so, what for? How do historians and others shape their accounts of the past? What are the basic steps involved in conducting a piece of historical research? This subject approaches the `making of histories' in three stages. Stage one, `using histories,' looks at how history is used (or abused); for example by the heritage industry, politicians and the state. Stage two, `understanding history,' examines ways in which historical narratives are shaped by values, themes and literary conventions. And stage three, `writing history,' focuses directly on writing narratives. As well as `deconstructing' what others, including former history honours graduates, have written, students doing HSY3010 will have the opportunity to develop their own historical project, thereby putting the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the subject to practical use. (Please note that this subject will be repeated in second semester as HSY3020.)
Assessment Analysis (1500 words): 25% + Essay (2500 words): 40% + Research proposal: 25% + Class participation: 10%