Making histories
Not offered in 1997
Bain Attwood and others
8 points
* Two lectures per week for the first seven weeks of the
semester and one 2-hour seminar per week throughout the semester
* Clayton
* Prohibitions: HSY3010, HSY3020
Objectives Students will be expected to attain an understanding of recent developments in historical theory and practice, evaluate the relevance of these for reading and writing of history, and acquire skills in researching and writing a thesis.
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, private individuals, politicians and the state. Stage two, `understanding history,' examines ways in which historical narratives are shaped by values, themes, literary conventions and social theories. 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 HSY4010 will be encouraged to reflect critically upon the historical practice evident in their own writing.
Assessment Reflective essay (5000 words): 65%
* Examination (2
hours): 35%
Preliminary reading
Jenkins K Re-thinking history Routledge, 1991
| Published by Monash University, Clayton, Victoria
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