HIS00010 Making History

Academic Year 2024/2025

This is a module about the study and the writing of history. It will examine the relationship between what happened in the past and how we think about it now. We look at how people lived, how they thought and how they expressed themselves. You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and independent study. The objective is not only to understand what happened in the past. It is also about identifying and evaluating historical evidence, and about posing questions and framing answers. We will examine the books, articles, documents, films, podcasts and other sources that you will encounter in your studies.This module, ultimately, allows you to deepen your study of history, while teaching skills that are valuable in any career you choose.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

Demonstrate a familiarity with selected historical periods and situations
Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the history of Ireland from 1845-1922
Analyse primary source evidence, place it in context and assess its reliability
Demonstrate an understanding of diverse academic viewpoints and methodologies.
Demonstrate ability to engage constructively in group discussions.
Submit written work which is coherently argued, backed up by evidence, well-presented, and documented in an academic format appropriate to the discipline.
Demonstrate a knowledge of research skills that are fundamental to historical inquiry and more broadly applicable.

Indicative Module Content:

The module will cover the following main areas: The Great Irish Famine; emigration; education; nationalism, sport and Irish culture; the women's suffrage movement; social conditions in early twentieth century Ireland; Ireland and the First World War; the 1916 Easter Rising; the War of Independence and Civil War.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Specified Learning Activities

45
Autonomous Student Learning

45
Total

110
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
‘This module is taught through a weekly 2 hour combined lecture and seminar. In the first hour the lecture provide overviews of weekly topics, with focus upon key historical trends, debates and events. The second hour focuses on small-group active / task-based learning using both secondary and primary sources related to the weekly topic covered in the lecture. Autonomous learning is nurtured through required preparatory reading each week, and the written assignments. Key research, writing and citation skills are explicitly incorporated into seminar work and are assessed and advanced from the formative to the summative assignments. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Exam (In-person): There will be a 2 hour exam at the end of the semester in December. Students will answer two questions. There will be a class devoted to exam preparation at the end of the semester. n/a Graded No

50
Participation in Learning Activities: This includes participation in class discussion and completion of assigned tasks such as the 1911 census discussion post. n/a Graded No

20
Assignment(Including Essay): Document Analysis

The midterm essay will be between 750 and 1000 words long and will be focused on one of the assigned primary sources for the course. Essay questions will be provided.		 n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individual written feedback on the assignments will be provided through Brightspace. Students are also welcome to receive one-to-one consultation to discuss their grades and progress by availing of office hours and / or appointments with the module coordinator.