HIS42470 Global History MA Methods

Academic Year 2023/2024

What is ‘Global History’? Students and scholars alike have been asking this question for decades. Indeed, the question itself is the title of one of this module’s core texts. ‘Globalization’ is being rendered invisible as it has subsumed all facades of life. Yet, as we will see, globalization is not a modern-day phenomenon. Nor are global history’s related methods. To what extent, then, is global history something new and how have approaches to it changed over time?

This module is a training seminar that exposes students to the range of histories and methodologies that, above all else, interrogate comparisons, connections, and collisions. We will analyse the ways in which global history differs yet draws upon world history and area studies. We will explore global history’s place within transnational, international, national, micro, and oceanic histories. We will also explore thematic trends and methods, including global history’s intersection with temporality, gender, the environment, colonialism and postcoloniality, race and movement, material culture, and beyond. Global history stresses interconnections. Yet at the same time, we must ask whose narrative is privileged and whose is silenced? Do these global connections exist to intentionally pass over others? By engaging actively with texts and contradictory perspectives, students will develop their understanding of global history, historical theory, and the praxis of historians. Above all, this module seeks to gives students a grounding in global history methodologies to be applied to their own original research.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

1) Gain the ability to understand the state of the field of global history
2) Learn to categorise, synthesise, and mobilise readings and discussions under thematic groupings to build upon in students’ own research over the course of their MA studies
3) Critically engage with diverse secondary sources and learn to read these as primary texts and against the grain
4) Practice utilising historiographical framings to provide new insights, challenge master-narratives, and uncover marginalised perspectives; in so doing students will reflect on issues of equality, diversity, and inclusion
5) Focus the skills of historians: how to locate and read academic texts, how to frame research, how to present historical findings through written work similar in structure to peer-reviewed journal articles and book reviews and gain confidence orally presenting in small group settings

Indicative Module Content:

MODULE OVERVIEW
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: What is Global History?
Week 3: Is Global History Useful?
Week 4: International and Internationalising History
Week 5: Transnational Collisions
Week 6: Nation and Imagi(nation)
Week 7: Global microhistory
Week 8: Reading Week
Week 9: Oceanic and Terraqueous Histories
Week 10: Time and Temporality
Week 11: Decolonising Global History
Week 12: Essay Workshop

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

0
Seminar (or Webinar)

22
Specified Learning Activities

95
Autonomous Student Learning

95
Total

212
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a small-group, seminar-based module. It is taught through a weekly two-hour seminar. The weekly seminar is focused upon individual active / task-based learning by means of student led class debates and discussions. Critical analysis is developed though a book review assessment. Advanced research, writing and citation skills are developed through a semester long historiographic 4,000 word research project. Autonomous learning is advanced through student-led debate and discussion of set secondary sources.
 
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
Essay: A completed historiographic essay of 3000 words will illustrate the current state of your chosen field through an analysis of secondary sources Week 12 n/a Graded No

30
Journal: Students are required to submit 5 learning journals based on the readings and an analysis of them. Students are also to lead/co-lead 1 seminar discussion. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

30
Continuous Assessment: Students will be graded on their participation during the seminars (note: this is not based on attendance, but rather active discussion and participation) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

20
Essay: A 750 word book review on a scholarly monograph relating to the themes of our module Week 9 n/a Graded No

20

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, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Book review will provide an opportunity to explore some of the ideas for the final assessment. Feedback given on the review should be used to develop ideas for the final, longer essay.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 14:00 - 15:50