Making History Today: The Past in the Present module (HY31029)

This module will cover how History is studied and applied in current times. It explores the nature of History as a subject, as well as current trends and themes in historical studies.

The module will also give you a greater awareness of different approaches to communicating and consuming historical information. Overall, the module will enhance your study of History at Levels 3 and 4, and help prepare you for writing a History Dissertation.

Topics covered in this module include but are not limited to:

• Historical Methods
• Archives and Public History
• The Role of History in Society
• Historical Approaches to Contemporary Challenges

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• learn about the different branches of historical inquiry
• learn how study of the past can be applied to contemporary debates and challenges
• study the ways in which the present and the past are in constant dialogue

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand contemporary approaches to historical study
• understand how study of the past is related to contemporary issues
• understand different ways of representing historical information

Assignments / assessment

• essay (50%)
• unseen exam (50%)

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
  • twice a week
• tutorials
  • weekly
  • you will have required reading for each week
  • questions to think about in connection with the reading and lectures will be provided

By thinking about the weekly questions, participating in tutorial discussions, and asking your own questions in response, you will deepen your understanding of the topics that we cover. This will also help you to write an effective essay and to prepare for the module exam.