Students
MHIS747 – Representing Lives: The Genres of Modern Biography
2015 – S2 External
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Kate Fullagar
Contact via kate.fullagar@mq.edu.au
W6A 401
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| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit seeks to understand the current rise in public interest in biography or life writing as well as the way in which the biographic mode is increasingly used as a key explicatory form in history and other humanist disciplines. We will briefly trace the history of the genre and then delve into examples of various kinds of biography, such as political lives, literary lives, indigenous lives, women’s lives, and collective lives. We will also examine the problems of fiction and biography; arguments against biography; and modern enterprises to undertake massive regional or national biographical dictionaries.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Advanced understanding of the history and use of biography in modern humanist research
- Advanced understanding of the primary principles, methods, and concepts used in modern biography
- Engage in synthesizing, analysing, evaluating and creating historical knowledge through biography
- Exercise independence in identifying and formulating solutions to complex historical problems
- Engage in online discussions with staff and fellow-students that are both critical and respectful
General Assessment Information
Assignment submission Please submit all written work online via the iLearn site.
Grading Policy Grades will be given as percentages.
High Distinction 85-100 Distinction 75-84 Credit 65-74 Pass 50-64 Fail 0-49
Rubrics See the sheet copied at end of the Reader.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Participation | 20% | Ongoing |
| Book Review | 20% | 31 August 2015 |
| Biographical Project | 60% | 13 November 2015 |
Seminar Participation
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
Students are expected to do all the required readings, and post at least twice every week (at least one post in response to another student), which should amount together to 300 words. Discussion should not be a list of everyone’s views for the week, but an interconnected conversation between members. Your grade is assessed on the basis of your generosity with your knowledge to other students and your willingness to ask relevant questions and also to have a go at trying to answer others’ questions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Advanced understanding of the history and use of biography in modern humanist research
- Advanced understanding of the primary principles, methods, and concepts used in modern biography
- Engage in online discussions with staff and fellow-students that are both critical and respectful
Book Review
Due: 31 August 2015
Weighting: 20%
Write a 1000-word critical review of a biography published sometime in the last 20 years. Critical reviews should not just be summaries. They should assess the book by identifying its aims, discussing their aptness, and evaluating their successful execution. Consider, too, how the book relates to modern traditions or genres of biography. Please refer to the Modern History Essay Writing Guide for advice about argumentation, citation, and formatting. You must present your review with a title, wide margins, page numbers, and double-spaced. Immediately after your title, provide full publication details of the book under question.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Advanced understanding of the primary principles, methods, and concepts used in modern biography
- Exercise independence in identifying and formulating solutions to complex historical problems
Biographical Project
Due: 13 November 2015
Weighting: 60%
Write a critical biographical essay in 4000 words. You may choose as your subject either one person, a pair of persons, a family, a circle, a place, a thing, or indeed yourself. Your subject does not necessarily have to have a public profile. However, you may not conduct your own oral interviews, considering the ethics stipulations of Macquarie University. You must work from a range of sources — written, oral (lodged in a public archive eg NLA), visual, aural, public or private — and they must come from at least three (or more) different authorities. That is, one’s own memory cannot suffice. Nor can one diary, etc. Your project can take any written form (or structure) that you wish; it can cover as much or as little of the ‘life’ under question as you feel is adequate to satisfy the descriptor of ‘biographical.’ The project must, however, involve some primary research, and not rely only on secondary sources. In the humanities, even biographies have to have theses. When developing an argument about your subject, it may be helpful to consider the significance of your research. What is the pay-off for your reader? What do you want your readers to have learnt about your subject by the end of the essay that they could not have learnt elsewhere? Please refer to the Modern History Essay Writing Guide for advice about argumentation, citation, and formatting. You must present your essay with a title, wide margins, page numbers, and double-spaced. You must cite your references correctly and provide a bibliography at the end, starting on a new page.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Advanced understanding of the history and use of biography in modern humanist research
- Advanced understanding of the primary principles, methods, and concepts used in modern biography
- Engage in synthesizing, analysing, evaluating and creating historical knowledge through biography
- Exercise independence in identifying and formulating solutions to complex historical problems
Delivery and Resources
Extensions and special consideration
Please ask me early if you need an extra day or two. If you need three days more extra time you will need to apply for special consideration. The penalty for late work of 2% for every day.
Students applying for Special Consideration circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration, within a study period, and/or prevent completion of a formal examination must submit an on-line application with the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation. See https://ask.mq.edu.au/.
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS
Students must purchase the MHIS747 Unit Reader at the Co-op Course notes shop. They must also acquire Hermione Lee’s Biography (2009). There are no other essential texts, though the further reading lists in each week’s section may be a guide for personal projects.
UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED
Online units can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic honesty is an integral part of the core values and principles contained in the Macquarie University Ethics Statement: http://www.mq.edu.au/ethics/ethic-statement-final.html
Its fundamental principle is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that: • All academic work claimed as original is the work of the author making the claim. • All academic collaborations are acknowledged. • Academic work is not falsified in any way • When the ideas of others are used, these ideas are acknowledged appropriately. The link below has more details about the policy, procedure and schedule of penalties that will apply to breaches of the Academic Honesty Policy which can be viewed at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Unit Schedule
1 Introduction 2 Background I: Confession and Hagiography 3 Background II: Anecdote and the Pursuit of Intimacy 4 ‘Historic’ Lives 5 Obscure Lives 6 Collective Lives 7 Indigenous Lives SEMESTER BREAK 8 Autobiography 9 Fictional/Experimental Biography 10 Writerly Lives 11 Against Biography 12 Mass Biography 13 NO READING. WORK ON BIOGRAPHICAL PROJECTS
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Engage in online discussions with staff and fellow-students that are both critical and respectful
Assessment task
- Seminar Participation
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Advanced understanding of the history and use of biography in modern humanist research
- Advanced understanding of the primary principles, methods, and concepts used in modern biography
Assessment tasks
- Book Review
- Biographical Project
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Advanced understanding of the history and use of biography in modern humanist research
- Advanced understanding of the primary principles, methods, and concepts used in modern biography
- Engage in synthesizing, analysing, evaluating and creating historical knowledge through biography
- Exercise independence in identifying and formulating solutions to complex historical problems
Assessment tasks
- Seminar Participation
- Book Review
- Biographical Project
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Advanced understanding of the primary principles, methods, and concepts used in modern biography
- Engage in synthesizing, analysing, evaluating and creating historical knowledge through biography
- Exercise independence in identifying and formulating solutions to complex historical problems
Assessment tasks
- Seminar Participation
- Biographical Project
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Engage in synthesizing, analysing, evaluating and creating historical knowledge through biography
- Exercise independence in identifying and formulating solutions to complex historical problems
Assessment tasks
- Seminar Participation
- Book Review
- Biographical Project
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Engage in synthesizing, analysing, evaluating and creating historical knowledge through biography
Assessment task
- Seminar Participation