Students

MHIS211 – War and Peace in World History

2017 – S2 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Leigh Boucher
Contact via leigh.boucher@mq.edu.au
TBC
by appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
12cp at 100 level or above or (3cp in HIST or MHIS or POL units)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit looks at the ways in which issues of war and peace are shaped by specific cultural and historical conditions that can only be understood in broader international context. While war can be viewed purely in terms of military strategy and through the lens of advancing armies, it also has wider social, economic and cultural meanings that situate men and women as historical actors in the formation of cultures and societies and the construction of new world orders. By looking at the many situations in which wars have been fought across the world under the banner of political cause, national freedom, dynastic and religious crusade, we ponder the ways in which war is the arena in which national and imperial memory has been forged. Our travels will take us to Britain, India, Germany, the United States of America, South Africa, Japan, Algeria, Vietnam, New Zealand and Australia to look at the role of war in the construction of historical memory. We also pay particular attention to the experiences of women in war, to the colonial context of much international conflict and to the moral questions that arise from notions such as winning and losing.

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:

  • A schematic knowledge of major conflicts and efforts to make peace in modern history
  • An understanding of how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.
  • An ability to critically evaluate the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • An ability to locate, identify, read and analyze existing historical research with some guidance
  • The ability to clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.
  • Understand the ways in which war and peace are experienced differently (according to gender, race, class, sexuality and historical location)
  • An ability to consider how practices of remembrance are shaped by political contexts

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Weekly Quizzes 20% No Throughout Semester
Prelim Assessment Task 20% Yes 8/9 5pm
Final Essay 40% No 3/11 5pm
Online Forums and Reflection 20% No 10/11 5pm

Weekly Quizzes

Due: Throughout Semester
Weighting: 20%

Students will complete a weekly multiple choice quiz that covers material from the required readings and lectures.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A schematic knowledge of major conflicts and efforts to make peace in modern history
  • The ability to clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.
  • Understand the ways in which war and peace are experienced differently (according to gender, race, class, sexuality and historical location)
  • An ability to consider how practices of remembrance are shaped by political contexts

Prelim Assessment Task

Due: 8/9 5pm
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Students will use a critical vocabulary derived from supplied course material to analyse two independently located journal articles / scholarly books related to the chosen research essay.  

This is a hurdle requirement for MHIS211; students must pass this assessment in order to complete the unit. Submissions that do not meet the requirements of the task will be returned for revision and resubmission.

Late submissions without a formal extension will be marked on a pass/fail basis and will not receive annotations/written feedback.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • An understanding of how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.
  • An ability to critically evaluate the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • An ability to locate, identify, read and analyze existing historical research with some guidance
  • The ability to clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.
  • Understand the ways in which war and peace are experienced differently (according to gender, race, class, sexuality and historical location)

Final Essay

Due: 3/11 5pm
Weighting: 40%

In this task you will write an academic research paper answering one question from the list supplied, building on the feedback from your preliminary exercise and augmenting it with further research. The questions and requirements for this essay will be available on ilearn.

Late submissions without a formal extension will be marked on a pass/fail basis and will not receive annotations/written feedback.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A schematic knowledge of major conflicts and efforts to make peace in modern history
  • An understanding of how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.
  • An ability to critically evaluate the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • An ability to locate, identify, read and analyze existing historical research with some guidance
  • The ability to clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.
  • Understand the ways in which war and peace are experienced differently (according to gender, race, class, sexuality and historical location)

Online Forums and Reflection

Due: 10/11 5pm
Weighting: 20%

At the end of semester, students will submit their best 6 contributions to 6 different weekly discussions along with a short (750-1000) word essay that responds to a question proffered in the final lecture.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A schematic knowledge of major conflicts and efforts to make peace in modern history
  • An understanding of how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.
  • An ability to critically evaluate the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • An ability to consider how practices of remembrance are shaped by political contexts

Delivery and Resources

Students are required to attend the weekly lecture (or listen if an online student), listen to an additional hour of lecture content and read the required readings.  All required reading material will be available via ilearn. Tutorials and online discussions will engage with this content in more depth. Some weeks will require reading before the on campus lecture, others before the tutorial.  Please ensure you consult the weekly topic guide before classes commence each week.

Unit Schedule

Please consult 'ilearn' for a detailed outline of lectures, tutorials and reading materials.  

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_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

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.

Extensions

If you face illness or serious misadventure, you should lodge a "Disruption to Studies" application via the Student Services desk, ground floor, W6A.  If you have legitimate grounds to seek an extension or alternative form of assessment, this will only occur through this process. 

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://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Final Essay

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Weekly Quizzes

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • A schematic knowledge of major conflicts and efforts to make peace in modern history
  • An understanding of how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.

Assessment tasks

  • Prelim Assessment Task
  • Final Essay
  • Online Forums and Reflection

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • An ability to critically evaluate the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly Quizzes
  • Prelim Assessment Task
  • Final Essay
  • Online Forums and Reflection

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • An ability to locate, identify, read and analyze existing historical research with some guidance

Assessment tasks

  • Prelim Assessment Task
  • Final Essay

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • The ability to clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly Quizzes
  • Prelim Assessment Task
  • Final Essay
  • Online Forums and Reflection

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Weekly Quizzes

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the ways in which war and peace are experienced differently (according to gender, race, class, sexuality and historical location)
  • An ability to consider how practices of remembrance are shaped by political contexts

Changes from Previous Offering

The unit structure has been redesigned in order to maximise student participation.