Students

MHIX211 – War and Peace in World History

2018 – S1 OUA

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
Lorna Barrow
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
War is a central feature of human history. But why? 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 a broader international context. While war is often viewed purely in terms of military strategy, it also always depends on social, economic and cultural contexts for its meaning and practice. This unit explores the changing relationships over time, between understandings, practices and experiences of war. It also examines the practice of peace-making – how have societies and cultures sought to create peace? What might a history of peace-making look like? Our travels will take us from Ancient Greece and Rome through to the 'war on terror'. In between, we explore the early modern world, colonial empires, South Africa, the United States, Japan, Vietnam, New Zealand and Australia. This unit offers an opportunity to consider the centrality of war to human history (and the social and cultural ramifications of this) as well as providing a solid grounding in the discipline of world history. All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-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 Online Quiz 20% No Weekly Throughout Semester
Prelim Assessment Task 20% Yes 2/4 5pm
Major Essay 40% No 30/5 5pm
Forum Posts and Reflection 20% No 10/11 5pm

Weekly Online Quiz

Due: Weekly Throughout Semester
Weighting: 20%

Students will complete a weekly multiple choice quiz that covers material from the required readings and lectures, these must be completed by Friday each week.


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: 2/4 5pm
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

This assessment is designed to consolidate your understanding of the material covered during week 1 (and the approach of the unit more broadly), and use this understanding to analyse secondary sources.  It is designed as the first step in your major essay.  You will need to choose your major essay topic before you commence this task. The task consists of two stages. In the first stage you will conduct some preliminary research for your major essay. In the second stage you will reflect on some of the key conceptual tools covered during week 1 and describe how you will draw on these tools in your 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)

Major Essay

Due: 30/5 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)

Forum Posts 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

Late Submission - applies unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the unit guide

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extension Request

Special Consideration Policy and Procedure (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration)

The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.

You need to show that the circumstances:

  1. were serious, unexpected and unavoidable
  2. were beyond your control
  3. caused substantial disruption to your academic work
  4. substantially interfered with your otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of the unit requirements
  5. lasted at least three consecutive days or a total of 5 days within the teaching period and prevented completion of an assessment task scheduled for a specific date.

If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:

  1. Visit Ask MQ and use your OneID to log in
  2. Fill in your relevant details
  3. Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a reply', click 'Browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'Submit Form' to send your notification and supporting documents
  4. Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process

Outcome

Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.

OUA Specific Policies and Procedures

Withdrawal from a unit after the census date

You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.

If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.

If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/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 / Late Submission

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

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

  • Major 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 Online Quiz

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
  • Major Essay
  • Forum Posts 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 Online Quiz
  • Prelim Assessment Task
  • Major Essay
  • Forum Posts 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
  • Major 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 Online Quiz
  • Prelim Assessment Task
  • Major Essay
  • Forum Posts 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 Online Quiz

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.