Students
MHIS7001 – Archives: Sources and Silences
2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Michelle Arrow
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to BPhil/MRes
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
Archival research is understood to be the foundation of the practice of professional historical inquiry. These various historical artefacts are considered our window onto past lives, experiences and processes. As any historian will admit, however, archives are always partial, incomplete and imperfect. So too, the processes by which certain kinds of knowledge is retained and other kinds of knowledge discarded, dismissed or concealed reveals the inherently politicized character of archival collection. This unit will critically and historically consider the relationship between the historian, archives and the past. How and when did modern “archives” emerge? What was their purpose? What are the implications for historical authority if we admit that the foundation of our disciplinary practice is always incomplete and partial? What new archives have emerged in late modernity? Is the internet one huge and unruly archive? |
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:
- ULO1: Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of some of history’s principles, methods, and concepts.
- ULO2: Demonstrate skills in reviewing, analysing, and synthesizing historians' use of archival evidence and argumentation.
- ULO3: Demonstrate initiative and judgment in historical scholarship.
- ULO4: Identify and reflect critically upon the knowledge and skills developed in the student’s own study of history.
- ULO5: Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of historical knowledge.
General Assessment Information
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.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective Journal | 20% | No | 8/11/20 |
| Synthetic Essay | 50% | No | 06/11/20 |
| Analytical essay | 30% | No | 31/08/20 |
Reflective Journal
Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 8/11/20
Weighting: 20%
This unit has a online blog--open to and visible to all students enrolled in the unit--on which students will maintain an individual journal. Students need to make five (5) posts over the course of the semester. Each post needs to be 200-300 words in length. A post needs to be made after the seminar has met and should reflect on the week's theme, the connections between the theme and the readings, and should include any insights gained from class discussions and any questions or problems that still remain.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of some of history’s principles, methods, and concepts.
- Demonstrate skills in reviewing, analysing, and synthesizing historians' use of archival evidence and argumentation.
- Demonstrate initiative and judgment in historical scholarship.
- Identify and reflect critically upon the knowledge and skills developed in the student’s own study of history.
- Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of historical knowledge.
Synthetic Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 06/11/20
Weighting: 50%
Students will write a critically reflective 3,000-3,500-word essay that engages with at least six (6) weekly topics. Students should devise their own essay question relating to the unit theme of archive and the problems of archival research, and have complete free rein in doing so.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of some of history’s principles, methods, and concepts.
- Demonstrate skills in reviewing, analysing, and synthesizing historians' use of archival evidence and argumentation.
- Demonstrate initiative and judgment in historical scholarship.
- Identify and reflect critically upon the knowledge and skills developed in the student’s own study of history.
- Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of historical knowledge.
Analytical essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 23 hours
Due: 31/08/20
Weighting: 30%
Students must complete a 1,500-2,000-word preliminary analysis of one piece of self-located historical evidence. Students are free to choose any type of evidence (eg. a document, an object, a piece of art, etc).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of some of history’s principles, methods, and concepts.
- Demonstrate skills in reviewing, analysing, and synthesizing historians' use of archival evidence and argumentation.
- Demonstrate initiative and judgment in historical scholarship.
- Identify and reflect critically upon the knowledge and skills developed in the student’s own study of history.
- Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of historical knowledge.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Delivery:
this unit is taught through an online seminar, conducted through Zoom. You must attend the seminar having completed all the required reading.
Resources:
All the required readings for this unit are available via the University Library.
Policies and Procedures
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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
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 published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.