Students

MHIS7001 – Archives: Sources and Silences

2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Leigh Boucher
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to 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 – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Reflective Journal 20% No Completed weekly
Synthetic Essay 50% No 17:00 5/11/2011
Analytical essay 30% No 17:00 27/9/2011

Reflective Journal

Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Completed weekly
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: 17:00 5/11/2011
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: 17:00 27/9/2011
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

Unit readings available on Leganto and detailed assessment guides and weekly schedule on ilearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.


Unit information based on version 2021.04 of the Handbook