Students

MHIS7000 – Introduction to Modern Historiography

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Leigh Boucher
leigh.boucher@mq.edu.au
Clare Monagle
clare.monagle@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This advanced-studies unit introduces students to a brief history of modern historical thinking and writing. It starts with an investigation of three major and enduring strands of Western historical thought from the nineteenth century: Rankean empiricism, Marxist structuralism, and Nietzchean deconstructionism. The rest of the unit traces the intertwining ups and downs of these three traditions through the twentieth century and into the new millennium. We look at the interplay between structuralisms and empiricisms during the early 1900s and then the returning challenge of deconstructionist—or what will be termed ‘poststructuralist’—thought by mid-century. We will study the effects of these changes especially on historical understandings of gender, class, and race. Our final weeks will look at what these different trajectories mean in our present era of ‘fake news’, and the shape of the dominant historiographical concerns of the immediate future.

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: read and analyse different kinds of historical writing and demonstrate an awareness of the benefits and limitations of particular approaches to the past
  • ULO2: understand some of the ways different historians have employed different theoretical models in their work
  • ULO3: communicate your analysis effectively in oral forms, and in a range of written forms
  • ULO4: engage effectively in group work with your peers and teachers

General Assessment Information

Written work will be submitted via ilearn. 

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. 

 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Historiographic Essay 60% No 02/06/2023
Reflective Diary 20% No 14/04/2023 and 26/05/2023
Seminar Participation / Online Forum Contributions 20% No 02/06/2023

Historiographic Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: 02/06/2023
Weighting: 60%

 

Write a 3000 word essay in which you address a historiographical question that you have formulated, a question that relates to any of the ideas or issues covered in the unit. You should clear your choice of question with your convenor by at least week 8. Start thinking about your essay question now! Try to keep your project manageable, by, for instance, investigating a concept or controversy through three to four primary texts. Keep your question short, too. Your paper should illustrate that you are able to locate evidence and present your findings in a clear and coherent manner. You must format and reference your essay according to departmental guidelines (see doc uploaded on ilearn). Submit via Turnitin.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • read and analyse different kinds of historical writing and demonstrate an awareness of the benefits and limitations of particular approaches to the past
  • understand some of the ways different historians have employed different theoretical models in their work

Reflective Diary

Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: 14/04/2023 and 26/05/2023
Weighting: 20%

 

Between weeks 2-13 you are expected to write a reflection each week after the discussion has concluded of between 200-400 words, you should attempt to synthesise the key points from the weekly discussion and offer a reflection on how these have challenged, transformed or perhaps reinforced some of your ideas about historical research. These will be submitted in 2 batches over the semester.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • read and analyse different kinds of historical writing and demonstrate an awareness of the benefits and limitations of particular approaches to the past
  • understand some of the ways different historians have employed different theoretical models in their work
  • engage effectively in group work with your peers and teachers

Seminar Participation / Online Forum Contributions

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: 02/06/2023
Weighting: 20%

 

Participation means not only doing all the common readings beforehand but also contributing to discussion with your fellow students during our meeting or during the online discussion forum for external students. Good participation ensures a productive learning environment for you and everyone else. Your grade is assessed on the basis of your generosity with your knowledge to other students and your willingness to ask relevant questions and to have a go at trying to answer others' questions.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • read and analyse different kinds of historical writing and demonstrate an awareness of the benefits and limitations of particular approaches to the past
  • understand some of the ways different historians have employed different theoretical models in their work
  • communicate your analysis effectively in oral forms, and in a range of written forms
  • engage effectively in group work with your peers and teachers

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

All readings will be available via leganto. 

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2023.01R of the Handbook