Students

MHIS7001 – Archives: Sources and Silences

2023 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Leigh Boucher
leigh.boucher@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

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

Full descriptions and instructions for each task can be found on 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. 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
Analytical essay 30% No 27 Sep, 5pm
Synthetic Essay 50% No 10 Nov, 5pm
Reflective Journal 20% No Weekly

Analytical essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 28 hours
Due: 27 Sep, 5pm
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.

Synthetic Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 10 Nov, 5pm
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.

Reflective Journal

Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 17 hours
Due: 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.

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 required readings are available electrionically via the library catalogue, weekly seminars will take place on Friday afternoons, 3-5, a zoom option will be available for off-campus students.

Unit Schedule

See 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

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 2023.02 of the Handbook