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Unit outline_

HSTY3901: History in the Making

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

In this unit you will independently frame, research and write an original work of historical analysis, based on primary sources and drawing on your knowledge of any period, place or culture examined in history units previously completed. The weekly lectures will guide you through the stages of framing a historical problem, conducting research, choosing a methodology or approach, shaping an argument or narrative, and editing your final work. In tutorials we will workshop every stage of your project.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit History
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in History
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator James Findlay, james.findlay@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) James Findlay, james.findlay@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Research project
The finished, polished essay
60% Formal exam period
Due date: 16 Nov 2022 at 23:59
4500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Participation Participation
Includes designated tasks and contribution to discussion.
15% Ongoing Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Preliminary research paper proposal
Proposal for research project.
5% Week 05
Due date: 02 Sep 2022 at 23:59
250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4
Assignment Extended research paper proposal
An expanded proposal with greater commentary on sources.
10% Week 08
Due date: 23 Sep 2022 at 23:59
500 words (not including bibliography)
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO3
Assignment Project draft
A preliminary draft and outline of your essay.
10% Week 11
Due date: 19 Oct 2022 at 23:59
750 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas. You must complete all assessment components to pass the unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalties are imposed at 5% per day in accordance with Faculty guidelines. If you have difficulty meeting the deadline you should discuss this with your coordinator or apply for special consideration before the due date.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 02 THINKING ABOUT SCOPE AND NAVIGATING ARCHIVES. Working with primary sources. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 03 PRIVATE AND PERSONAL LIVES. From a Problem to a Plan 1. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 NON TEXTUAL SOURCES. From a Problem to a Plan 2. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 FOLLOWING THE ARCHIVAL TRAIL. From a Problem to a Plan 3. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 READING WEEK. Consultations. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 ORAL HISTORY. Refining Your Plan 1. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 PLACE, SPACE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Refining Your Plan 2. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Workshop: Introductions/finding your story. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Workshop: Scholarly conversation. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Workshop: Writing with authority. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Workshop: Structure, arrangement and style. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 FINAL SEMINAR Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Since participation in workshops and groups is vital to the success of this unit for all concerned, the following penalties also apply: if you miss more than two classes without explanation or documentation, 5% will be deducted from your participation mark. If you miss more than four classes without explanation or documentation, you will lose your entire participation mark. 
  • Lecture recording: As the format for this class is primarily informal group discussion, lecture recordings are not a suitable replacement. Exceptions can be made in exceptional circumstances.
  • Preparation: Since this is an assessment-intensive senior unit (two contact hours per week, 6000 words assessment), students should expect to spend approximately five hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.
     

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Reading lists will be made available via Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an understanding of a period, place or culture of the past
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of one approach to interpreting the past
  • LO3. identify and interpret written, visual and material primary sources and secondary materials such as monographs, scholarly articles, websites and documentaries
  • LO4. examine historical issues by undertaking research that begins with a problem, establishes its historical context, and uses methodologies chosen from a range of disciplines to solve that problem
  • LO5. analyse historical evidence, scholarship and changing representations of the past, using the skills of sifting through information to weigh its significance and close reading of various texts
  • LO6. construct an evidence-based argument or narrative in written form.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         
LO6         

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Stronger focus on staged assessments and activities and guided tutorial discussions in response to feedback suggesting some students feel overlooked in the larger classroom settings.

More information on this unit can be found on Canvas.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit. 

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.