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Unit outline_

HSTY3903: History and Historians

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

In this unit you will independently frame, research and write an original Essay analyzing how historians have written about the past. In choosing your topic you may draw upon historical issues, approaches and debates encountered throughout your previous studies in history. The lectures and tutorials introduce you to new methodologies and approaches to the past, and guide you through the stages of identifying an issue or debate, researching and understanding its different aspects, and shaping your own argument in response.

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 Kirsten McKenzie, kirsten.mckenzie@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Kirsten McKenzie, kirsten.mckenzie@sydney.edu.au
John Gagne, john.gagne@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final Research Essay
Refer to specific assessment guide on Canvas.
60% Formal exam period
Due date: 03 Jun 2024 at 23:59
4,000-words.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Participation Participation
Participation.
15% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Historicize Yourself activity
Refer to specific assessment guide on Canvas.
5% Week 02
Due date: 01 Mar 2024 at 23:59
500-words
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment Draft essay question, bibliography and sample text
Refer to specific assessment guide on Canvas.
20% Week 08
Due date: 15 Apr 2024 at 23:59
1,500-words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO3

Assessment summary

  • Participation: Participation is much more than just attendance! Students need to come to class each week having completed the relevant readings, able and willing to ask questions, make comments and support other students on our shared learning activities.
  • Historicize yourself activity:  The essay prompt you will answer is the following: “In 500 words, historicise yourself.” You may respond to this prompt in any manner you choose, in any temporal or spatial mode, and/or in whatever political, social, economic, intellectual, or cultural context you like. You will first share your response with a fellow student in class in Week 2, then reflect and revise your response for online submission that evening.
  • Draft essay question, bibliography and sample text: In this assessment you will outline in detail the question you expect to ask and answer in your final essay, say why it is important and significant, provide a draft bibliography and a few paragraphs of sample text.
  • Final research essay: The research essay is the largest assessment of the semester, and is the culmination of all the previous assessments. It should be a substantial research endeavour on a topic of your choice, worked out in consultation with your unit coordinator, and incorporating the feedback you received on your draft. You have the freedom to pursue almost any area of interest.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas. 

Please note:

  • All assessments must be attempted in order to be eligible to pass the unit.
  • Attendance at all seminars is required.

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

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

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.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: How is History produced and why does it matter? Seminar (1 hr)  
Week 02 Historians as Individuals Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 03 Locating Historians in Time and Place Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 04 Historians in Groups: Schools and Turns Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 05 Historians in Dialogue I Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 06 Historians in Dialogue II Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 07 READING WEEK Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 08 Historians in Dialogue III Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 09 Historians in Dialogue IV Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 10 Research Roundtable I Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 11 Research Roundtable II Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 12 Research Roundtable III Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 13 Review and Reflections Seminar (2 hr)  

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.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three 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

All readings for this unit can be accessed 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 advanced understanding of the nature and scope of the discipline through original research, the study of historical theory, and/or projects applying historical skills and perspectives beyond conventional academic settings
  • LO2. apply the key historical skill of contextualisation through the in-depth study of a greater variety of periods and places than you explored in the first two years of study
  • LO3. demonstrate high-level skills in inventive and responsible research, critical thinking, and the articulation and analysis of historical problems
  • LO4. apply the skills and knowledge of a historian to issues encountered in an interdisciplinary context.

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

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

I have taken on board student feedback by allocating more class time for discussion of student research projects and have streamlined the research essay questions.

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.