The First Day of the Somme
| Module title | The First Day of the Somme |
|---|---|
| Module code | HIH1506 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Edward Gosling (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module examines the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army; a day which has entered Britain’s national consciousness. By focusing on a single day this module explores in depth the battle and its significance. This module will introduce you to the analysis of original sources – and their uses and limitations in the understanding of the past. As such it does not seek to present a fully comprehensive history of the first day of the Somme nor can it cover all the many sources that might be looked at for its study. Instead, the module looks at a representative sample of different types of source ranging from official accounts, diaries, interviews, newspaper despatches, interviews, film and novels. It will allow you to look beyond the national myths surrounding this infamous day, and revaluate the evidence for themselves.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to use sources related to the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, to explore the nature of the battle, its impact on British experience during the Great War, and its central place in the representations of war.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Assess the nature of the Battle of the Somme, its impact on British experience during the Great War, and its central place in the representations of war
- 2. Work critically with a range of sources for the history of the First World War, with particular reference to the Battle of the Somme
- 3. Critique modern British historical texts
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Identify the problems of using historical sources, e.g. bias, reliability, etc., and to compare the validity of different types of source
- 5. Demonstrate the ability to answer a question briefly and concisely
- 6. Present work and respond to questions orally, and think quickly of questions to ask other students
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Conduct independent study and group work, including the presentation of material for group discussion, developed through the mode of learning
- 8. Digest, select and organise material to produce, to a deadline, a coherent and cogent argument, developed through the mode of assessment
- 9. Work with others in a team and to interact effectively with the tutor and the wider group
- 10. Write to a very tight word-length
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
The module will look at different kinds of sources for the study of the Somme- memoirs, oral histories, photographs, film, novels, poetry, official records, memorials - to ask whether we can have a definitive version of the Battle and its place in British history.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 2 | 2 hour lecture: Introduction to the module. |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 20 | 10 x 2 hour seminars. At a meeting of the whole class generally a different group of 3-4 students will give a presentation to the whole class, followed by class discussion and working through the sources for that week carefully. Additional sources may be issued in the class and the lecturer will also use the time to set up issues for the following week. |
| Guided independent learning | 128 | You prepare for the session through reading and research; writing a weekly source essay and preparing one group presentation in the course of the term. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation (3-4 students) | 10-15 minutes | 1-4, 6-7, 9 | Oral |
| Lowest mark from portfolio of 5 source commentaries | 500 words | 1-5, 7-8, 10 | Marks and written comments |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 highest marks from portfolio of 5 source commentaries | 60 | 2000 words (500 per commentary) (15% per commentary) | 1-5, 7-8, 10 | Mark and written comments |
| Essay on Sources | 40 | 1500 words | 1-5, 7-8, 10 | Mark and written comments |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 highest marks from portfolio of 5 source commentaries | 4 highest marks from portfolio of 5 source commentaries | 1-5, 7-8, 10 | Referral/Deferral period |
| 1500 word essay | 1500 word essay | 1-5, 7-8, 10 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- M.Middlebrook, The First Day on the Somme (Penguin, 1965)
- G. Sheffield, The Somme (Cassell MIlitary, 2003)
- G. Gliddon, The Legacy of the Somme 1916: the Battle in Fact, Film and Fiction (Sutton, 1996)
- J. Masefield, The Old Front Line (Heinmann, 1917)
- Doulgas Haig, Douglas Haig: War Diaries and Letters (Weidenfield and Nicholson, 2005)
- Department of Information Film Unit, The Battle of the Somme (1916)
- L.Macdonald, The Somme (Penguin, 1983)
- R.Graves, Goodbye to All That (Penguin, 1929)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 2006 |
| Last revision date | 12/12/2018 |
