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Historical Masterclass

Module description

This module gives you the opportunity to engage closely with the cutting-edge research currently being conducted within History’s Research Centres at Exeter: the Centre for Early Modern Studies, the Centre for Imperial and Global History, the Centre for Maritime Historical Studies, the Centre for Histories of Violence and Conflict, the Centre for Medical History, the South Asia Research Centre, and the Centre for Environmental Arts and Humanities. You will choose one from a range of research pathways, based on the research expertise of staff teaching on the module. Through a series of regular research workshops, you will engage with current debates and controversies in your tutor’s specialist area, and develop the conceptual understanding, source awareness, and methodological skills you will need in order to pursue your own project of research. Through attendance at events organised by one or more Research Centres, you will also learn to communicate that research, its aims, methods, and discoveries: an essential part of your development as a postgraduate researcher. The module will provide hands-on training to help you to develop key skills which are required for the MA dissertation and further research, and are also transferable to other careers: planning and organisation of a project; research; detailed and critical analysis; and writing in a variety of formats.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aims of the module are fourfold:

• To introduce you to current debates within the field of your relevant Research Centre(s)
• To develop a deep, critical understanding of a specialist topic of historical research
• To engage with the active research culture of Exeter’s History Research Centres
• To provide training in formulating a research project and communicating research effectively

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Display an advanced knowledge of your chosen subject within the remit of the module
• 2. Critically analyse arguments by reading and discussing key primary and secondary texts
• 3. Present sophisticated arguments concisely, explain difficult points; and identify key aspects of a debate

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources
• 5. Develop a cogent argument
• 6. Communicate complex information and ideas effectively in writing

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Undertake an individual research project in a structured, time-effective fashion
• 8. Locate and use literature effectively
• 9. Construct and evaluate ideas; formulate and express ideas at different levels of abstraction
• 10. Assess and criticise the views of others; write at the level required for ongoing and future research

Syllabus plan

During the course of the module, you will take part in a series of research workshops led by a member of the academic staff of your relevant Research Centre. The first meeting will discuss the group’s interests and possible areas for research projects, as well as providing an introduction to some of the key sources, conceptual and critical issues, and areas of current debate in the tutor’s particular area of expertise. For subsequent meetings, you will prepare a series of set tasks which build up to writing the review essay and research project. While these may vary from year to year, they are likely to include:

• Reading key primary sources or secondary works set by the tutor to discuss at the meeting
• Compiling a specialised bibliography on a specialist topic
• Preparing an analysis of a primary or secondary source for presentation to the group
• Writing and presenting a research proposal for presentation to the group
• Presenting your work in progress and giving feedback on others’ work

Tutors will provide specialist advice and an introductory reading list.

You will also attend events organised by one of the Research Centres in History (or related disciplines), and/or any of the Research Centres’ postgraduate conferences. In the research workshops, there will be an opportunity to discuss the research seminars, which will help you develop your skills in formulating a research project and communicating its findings.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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 50%) 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 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

The reading will vary depending on the options chosen from the list offered in any given year.

Key words search

history; early modern studies; imperial and global history; maritime historical studies; violence and conflict; medical history; South Asia; environmental arts and humanities; sexuality and gender.