Studying at York
Perspectives on Medieval History - HIS00009M
Module summary
This core module provides an introduction to a diverse selection of sources, methods and approaches within the broad field of Medieval History. Each of the eight seminars takes a particular source, method, or topic of scholarly debate and considers it in the light of a carefully selected range of essential literature. Collectively the seminars will enable you to develop subject area knowledge and skills in scholarly practice, enhanced ability to evaluate secondary scholarship and an overview of the field. The module and the first term’s Medieval MA masterclasses will prepare you for research work in your dissertation.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
The module aims to:
- Introduce students to the critical skills and analytical methods applicable to the study of medieval history.
- Develop skills of source analysis and interpretation
- Examine a variety of methodological approaches to the writing of history.
- Acquaint you with a wide range of sources used by historians, encouraging you to develop a familiarity with these materials together with the methodological, analytical, and interpretative skills necessary for your own research.
Module learning outcomes
After successfully completing this module students should:
- Be aware of a range of thematic areas of research in medieval history
- Be aware of a range of sources available for the study of key topics in medieval history and of how approaches to those sources have changed
- Be aware of, and able to, evaluate and interpret diverse sources for research in medieval history
- Be aware of, and able to deploy, a range of methodologies for investigating selected topics in medieval history
- Be able to make informed and critical judgements about the sources and methods studied and to apply this understanding to other topics in cogent scholarly writing
- Have enhanced their skills in oral and written academic discussion, analysis and argument.
Module content
Teaching Programme:
The module is taught by a weekly two-hour seminar in weeks 2-9.
The likely seminar programme will normally be taught by experts and will include eight topics chosen from a range which includes (but is not limited to):
Literacy, States, Letters, Gender, Heresy, Emotions, Intellectuals, Narrative, Islam, Migration, Towns and Trade, Violence, Ecology, Connectivity.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
Students will complete a 2,000 word essay for formative assessment, due in week 6, for which they will receive an individual tutorial.
Students taking the module as a core module will submit a 4,000 word assessed essay in week 10 of the autumn term. For those taking the module as an option module, a 4,000 word assessed essay will be due in week 2 of the spring term.
For further details about assessed work, students should refer to the Statement of Assessment for Taught Postgraduate Programmes.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Following their formative assessment, students will receive oral feedback at a one-to-one meeting with their tutor and written feedback consisting of comments and a mark within 10 working days of submission. Tutors are also available in their student hours to discuss formative assessment. For more information, see the Statement on Feedback.
For the summative assessment task, students will receive their provisional mark and written feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline. The tutor will then be available during student hours for follow-up guidance if required. For more information, see the Statement of Assessment.
Indicative reading
For term time reading, please refer to the module VLE site. Before the course starts, we encourage you to look at the following items of preliminary reading:
Clanchy, Michael. From Memory to Written Record: England 1066-1307. 3rd ed, Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2013.
Bennett, Judith. History Matters: Patriarchy and the challenge of Feminism. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006.
Brown, P.R.L. The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity. Chicago University of Chicago Press, c1981.