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HIS-40017 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

HIS-40017 - Research Skills in the Humanities
Coordinator: Rebecca Bowler Room: 2.037 Tel: +44 1782 7 33017
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

Aims
To provide training in the practical skills and conceptual understanding necessary for postgraduate research in the humanities, enabling students to find and use the necessary resources for their research, to plan their research and writing.
Intended learning outcomes
Ability to find, use and manage resources
Ability to plan a project
Indicative content (over 3 full days)
Day 1. Starting Out in Humanities Research
Day 2. Information Technology: Searching, Retrieval and Organisation
Day 3. The Writing Process

Aims
Research Skills in the Humanities is designed for new research students, and is intended to serve as an introduction to the central aspects of the process of academic research and to provide training in technical skills to assist you in developing and managing your research. It is also a forum in which research students from across the Humanities (and the University) can meet and share their experiences.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/his-40017/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

become familiar with the relevant university regulations and procedures for management of a research degree as well as be able to identify any issues of research ethics affecting their wor: 1,2
learn how to use real-world and digital archives and be creative in looking for primary sources: 1,2
learn the differences between popular press dissemination of their research and academic forms and modes: 1,2
learn techniques for time and stress management as well as managing large research projects: 1,2
learn the importance and relevance of emergent methodologies in the Humanities: 2

Study hours

There will be one two-hour-long seminar per week, for ten weeks.
Students will be expected to do preparation (including reading and preparing answers to specific questions in advance) for each week.
5 hours preparation for each class = 50 hours
20 hours researching and writing assessment one
60 hours research and writing assessment two (approx).

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Project weighted 50%
c. 1000 word account of dissertation topic - project outline
For most students the Project Outline should relate to your current research. However, for those students undertaking an MA, or part-time students in their first year of study, it is acceptable for the project outline to relate to a previous piece of research, such as your undergraduate dissertation. You should agree this with your supervisor. The Project Outline should take the form of a research proposal. Primarily, it should explain the scope of the project, your focus and key research questions, and be set within appropriate literature. You might reflect on how your project has developed since the beginning of the year, and how this module in particular has influenced the project ¿ or changed how the project might have been approached. You should include a working title and describe the structure of the project. You must reflect on the methodological and/or theoretical approach of your work, as appropriate. As with the bibliography, the task is open-ended, but it should demonstrate an ability to plan and to reflect critically on your research; crucially, you will need to begin to develop skills in writing concisely, which will prepare you for writing project proposals (either academic or non-academic) in the future. The outline must be properly referenced. The Project Outline should be c.1000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography.

2: Essay weighted 50%
c. 2000 word Research Essay
The research essay invites students to analyse an element of the module as studied with relation to their own research. There will be a question for each week of the module and students can choose which week's content they will critically engage with. There will be an opportunity to write on one of the methodologies studied. The research essay is an opportunity for further independent research into a topic related to research skills, and will also be assessed on how well the student relates that study to a consideration of their own individual research. The research essay, excluding bibliographic references, should be c.2000 words.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023