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HIS-20115 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 29 June 2024

HIS-20115 - Slavery, Abolition and Staffordshire (co-delivered with V&A Wedgwood)
Coordinator: Kristen Brill Tel: +44 1782 7 33201
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

In this module, you will grapple with how the global history of slavery and abolition shaped the local history of Staffordshire. Through seminars at Keele led by the Keele History team and practical sessions at V&A Wedgwood Collection (VAWC) led by curators, archivists and researchers, you will explore the significance of this History to the contemporary local community. You will also help the VAWC with its ongoing projects to apply this History to engage the community on issues surrounding the legacy of slavery.

Aims
This module aims to develop students' critical engagement and analytical skills in the subject area of slavery and abolition, alongside gaining practical experience in museum work. In doing so, students will gain valuable transferrable skills and enhance their employability profile.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify key historiographical debates in the relevant field: 1,2
effectively use primary sources to build arguments: 1,2
evaluate core themes and issues in the history of slavery and abolition: 1,2
design activities to engage public communities on the local history of slavery and abolition: 2

Study hours

Active Learning 26 hours:
2-hour seminar x 12 weeks = 24 hours
Delivery of group project: 2
Independent Study 124 hours:
Independent collections research at Wedgwood for essay: 12 hours
Additional essay preparation: 25
Group work on community-facing project (such as museum late for students): 15
Seminar reading and preparation: 72

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 65%
1,500-word Essay
Students will answer one essay question from a choice of at least seven questions. Students must use the Wedgwood collection (archive or collection objects) as primary sources for their essays. Sample essay questions may include: Evaluate the impact of Josiah Wedgwood on transatlantic abolition. What role did Staffordshire play in global economic networks before the 19th century? How did laborers in the Potteries engage with issues of slavery and abolition?

2: Group Project weighted 35%
Delivery of Public-Facing Event
Working in small groups under the guidance of Keele and VAWC, students will plan and deliver a public-facing event to engage the local community on issues related to the module. An indicative event would be a museum late night aimed at fellow university students. Students will be given an individual mark based on their contribution to the delivery of the event as well as the materials produced for the event.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. 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/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 29 June 2024