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HIS-30151 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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

HIS-30151 - News and Knowledge in the early-modern Atlantic World
Coordinator: Siobhan Talbott Tel: +44 1782 7 33464
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
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


Aims
To introduce students to the ways in which news, information and knowledge were created, disseminated and acquired in the early modern Atlantic world; to enable students to analyse various methodologies and theories used by historians to explore these topics; to expose students to the concept of `Atlantic studies¿; to familiarise students with historiographical debates surrounding the period and topic; to encourage students to consider how lessons learned from history could or should influence how we approach information exchange in the modern world; to increase student confidence in presenting academic ideas to a popular audience; to increase student skills in analysis, data management, communication and presentation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate knowledge of the ways in which news, information and education were created, disseminated and acquired in the early-modern Atlantic world: 1,2
appreciate the broad range of methodological approaches that can be used to explore the topics covered, and evaluate the differences between them: 1,2
locate, evaluate and critically assess a range of primary sources and use them appropriately in the development of historical analysis: 1,2
communicate effectively using written, visual and oral methods, to both academic and public audiences: 1,2
relate historical knowledge to issues prevalent in today¿s society: 1,2

Study hours

24 seminar hours
12 workshop hours
54 preparation for seminars
60 preparation for and completion of assessments

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Poster weighted 35%
Poster presentation
Students will create a poster designed to explain the significance of a primary source, or a group of primary sources, to a public audience. This will be accompanied by a 10-minute presentation, again as if to a public audience. Q&A will be encouraged after the presentation. Students will undertake this task in pairs or small groups, but will receive individual marks.

2: Essay weighted 65%
Essay
Students will select an essay question from a choice of c.10 and write a 2000-word response.

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