History with Mandarin BA (Hons) module details

Year one

Block 1: Modern Britain since 1800

You will be introduced to the social, cultural, economic and political history of Britain from the mid-eighteenth century to the end of the twentieth century, developing and understanding of the shifting beliefs, values, perspectives and practices of British culture in this period. Through close reading of primary source material and the assessment of historiographical debates and trends, you will develop key analytical skills and become confident in identifying change and continuity across the time period. Topics covered may include industrialisation and decline, poverty and the rise of the welfare state, political and electoral change, culture and leisure, social class and social change and multi-ethnic Britain.

Assessment

Primary Source Analysis, 30%: You will write an analysis of a short primary source.
Portfolio, 70%: You will compile a variety of short pieces responding to a series of essay prompts as well as primary and secondary sources.

Block 2: Empire, Nation and Revolution in the 19^th century

You will explore the role of nations, empires and revolutions in 19^th-century global history, developing an understanding of these “building blocks” of modern history. Topics covered will include revolutions both in Europe and the “Atlantic World”, the rise of the nation-state as a unit of political organisation, and the expansion of empires (European and non-European) in the “long” nineteenth century. You will also develop an understanding of different historiographical approaches and an awareness of the diverse types of historical questions.

Assessment

Secondary source analysis, 35%: You will write a comparison of two journal articles, analysing their historiographical and methodological approaches.
Essay, 65%: You will write an essay focusing on the history of either nations, revolutions or empires, and analyse examples from at least two case studies.

Block 3: Ideology, War and Society in the 20^th Century

You will examine the centrality of revolution, war and ideology in the twentieth century, especially upon the evolution of European societies, focusing especially upon the years from the First World War until the collapse of communism in 1989 in a global context. The module explores key ideologies such as nationalism, liberalism, communism and fascism and examines economy, society and politics, including the impact of revolution, war and ideology upon everyday life. You will be introduced to key historiographical approaches which have shaped historical writing over the past two centuries, such as the Whig interpretation, Marxist approaches: and postmodernism.

Assessment

Historiographical essay, 40%: You will write an essay.
Seen exam, 60%: You will answer 2 exam questions.

Block 4: Mandarin Beginner

You will be introduced to Mandarin, learning introductory and basic words, phrases and structures about yourself, family, immediate surroundings and daily activities and routine. You will also be introduced to basic social, cultural, political, historical and artistic topics.

Assessment

Reading test, 30%. Listening test, 20%. Speaking test, 25%. Writing test, 25%

Mandarin Post-Beginner

This module will further develop your language skills. The focus is on enhancing basic and personal communication skills and moving to more topics including family, other people, living conditions, educational background and employment. You will engage in basic dialogues and social interactions, expressing feelings, actions and needs and responding with thanks, apology, agreement and disagreement in answer to questions. You will also be introduced to basic social, cultural, political, historical and artistic topics.

Assessment

Reading test, 30%. Listening test, 20%. Speaking test, 25%. Writing test, 25%

Year two

Block 1: Global Cold War

You will develop an understanding of the roots of the Cold War and how it was played out in specific theatres such as Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America between 1945 and 1991. The module explores a variety of historical topics, which might include global geopolitics, sport and diplomacy, the nuclear arms race, the space race, and culture and society in the Cold War era. It also explores the ideological underpinnings of the Cold War, the role of propaganda as a weapon of the conflict and how these ideologies functioned in practice in different societies. You will expand your understanding of historiography, investigate competing interpretations of the Cold War and assess the global legacy of conflict.

Assessment

Weekly mini quiz, 10%: An online quiz covering different regions, events and historiographies.
Group project, 40%: You will work as a group to produce a report, each focusing on one specific conflict of the Cold War.
Seen exam, 50%: You will answer one exam question on the themes and contexts of the Cold War.

Block 2: Multicultural Societies in History

This module explores the centrality of multiculturalism and ethnicity in the development of the modern world. Focusing mainly on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, you will tackle themes that might include theories and criticisms of the concept of multiculturalism, histories and experiences of migration, theories of diaspora, the social and economic status of minorities, the ways in which ethnic, racial, migrant, religious or other types of minorities interact with the dominant society and culture, and the representation of these experiences in sports and visual culture. You will examine case studies which may include the Jewish community in Britain, the global African diaspora, the origins of multicultural Britain, among others.

Assessment

Primary source analysis, 40%: You will analyse one primary source related to the topics of the module.
Essay, 60%: You will answer one essay question.

Block 3: Investigating the Past

This module will introduce you to a range of historical sources and research methods used in project work to prepare you for your final year dissertation. You will examine core themes in history and the sources/methods associated with them which may include maps; economic data; census; national and local government records; diplomatic and military records; press and media; records of education, health, poverty/charity and criminality; church and religious history; oral history; visual sources. Your learning will be enriched by visits to archives and relevant research depositories.

Assessment

Primary source analysis, 40%: You will investigate an individually chosen topic through a selection of primary sources.
Project portfolio, 60%: You will produce a portfolio comprised of an annotated bibliography of relevant secondary works, a list of relevant primary sources and a detailed project proposal.

Block 4: Mandarin Post-Beginner

Assessment

Reading test, 30%. Listening test, 20%. Speaking test, 25%. Writing test, 25%

Mandarin Intermediate

This module will build on the language skills you have already learned to develop these even further. You will use a wider range of vocabulary and more complex structures and various means of communication. You will develop your ability to respond appropriately in general conversations and learn to enter unprepared into a verbal conversation or communication in writing on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life and society, explaining your viewpoint in a structured way. You will learn to understand, without difficulty, the most familiar topics and enhance your ability to discuss and comprehend general social, cultural, political, historical and artistic topics.

Assessment

Reading test, 30%. Listening test, 20%. Speaking test, 25%. Writing test, 25%

Year three

Year long: Dissertation

The dissertation provides an opportunity for sustained work of an independent nature in an area of personal interest, allowing the exploration a particular issue, topic or problem in considerable depth. You will define and analyse a question or problem, or test a hypothesis, arising from your personal historical interest. The dissertation provides an opportunity to look beyond the textbooks and other secondary sources and to get to grips with primary evidence including textual, material or visual sources. You will develop key skills in research, critical thinking and writing.

Assessment

Presentation, 10%: You will present a 10-minute summary of your work in progress to peers and a member of the History team, enabling you to receive feedback on your ideas and research plan.
Dissertation, 90%: A piece of writing on a topic related to your own historical interests.

Block 1: Culture, Society and Conflict

This module explores the social, political and cultural aspects of global conflicts focusing on case studies such as the German home front during the Second World War, Britain and the home front, everyday life under conflicts through cultural objects and sources such as the Mass Observation archive and the development of conflict photography in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. You will have the opportunity to engage with different historiographical traditions on the cultural and social interpretations of conflicts as well as different types of sources.

Assessment

Primary source essay, 50%: You will analyse several sources related to a case study
Podcast or video, 40%: You will choose to produce either a podcast or video of 5-10 minutes. You will work in pairs to examine one of the module themes and bring in primary source analysis.
Content notes, 10%: You will write to introduce your podcast or video.

Block 2: Independence Movements

This module introduces you to the history of anti-imperialist independence movements and the creation of new nation-states. It explores the ideologies and histories of independence movements, post-colonial conflicts, nation-building processes as well as the social and economic legacies of imperial rule in the post-colonial world. You will explore specific case studies which might include South Asia, Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa as well as the Balkans. You will develop an understanding of the ideologies of resistance against imperial rule, as well as decolonisation processes, and critically reflect on these.

Assessment

Thematic essay, 40%: You will write an analysis of the ideologies of independence movements, such as anti-imperialism, nationalism, or self-determination, paying particular attention to the historiographical approaches which historians have employed in their writing about these movements.
Regional portfolio, 60%: You will choose one region or country’s nation-building and post-colonial legacies to explore in more depth, building a portfolio comprising responses to several distinctive essay prompts and primary source analyses.

Block 3: Mandarin Intermediate

Assessment

Reading test, 30%. Listening test, 20%. Speaking test, 25%. Writing test, 25%

Mandarin Advanced

This module refines and perfects the learning of Mandarin to an advanced level. This level will require the use of a wider range of vocabulary and complex structures. You will develop an understanding of extended authentic speech and more complex factual and specialised texts, including on TV, radio and in films. You will learn to use language flexibly and effectively for social and professional purposes. You will lead a discussion with arguments and debate on a variety of familiar, unfamiliar and complex topics, using language flexibly and effectively with precision. You will develop a high level of understanding of specialised social, cultural, political, historical and artistic topics.

Assessment

Reading test, 30%. Listening test, 20%. Speaking test, 25%. Writing activity, 25%