HIST2001B Historiography (Introductory)

The programme provides an introduction to the theory, study and writing of History, and includes an analysis of the changes in the methods, assumptions and purposes of historical investigation over time. Students during the course learn to appreciate how historiography when applied to the study of History can change the interpretation of, and approaches to, comprehending the causes, evolution and effects of a particular historical process or event, or to the understanding of a particular historical field. Different traditions of historical thinking and writing therefore form a significant component of the module.

In order for all students to grasp the theory of historical study and historical writing selected reading by distinguished historians shall be utilised. This will introduce basic conceptual and methodological matters within the field of History, and help bring to the fore areas of theoretical interest to past and present-day historians. Within tutorials many of these issues shall be further explored so that students can apply learning in these areas to controlled historical writing exercises. By the end of the course it is hoped that all students are able to utilise any source material that is presented to them, be it a written or visual text, in an analytical manner appropriate to ‘proper’ historical study.

The course is split into a number of clearly defined parts which harmonise to form a structured overture of what History and historical writing consists of. The first section surveys the development of the discipline of History. The second part of the course focuses on introducing methodological themes connected to History in order to demonstrate how historical materials, interviews, etc., and perspectives can come together in the production of History. Importantly this element of the programme will allow students the opportunity to be aware of the association between historians, society, ideology, and the diffusion and control of ideas. The third part of the course touches upon matters related to writing, such as research methods, reading and critical thinking, analysis and the basics of historical composition writing. This particular part of ‘Historiography (introductory)’ will help all learners value the necessary skills needed to be a successful historian regardless of the language(s) they use.

Tutorials (20%)
Class Participation and Activities (20%)
Research Paper (60%)

4:30-6:15 pm, 12 Nov, 19 Nov (Thursday); Mid/Late Sep (University Library Visit, To be Confirmed); Mid/Late Oct (Museum Visit, To be Confirmed)

Please refer to the course outline to be available by late August 2019 in this website and elearn blackboard.

Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the disciplinary guidelines and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations. Details may be found at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/.

With each assignment, students will be required to submit a signed declaration that they are aware of these policies, regulations, guidelines and procedures.

• In the case of group projects, all members of the group should be asked to sign the declaration, each of whom is responsible and liable to disciplinary actions, irrespective of whether he/she has signed the declaration and whether he/she has contributed, directly or indirectly, to the problematic contents.
• For assignments in the form of a computer-generated document that is principally text-based and submitted via VeriGuide, the statement, in the form of a receipt, will be issued by the system upon students’ uploading of the soft copy of the assignment.

Assignments without the properly signed declaration will not be graded by teachers.

Only the final version of the assignment should be submitted via VeriGuide.

The submission of a piece of work, or a part of a piece of work, for more than one purpose (e.g. to satisfy the requirements in two different courses) without declaration to this effect shall be regarded as having committed undeclared multiple submissions. It is common and acceptable to reuse a turn of phrase or a sentence or two from one’s own work; but wholesale reuse is problematic. In any case, agreement from the course teacher(s) concerned should be obtained prior to the submission of the piece of work.