AIH399 Making History
Deakin University Unit Guide
Trimester 2, 2020
Unit chair: Jonathan Ritchie
*AIH399 Making History Course Syllabus (PDF Version)
WELCOME
Greetings and welcome to AIH399
This third level unit in the history major is designed to introduce students to the challenges and joys of researching and
writing history at an advanced level. This unit encourages students to join with the history staff in the making of history. The unit enables teaching staff to teach in areas of latest historical research and to equip students with advanced historical skills. The unit is made up of two modules. The first of these introduces some of the theoretical challenges in researching and writing history, while the second will engage you with the practical task of writing history. The two modules are closely tied together, but may be taught by different members of staff. We all hope you will enjoy this new and exciting opportunity to research and write history.
ABOUT THIS UNIT
This exciting third level history unit is the capstone to the history major and is only available to those who have already
completed three history units. It has been devised to enhance your skills in historical interpretation and analysis and is taught by staff deeply involved in the production of history.
The unit is team-taught and is comprised of two modules. The first explores the archive as a repository of specific documents that shape and determine the historical narrative. Students will explore government archives, private archives and church archives through new theoretical approaches. The second module will be taught by historian practitioners who will introduce you to historical sources relevant to their current research. This module will change from year to year but may include Indigenous and Australian history, Pacific, European or French history. Students may tackle themes of colonisation, decolonisation, politics, war and memory.
Unit development in response to student feedback
Every trimester, we ask students to tell us, through eVALUate, what helped and hindered their learning in each unit. You are strongly encouraged to provide constructive feedback for this unit when eVALUate opens (you will be emailed a link).
In previous years, students have told us they appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the skills and challenges of historical writing and so this year we have focused more directly on this aspect of the unit. As a result of feedback from previous students we have also linked the two modules of the unit more closely, particularly in relation to the two pieces of assessment.
If you have any concerns about the unit during the trimester please contact the unit teaching team – preferably early in the trimester – so we can discuss your concerns, and make adjustments, if appropriate.
Your course and Deakin’s Graduate Learning Outcomes
GLO1 Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities: appropriate to the level of study related to a discipline or profession
GLO2 Communication: using oral, written and interpersonal communication to inform, motivate and effect change
GLO3 Digital literacy: using technologies to find, use and disseminate information
GLO4 Critical thinking: evaluating information using critical and analytical thinking and judgment
GLO5 Problem solving: creating solutions to authentic (real world and ill-defined) problems
GLO6 Self-management: working and learning independently, and taking responsibility for personal actions
GLO7 Teamwork: working and learning with others from different disciplines and backgrounds
GLO8 Global citizenship: engaging ethically and productively in the professional context and with diverse communities and cultures in a global context
Each Deakin course has course learning outcomes which explain what the Deakin Learning Outcomes mean in your
discipline. Learning in each unit builds towards the course learning outcomes.
Your Unit Learning Outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards these Graduate Learning Outcomes – not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit
At the completion of this unit, successful students can:
ULO1 Collect, recall, and indicate relevant information GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
ULO2 Evaluate and interpret relevant information GLO4: Critical thinking
ULO3 Evaluate and synthesize relevant information from a range of sources GLO4: Critical thinking
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year
ASSESSING YOUR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES
From Monday 22 June 2020, Deakin has a universal assessment submission time of 8 pm AEST. A late penalty will apply to assessment submitted after 11.59 pm AEST.
(tasks that will be graded or marked)
NOTE: It is your responsibility to keep a backup copy of every assignment where it is possible (eg written/digital reports, essays, videos, images). In the unusual event that one of your assignments is misplaced, you will need to submit the backup copy. Any work you submit may be checked by electronic or other means for the purposes of detecting collusion and/or plagiarism.
When you are required to submit an assignment through CloudDeakin (accessed in DeakinSync), you should receive an email to your Deakin email address confirming that it has been submitted. You should check that you can see your assignment in the Submissions view of the Assignment folder after upload, and check for, and keep, the email receipt for the submission.
- Summative assessment task 1
(Individual) – Essay
Brief description of assessment
task
One written essay
Detail of student output 2000 words
Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
50%
Unit Learning Outcome(s) assessed ULO1, ULO2 and ULO3: collect, recall, indicate, evaluate and interpret relevant
information. Via self-directed research students evaluate and interpret relevant
information which is synthesized and applied within the form of a structured, written
argument presented in the form of an essay.
Deakin Graduate Learning
Outcome(s) assessed
GLO4 Students undertake self-directed research for this assessment item. The process
of research and writing involves evaluation of content from a range of sources, and
the application of critical analysis of content from sources within the frame of an
essay.
GLO1 Discipline knowledge and capabilities
What early feedback will student get, how and when?
Written feedback on Summative Assessment Task will be provided to students within
15 working days.
Due date and form of submission Due by 8 pm AEST, Friday 14 August 2020.
Essay to be submitted to the dropbox on the CloudDeakin site for the unit
- Summative assessment task 2
(Individual) – Essay
Brief description of assessment task One written essay
Detail of student output 2000 words
Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
50%
Unit Learning Outcome(s) assessed ULO1, ULO2 and ULO3: collect, recall, indicate, evaluate and interpret relevant
information. Via self-directed research students evaluate and interpret relevant
information which is synthesized and applied within the form of a structured, written
argument presented in the form of an essay.
Deakin Graduate Learning
Outcome(s) assessed
GLO4 Students undertake self-directed research for this assessment item. The
process of research and writing involves evaluation of content from a range of
sources, and the application of critical analysis of content from sources within the
frame of an essay.
GLO1 Discipline knowledge and capabilities
What early feedback will student
get, how and when?
Written feedback on Summative Assessment Task will be provided to students.
Due date and form of submission Due by 8 pm AEST, Friday 2 October 2020.
Essay to be submitted to the dropbox on the CloudDeakin site for the unit
Your learning experiences in this Unit – and your expected commitment
To be successful in this unit, you must:
● Read all materials in preparation for your classes or seminars, and follow up each with further study and research on the topic;
● Start your assessment tasks well ahead of the due date;
● Read or listen to all feedback carefully, and use it in your future work;
● Attend and engage in all timetabled learning experiences, listed below.
Scheduled learning activities – campus
1 x 2-hour online seminar per week
Scheduled learning activities – cloud
1 x 1-hour seminar per week (recordings provided), 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week
This unit is taught online, due to the COVID-19 requirements in 2020.
Students will on average spend 150 hours over the trimester undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for the unit. This will include a minimum of 22 hours of intensive online classroom activity.
All students in this unit are expected to attend and contribute to all weekly seminars.
The classes consist of seminars in which students analyse texts and content. All students are expected to participate in and contribute to all seminars. The seminars will be conducted on Blackboard Collaborate and will be recorded.
Relevant resources, such as reading lists and texts for discussion, will be mounted on the CloudDeakin site for this unit.
Note
At Deakin,
● Lectures are referred to as classes (definition: a general meeting for all students, for which students do not need to
register and where students are engaged through presentations and learning activities)
● Tutorials, workshops and seminars are referred to as seminars (definition: more interactive meetings for smaller groups
of students).
● For the complete list of agreed definitions for learning experiences, see the Course Design and Delivery Procedure.
UNIT LEARNING RESOURCES
Your unit learning resources are available in your unit site accessed in DeakinSync.
The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: AIH399 Note: Select the
relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period’s reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester’s prior year reading list as a guide only.
Essential learning resources
There is no textbook for this unit. All materials, including the unit guide and readings will be delivered through CloudDeakin.
Recommended learning resources
All essays in this unit MUST follow the Oxford system of referencing.
KEY DATES FOR THIS TRIMESTER
Trimester begins (classes begin) Monday 13 July 2020
Intra-trimester break (a short break during trimester) Monday 17 August – Sunday 23 August 2020
Trimester ends (classes cease) Friday 2 October 2020
Study period (examination preparation period) Monday 5 October – Friday 9 October 2020
Examinations begin Monday 12 October 2020
Examinations end Friday 23 October 2020
Inter-trimester break (the period between trimesters) Monday 26 October – Friday 6 November 2020
Unit results released Friday 6 November 2020 (6pm)
UNIT WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Week Commencing Special learning activities Assessment activity
1 13 July 2020 The Archive as Storykeeper
2 20 July Power, Knowledge and the Archive
3 27 July Reading Along the Archival Grain
Deakin University, Faculty of Arts and Education
AIH399 Making History – Trimester 2, 2020
4 3 August Reading Against the Archival Grain
5 10 August The Counter-Archive Assessment Task 1 (2000 word essay) due 8pm AEST 14
August 2020
Intra-trimester break: Monday 17 – Sunday 23 August (between weeks 5 and 6)
6 24 August Research Module Week One
7 31 August Research Module Week Two
8 7 September Research Module Week Three
9 14 September Research Module Week Four
10* 21 September Research Module Week Five
11 28 September Research Module Week Six Assessment Task 2 (2000 word essay) due 8pm AEST 2 October 2020
*25 September 2020: Victorian Friday before the AFL Grand Final public holiday (University closed)