Module PHL3111 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
PHL3111: The Deep Past, History and Humanity
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module will cover five overlapping debates concerning the natures of history, historical knowledge and humanity. The aim is to introduce you to philosophical, archaeological and historiographical considerations of epistemology and method with the skills required to critically engage and reflect upon those considerations. In addition to theoretical knowledge and skills, you will also learn how to incorporate case studies into critical analysis. Some of the lectures will include input from practicing archaeologists, and there will likely be a field trip to tour a museum or a dig.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
---|---|
Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate deep understanding of contemporary debates about historical science and historical knowledge. 2. Critically engage with a case study from humanitys deep past and how it relates to contemporary philosophical disputes. |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Demonstrate a thorough capacity to analyse and critique arguments and positions. 4. Synthesize theoretical and empirical information in illuminating ways. |
Personal and Key Skills | 5. Critically integrate different disciplinary approaches. 6. Demonstrate clear, concise and effective writing and analysis. 7. Conduct independent research which engages with complex ideas. |
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Tutorial Participation | Fortnightly | 1-7 | Oral |
Essay plan | 1 Page Essay plan | 1-7 | Written |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mini-Essay 1 | 25 | 1000 words | 1-7 | Written |
Mini-Essay 2 | 25 | 1000 words | 1-7 | Written |
Essay | 50 | 2000 words | 1-7 | Written |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Mini-Essay 1 | Mini-Essay (1000 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Mini-Essay 2 | Mini-Essay (1000 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Essay | Essay (2000 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Turner, D. (2007). Making prehistory: Historical science and the scientific realism debate. Cambridge University Press.
Cleland, C. E. (2002). Methodological and epistemic differences between historical science and experimental science. Philosophy of Science, 69(3), 447-451.
Currie, A. (2018). Rock, Bone, and Ruin: An Optimist's Guide to the Historical Sciences. MIT Press.
Chapman, R., & Wylie, A. (2016). Evidential reasoning in archaeology. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Danto, A.C. (1965), Analytical Philosophy of History, London, Cambridge University Press.
Keller, E. F. (2016). Thinking about biology and culture: can the natural and human sciences be integrated?. The Sociological Review, 64(1_suppl), 26-41.
Collingwood, R. G. (1993). The idea of history. Oxford University Press.