HIS32750 Themes in Contemp British Hist

Academic Year 2020/2021

Britain after 1945 experienced social upheaval at home and fundamental changes to its position in the world. This course examines recurring themes in contemporary British history, including: the establishment and decline of the welfare state; emigration, immigration, and decolonisation; peace, war, violence, and terrorism; changes in gender roles and social identities; race and nationalism; and Britain’s relationship with Europe. In exploring these topics, students will be exposed to a wide range of historical sources, and will read broadly in the historiography of contemporary Britain. Primary sources we will examine include political speeches, acts of Parliament, letters and diaries, television, comedy sketches, literature, film, and popular music.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the events, actors and processes through which Britain changed in this period.

2. Critically engage with a variety of primary and secondary material.

3. Evaluate conflicting interpretations of how and why British society fundamentally changed after 1945.

4. Write scholarly essays to the standard of a level 2 student of history.

5. Assess and analyse key themes, readings, sources, and debates in class discussions.

Indicative Module Content:

The module will cover the following main areas: Week One: Introduction and Overview. Week Two: the Second World War. Week Three: the Welfare State. Week Four: Sex, class, and society. Week Five: Decolonisation and immigration. Week Six: Into Europe. Week Seven: Thatcherism. Week Eight: Violence and Terror. Week Nine: Social change. Week Ten: 'Cool Britannia.' Week Eleven: Where next? Brexit and course review.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

20
Specified Learning Activities

100
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

220
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a small-group, seminar-based module. It is taught through a two-hour seminar each week. The weekly seminar is focused upon individual active/task-based learning by means of class debates, discussion and student presentations. Advanced research, writing and citation skills are developed through a written primary source analysis and a written essay. Autonomous learning is advanced through student-led debate and discussion of set primary and secondary sources and/or student presentations each week. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: End of semester essay of 3000 words Week 12 n/a Graded No

60
Assignment: Each student must write a 1500-word analysis of any of the primary sources studied on the module Unspecified n/a Graded No

30
Continuous Assessment: Student participation and contribution in seminars will be assessed on a weekly basis. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

10

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the mid-term assignment is given in writing on the returned assignment. Feedback on the end-of-semester essay is given by appointment in one-to-one meetings.