2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HPSC3151 Methods and Themes in History of Science

20 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Simone Turchetti
Email: s.turchetti@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Pre-requisite qualifications

Any Level 2 module in History of Science or equivalent.

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

In this module students examine the methods and themes of the historian of science (the historiography of science). In the course of this module, students will study the writing of history as an activity that has changed significantly over time. The module will generally cover matters of narrative, analysis, interpretation, form and structure as evidenced in history of science writing.

Objectives

The overall aim of the course is reflexive, i.e it is designed to promote a sophisticated, analytical self-awareness for final-year historians of science, through encounters with the narrative, analytical and interpretive strategies of the best and most significant historians of science, both past and present.

Learning outcomes
1. To understand how conceptions of the history of science, and how to write it, have changed since the eighteenth century;
2. To analyse the methods and themes that distinguish one form of historiography to another;
3. To develop an appreciation for the relationship between the sciences and histories of science;
4. To shown an ability to reflect on the writing of science now in the light of changing methods and themes in the historiography of science.

Syllabus

1. Overviews
2. The Enlightenment
3. Whewell
4. Professionalization (Sarton)
5. Marxist approaches
6. Scientific revolutions (Koyre, Kuhn)
7. Foucaultian approaches
8. Social constructionism
9. Feminist approaches
10. Book historical approaches
11. Historiography of Contemporary science

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	11	2.00	22.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Private study will include: general reading; seminar preparation (including preparation of presentations); and essay writing.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The mid-semester essay will serve as an opportunity to monitor student progress.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words	50.00
Essay	2,000 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 08/06/2009

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