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2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST2290 20th Century Britain: The Burdens of Conflict 1900-1945

20 creditsClass Size: 28

Module manager: Dr Alan Macleod
Email: a.macleod@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This course examines the challenges to Britain's position after 1900 in both foreign affairs and the economy, and managing a domestic society increasingly divided by class interest. It begins by examining the challenge to free trade and limited government 1900-1932, and explains the political collapse of liberalism, before assessing the social and diplomatic aspects of World War I and the implications of the rise of Hitler, the conditions of unemployment in the 1930s, and their re-assessment during the Second World War.

Objectives

By the conclusion of this module, students should be able to:
- show an understanding of Britain's international and domestic experience of two world wars;
- analyse the struggle for power between political parties; assess the content of major political ideologies;
- understand the social and political experience of inflation and depression.

Skills outcomes
Enhances Common Skills listed below:
- High-level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas.
- Independence of mind and self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative.
- Ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information.
- Capacity to employ analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to engage constructively with the ideas of their peers, tutors and published sources.
- Empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts.


Syllabus

This module examines the challenges to Britain's position after 1900 in both foreign affairs and the economy, and the problems of managing a domestic society increasingly divided by class interest. It begins by examining the challenge to free trade and limited government 1900 -1932, and explains the political collapse of liberalism under pressure from both right and left.

The social and diplomatic aspects of World War I are assessed, as are the strategic and economic implications of the rise of Hitler. The conditions of unemployment in the 1930s, and their re-assessment in the context of the Second World War indicate the sense of illusory confidence with which the module concludes.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture111.0011.00
Tutorial91.009.00
Private study hours180.00
Total Contact hours20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Exam preparation; researching, preparing, and writing assignments; undertaking set reading; and self-directed reading around the topic. 183 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contributions to class discussions, an assessed exercise or exercises worth 10% of module marks, an assessed essay.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1 x 2,000 word assessed essay to be delivered by 12 noon Monday of teaching week 840.00
Oral PresentationOral contribution in class10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)50.00

10% oral presentation is redone with 'an equivalent written exercise'


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)2 hr 00 mins50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)50.00

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

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2018

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