2009/10 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST3383 Reform and Reformation: The Life and Times of Thomas More

40 creditsClass Size: 16

Module manager: Dr Paul Cavill
Email: P.R.Cavill@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2009/10

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Intellectual vitality distinguished early Tudor England. A new elite rediscovered the ancient past, declared education vital to the commonwealth, and employed its learning to reassert royal authority. Through service to the crown, bureaucrats and intellectuals confidently presumed to put their reforming ideals into practice. Yet by 1535 religious change had undermined that unity of purpose; and Thomas More - the most celebrated of England's scholar-statesmen - was dead, executed by the king from whom he had expected so much. This module explores early Tudor political, intellectual, and religious culture through the writings of More, his friends, and his opponents. More likened the public man to an actor, assuming the personas that the play demanded: here we follow his own dramatic, ambiguous career - humanist, lawyer, family man, politician, philosopher, polemicist, persecutor, martyr.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students will acquire:
1. Advanced skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas
2. Independence of mind, self-discipline, and self-directed study skills
3. Research ability to locate, handle, and synthesize large bodies of information
4. Intellectual ability to engage constructively and critically with historians' ideas
5. Skills in interpretation and analysis of esoteric source material.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Develop a complex, rounded, and nuanced interpretation of the career and writings of Thomas More.
2. Present an advanced understanding of the principal themes in the politics and political culture of early Tudor England (c.1485-c.1536).
3. Demonstrate a sophisticated comprehension of the intellectual influences on early Tudor England, particularly humanism and legalism, and their impact on individuals and on public life.
4. Show a subtle appreciation of the intricacies of religion, and esp. reform movements and 'heresies', in early Tudor England.

Syllabus

The following broad themes will be covered, largely through the writings of Thomas More, his friends, and his opponents:
1. Renaissance Humanism
2. Counselling the Prince
3. The Common Law and its Rivals
4. Church-State Relations, before and at the Break with Rome
5. Heresy and Orthodoxy, esp. Lollardy and Lutheranism

Discussion of particular episodes - such as the Hunne case, the 'Evil May Day' riots, and the 1523 parliament - will complement these broad themes.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	22	2.00	44.00
Private study hours			356.00
Total Contact hours			44.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

Private study

Private study consists primarily in directed reading as set out in the module handbook.

Students undertake this reading in order to:
1. prepare for each seminar
2. research their essays
3. equip themselves for answering the exam questions.

Private study also includes the planning and writing of the two essay plans, the two essays, and revision for the exam.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress is monitored through the tutor's appraisal of students' performance in seminars, in their essay plans, and in their essays. It is enhanced through the giving of feedback.

Feedback on the essay plans and on assessed essays will be given in three ways. Collective, summarized feedback will be given to all students, both orally and as a written handout. Each student will also be given personalized written feedback. Students will also be encouraged to attend one-to-one oral feedback sessions with the tutor.

The tutor's contact hours will be publicized regularly.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 4,000 word assessed essay to be submitted by 12 noon Monday of exam week 2 in January	40.00
Essay	2 x 1,000 word essay plans	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

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

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	3 hr 00 mins	50.00
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: 23/07/2010

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