2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST1530 The Making of the Twentieth Century

20 creditsClass Size: 147

Module manager: Dr Shane Doyle
Email: S.D.Doyle@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module introduces students to the history of the twentieth century; an era that the historian Eric Hobsbawm dubbed the ‘Age of Extremes’. Examining the changes that characterised a period that started with the First World War and ended with the upheavals of the collapse of the Soviet Union, this module charts the social, political, ideological and cultural forces that shaped the century, and the lives of the people who lived through it, for better and for worse.

Objectives

This module aims to help students understand:
- some of the major social, economic, political and cultural developments that shaped the history of the twentieth century
- some of the major turning points in the history of the twentieth century
- historians’ competing interpretations of the twentieth century
- the complexity of historical change

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Analyse some of the major social, economic, political and cultural developments that shaped the history of the twentieth century.
2. Evaluate some of the major turning points in the history of the twentieth century.
3. Recognise different historiographical arguments about the causes and consequences of the changes examined in this module.
4. Appreciate the range, value, and challenges of a selection of primary sources that relate to the history of the twentieth century.

Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Present a structured and coherent analysis based on appropriate and relevant historical sources in assignments set by tutors.
6. Apply fundamental standards and practices of historical study for research, discussion, and assessed work

Syllabus

This module will introduce students to some of the key social, political and cultural developments of the twentieth century. The core themes to be covered across the module include a wide range of themes, from revolutions, protests and mass movements and families and youth, to technology, science and medicine, migration, and security and policing.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be monitored throughout the course on their preparation for and contributions in class. In-class exercises using sources will help them prepare for the first assignment, the source commentary (25%, testing LO 3,4,5,6). Feedback (both written and a one-to-one meeting) will help them build on this feedback towards the essay plan and essay. Using an individual source to explore broader trends will help students think through the evidence base for the secondary reading they will then use for their essay.

The formative one-page essay plan will help them use the feedback from assignment 1 to build towards assignment 2, the essay. Tutors will give individual feedback on the essay plan, providing valuable preparation for the assessed essay (75%, testing 1,2,3,5,6), particularly when it comes to understanding the complexities of historiographical debate and being able to grasp the fundamental standards and practices of historical study.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	500-word source commentary	25.00
Essay	Essay, 2,000 words	75.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

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

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 18/10/2024

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