Admission requirements
This course is part of the (Res)MA History Programme. It is not accessible for BA students.
Description
The research workshop is designed to introduce a variety of non-European primary sources that researchers in the field of colonial and global history work with. The emphasis is on the culturally specific hermeneutics of these sources such as court chronicles, maps and oral history. The examples that we introduce in the course range from Mexico to Mughal India, from West Africa to Japan and from the 16th till the 20th century. In the course we reflect on genre conventions, historiographical traditions and methodological innovation and students are encouraged to think creatively about how the different genres can be used in historical research. Each week students work on an assignment, sometimes collectively, which they present and discuss in class. Students work towards a portfolio, in which they reflect on theoretical and empiral use of the different genres of sources discussed.
Course objectives
General learning objectives
The student has acquired:
- The ability to independently identify and select sources, using traditional and modern techniques;
- The ability to analyse and evaluate a corpus of sources with a view to addressing a particular historical problem;
- The ability to independently formulate a clear and well-argued research question, taking into account the theory and method of the field and to reduce this question to accessible and manageable sub-questions;
- The ability to independently set up and carry out an original research project that can make a contribution to existing scholarly debates;
- The ability to give a clear and well-founded oral and written report on research results in correct English, when required, or Dutch, meeting the criteria of the discipline;
- The ability to participate in current debates in the specialisation;
- The ability to provide constructive feedback to and formulate criticism of the work of others and the ability to evaluate the value of such criticism and feedback on one’s own work and incorporate it;
- (ResMA only:) The ability to participate in a discussion of the theoretical foundations of the discipline.
Learning objectives, pertaining to the specialisation
The student has acquired:
- Thorough knowledge and comprehension of one of the specialisations or subtracks as well as of the historiography of the specialisation, focusing particularly on the following;
-in the specialisation Colonial and Global History: how global (political, socio-economic, and cultural) connections interact with regional processes of identity and state formation; hence insight in cross-cultural processes (including the infrastructure of shipping and other modes of communication) that affect regions across the world such as imperialism, colonisation, islamisation, modernisation and globalisation (in particular during the period 1200-1940);
- Thorough knowledge and comprehension of one of the specialisations or subtracks as well as of the historiography of the specialisation, focusing particularly on the following;
- Thorough knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects of the specialisation or subtrack in question, with a particular focus on the following:
-in the specialisation Colonial and Global History: empirical research from a comparative and connective perspective;
- Thorough knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects of the specialisation or subtrack in question, with a particular focus on the following:
Learning objectives, pertaining to this Research Workshop
The student:
- Reflects cricitally on the use of primary sources in their empirical research
- Works creatively with different genres of primary sources and learns how different genres may complement each other in historical research
- Develops insight into methological frameworks and historiographies in colonial and global history in which different vernacular genres play a role
Timetable
Visit MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
- Workshop (compulsory attendance)
This means that students have to attend every session of the course. If a student is not able to attend, he is required to notify the teacher beforehand. The teacher will determine if and how the missed session can be compensated by an additional assignment. If specific restrictions apply to a particular course, the teacher will notify the students at the beginning of the semester. If a student does not comply with the aforementioned requirements, he will be excluded from the seminar.
Assessment method
Assessment
Workshop portfolio, consisting of 6 weekly assignments and a reflection based on all course material (2-3000 words)
Measured learning objectives: 1-7, 9-12Oral presentations
Measured learning objectives: 4-6, 8
Weighing
Portfolio: 70%
Oral presentations and participation: 30%
The final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average with the additional requirement that the portfolio must always be sufficient.
Deadlines
Assignments and written papers should be handed in within the deadline as provided in the relevant course outline on Brightspace.
Resit
Should the overall mark be unsatisfactory, the paper is to be revised after consultation with the instructor.
Inspection and feedback
How and when a review of the written paper will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the results, a review of the written paper will have to be organised.
Reading list
The syllabus an dreading list will be made availble before the first class.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Remarks
None.