History - Later Modern

Course summary

The teaching of History has at its heart three key intentions. Regarding knowledge and understanding, History promotes recall of facts and concepts, sequencing and chronology of key study units and topics and their application. On understanding, we aim to articulate key concepts such as change and continuity, cause and consequence, significance, using evidence. Equally important are literacy for learning and enquiry skills. In the case of the latter this means bringing knowledge, understanding and structured writing together to demonstrate persuasive writing and intellectual curiosity. In the Early Modern and Later Modern courses knowledge and understanding are acquired from the challenges of breadth and depth studies, thematic studies and source and interpretive exercises. Literacy for learning is instilled from the subject’s essay-based focus, an understanding of how to write extended pieces to thematic, long-term and short-term questions, writing coursework using undergraduate level material, and writing persuasively while recognising issues of controversy and debate. Lastly, the skills of enquiry are taught by synthesising the widest range of skills and materials to produce well debated essays and extended coursework piece, genuinely understanding the interplay between historians and history, and sifting through competing arguments to arrive at nuanced judgements. The focus of the Later Modern course will examine the trials and tribulations of Britain and Europe as they moved forward into the twentieth century.