Perspectives on Medieval and Renaissance Studies

SALC70031 Perspectives on Medieval and Renaissance Studies 30 Semester 1 Postgraduate Taught Level 7 Paul Oldfield Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 15.0 This module aims to explore the methodological, historiographical and analytical choices that shape our study of the medieval and early modern periods. Highlighting the variety of disciplinary approaches that are in use in current scholarship, this module shall investigate key themes within the field that have generated a range of methodological approaches and debates. Co-taught by a number of specialists from across the School, examples of such themes – which can vary on any given year  - may include 'identities’ , 'trade and society’, ‘environment’ and ‘biography’. Students will be encouraged to question issues of historical periodisation, the benefits of interdisciplinarity, and how an intellectual framework for the study of the medieval and early modern periods may be conceptualised. This module aims to explore the methodological, historiographical and analytical choices that shape our study of the medieval and early modern periods. Highlighting the variety of disciplinary approaches that are in use in current scholarship, this module shall investigate key themes within the field that have generated a range of methodological approaches and debates. Co-taught by a number of specialists from across the School, examples of such themes – which can vary on any given year  - may include 'identities’ , 'trade and society’, ‘environment’ and ‘biography’. Students will be encouraged to question issues of historical periodisation, the benefits of interdisciplinarity, and how an intellectual framework for the study of the medieval and early modern periods may be conceptualised. The unit aims to:<ul> <li> Permit students to acquire a broad knowledge of the variety of approaches current in the fields of medieval and Renaissance studies;</li> <li> Query the methodologies traditionally associated with specific disciplines of study;</li> <li> Deepen students' knowledge of the key thematic issues of the medieval and early modern periods;</li> <li> Problematise questions of periodisation, continuity, and transformation in the pre-modern world.</li></ul> <ul> <li> Demonstrate a critical understanding of past and current scholarly debates relevant to the period;</li> <li> Engage critically with the themes discussed, and the sources and scholarship relevant to case studies used;</li> <li> Understand interpretative problems specific to particular issues, genres of evidence, and sources;</li> <li> Articulate comparative assessments of methodologies</li></ul> <ul> <li> Conceptualise an intellectual framework for the study of specific aspects of the medieval and early-modern period;</li> <li> Understand why certain methodologies are best suited to particular sources or subjects;</li> <li> Analyse and debate complex issues relevant to the development of medieval and early-modern studies;</li> <li> Evaluate existing scholarship critically, and build upon it.</li></ul> <ul> <li> Develop writing techniques, appropriate to the assessment;</li> <li> Synthesise large volumes of factual and theoretical perspectives in a critical manner;</li> <li> Retrieve and use relevant primary and secondary sources in a critical fashion;</li> <li> Identify appropriate source material, and compile specialist bibliographies.</li></ul>  <ul> <li> Develop oral presentation skills through participation in class discussions;</li> <li> Manage time through preparation of assignments;</li> <li> Use ICT resources for programme support;</li> <li> Write fluent prose </li></ul> Other Students will develop skills in oral communication through class participation, in written communication, through the submission of the course assignments, and in time-management skills through effective completion of the formative, and summative coursework required. As the course encourages students to interrogate disciplinary divides and conceptualise methodologies, it will serve to hone critical thinking skills. All these skills can be applied in the context of future employment. 0 Other 25% 2 Written assignment (inc essay) 75% Book Review: 25%Essay: 75%  Students will receive formative feedback on an essay outline submitted in advance of the principal assignment. Written feedback on submitted assessed work shall be delivered within the time-frame recommended by SALC.  N Arnold, J., What is Medieval History? (Cambridge, 2000)Bull, M., Thinking Medieval: An Introduction to the Study of the Middle Ages (Basingstoke, 2005)Geary, P., The Myth of Nations: The Medieval Origins of Europe (Princeton, 2002)Greenblatt, S., Renaissance Self-Fashioning: from More to Shakespeare (Chicago: 1980).Kerrigan, W., Braden, G., The Idea of the Renaissance (Baltimore, 1989)  Seminars 33 0 267