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HISTORY 381 – MODERN BRITAIN

DR JAMES LACHLAN MACLEOD

Links

The Guardian

The Scotsman

BBC News

West Highland Free Press

Irish Times

Belfast Telegraph

The Victorian Web: An Overview

OUTLINE

This course looks at various aspects of the history of Britain from 1815 to the Present. Although a history class, we will also be looking at Britain from an inter-disciplinary perspective, discussing art, literature, music, religion, music, sport, etc. The class is a seminar-based one, with learning based on informed classroom discussion; this involves hard work and considerable thought, but can also be a lot of fun. Your contribution to the class's discussions throughout the semester will count as 20% of your final grade.

TEXTBOOKS

The recommended textbooks, which you are expected to buy, are:-

Stephen J Lee, Aspects of British Political History 1815-1914

Stephen J Lee, Aspects of British Political History 1914-1995

Charles Dickens, Hard Times (1854)

Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day (1988)

Nick Hornby, Fever Pitch (1992)

Students will, however, be expected to read much more besides if they wish to gain the most from this course. There is an extensive British collection in the library. In addition to text-book reading, students will be asked to read some original texts and also to study carefully any handouts provided, in order to participate in class-room discussion.

ASSESSMENT

1 in-class test = 20% of total marks

1 written paper (out of class, 6 pages) = 20% of total marks

1 class presentation by student = 20% of total marks

Seminar Participation = 20% of total marks

Final examination = 20% of total marks

WRITTEN WORK AND ATTENDANCE

In the grading of all written work, credit will be given for well-constructed, clearly argued and accurately researched writing: errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar will be penalised. Please note the section in this syllabus on plagiarism (below).

Students who for medical reasons (confirmed by a medical certificate) are not able to sit the mid-term examination at the appointed time will sit the final examination, which is comprehensive, and the percentage score of the mid-term will be carried forward and added to the final examination. Thus a student who misses the mid-term will sit the final examination for 40% of his/her grade rather than for 20% as for the rest of the class. No other form of make-up examination will be permitted.

Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. There is an attendance policy; students who exceed their permitted number of excused absences will be penalised by one grade drop on each occasion they exceed their maximum limit. PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY TWO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES ARE PERMITTED IN THIS CLASS.

Absence from class is permitted only in cases of extreme sickness or ill-health. In the event of such an occurrence, it is incumbent upon the student to see a qualified medical authority and to obtain a certificate of certified absence within 24 hours of the absent class. Apart from this form of justified absence, no other absence is excused except where authorised by the Chair of the Department of History.

Finally, a note of warning concerning punctuality. Any student who arrives later than ten minutes for class will be deemed to be absent from that class, and the absence will count as an unexcused absence. Similarly, I expect work to be handed in by the set time and date. Unless a request for an extension has been made and agreed, all overdue papers will be awarded an automatic "F".

OFFICE HOURS

I am available to meet with you during my regular office hours which for this semester are

Monday – Friday 10.00-11.00

For your own convenience, try to make an appointment in case I am meeting another student. Any other time between 9 and 5 during the week, feel free to come up and talk about the course.

Life is too short to be poker-faced. The class will be as informal as possible, and I will do my best to make sure that you all have an enjoyable and successful time.

Contacts

Dr James Lachlan MacLeod, OH 343, tel 2599, email jm224.

Website access through History Dept homepage at

http://history.evansville.edu

CLASS PRESENTATIONS

This is a seminar-based course and each student or group of students (2-4 per group, depending on class numbers) is expected to prepare and deliver a presentation at one of the meetings of the class. This is to take the form of a discussion of one of the topics listed; the earlier you sign up the more choice you have as to when you present; you must decide on a subject and a date by 6 September 2002. Please note the following points carefully:

Class Presentations

You will be graded with the following checklist: failure to fulfil any part will result in a deduction of points.

Before the Presentation

Meet with partners to discuss project in detail

Meet with professor 2 days ahead of class

Provide professor with a bibliography

Provide professor with typed outline of the whole presentation

Organization

Introduction is helpful and tells us what to expect and focus on

Main points made clear

Presentation logically structured

Material pertinent to the subject (not rambling nor excessive)

Presentation neither too long nor too short

Each participant contributes equally in terms of content and time

Conclusion provides a clear and helpful summary

Content

Clear language; technical terms explained simply

Well researched – not taken directly from a single textbook or website

Not read from a website printout

Good range of information included (not too obvious nor too specialized)

Clear explanations of main points

Helpful case studies and/or examples used to illustrate points

Appropriate attention paid to women, minorities and the non-Western world

Communication Skills

Interesting and engaging manner

Appropriate expressions (avoiding, e.g., "um," "like," “back in the day”, and "stuff" and cursing)

Did not read from notes excessively

Poise and posture – professional manner and appearance

Helpful hand-outs, visual aids and/or multimedia

Questions and Discussion 

Sufficient time left for questions and discussion

Good questions posed to class to generate discussion

Responsive attitude towards questions and comments

Questions answered appropriately and completely

Good management of discussion

PRESENTATION TOPICS AND DATES

There is a risk with these topics that your presentation will be vague, unfocused and, frankly, boring for us all. In order to avoid that, please pay attention to the following instructions, as well as those listed in the syllabus.

Each presentation MUST be an attempt to answer the question, “What was the role and impact of your topic on British history, 1815-2000?” Look at the whole period, where possible, and you MUST cover more than just England – if possible at least two countries/regions per presentation; you MUST consider developments and changes in your topic, and you MUST try to communicate both positives and negatives. Be creative!

Failure to provide these four aspects will result in a poor grade for your presentation

	TOPIC	DATE
1	Religion	Sept 16
2	War and Conflict other than the 2 World Wars	Sept 23
3	Disease and Death	Sept 30
4	Science and Industry	Oct 7
5	Music and Poetry	Oct 21
6	Architecture	Oct 25
7	Painting and Sculpture	Oct 30
8	Relations with Europe	Nov 4
9	Sport and Leisure	Nov 11
10	Relations with the USA	Nov 18
11	The Two World Wars	Nov 25
12	Cinema and Theatre	Dec 2

TERM PAPER TOPICS – FALL 2002 – DUE DATE MONDAY DEC 02

Your essay should be in the form of a research paper, and must follow the MLA rules on citation, including a works cited page. Please type, using Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced and with adequate margins. Please number your pages. Your first page must state the question.

All papers must be submitted electronically as well as on paper. All papers will be subject to electronic plagiarism-detection analysis!

Please note the following:

1. Your term paper and class presentation must not be on the same topic. If you are in any doubt about this please discuss it with me.

2. Cutting and pasting material off the internet without acknowledgement constitutes plagiarism. It is of course no less serious to steal ideas and words from this source than from any other, and such a violation of the honor code will be treated accordingly.

3. All papers must have at least six sources, of which no more than three can be websites.

1. What has Britain learned over the past 200 years?

2. "Britain should be ashamed of what it did during the 19th century". Attempt to support or demolish this thesis.

3. Discuss the impact of industrialisation and urbanisation on religion in 19th century Britain.

4. Discuss the impact of science on 19th century Britain.

5. Assess the short and long term impact of the Irish potato famine.

6. What was the Oxford Movement and what did it achieve?

7. Why was there a Disruption in the Church of Scotland in 1843?

8. Was the 19th century a good time for British women?

9. In what ways did the position of Roman Catholics change during the 19th century?

10. Why was Britain such a major world power during the 19th century and why did that power decline in the 20th?

11. Choose any artist or writer of the 19th century and assess what his\her work reveals about his\her time.

12. What impact did World War One have on Britain?

13. What impact did World War Two have on Britain?

14. Why did Margaret Thatcher come to power and what was her legacy?

15. Choose any artist or writer of the 20th century and assess what his\her work reveals about his\her time.

16. Why was Britain’s ‘retreat from empire’ so rapid and so peaceful?

17. To what extent, if at all, is Britain a major world power today?

18. In what ways and why has the Labour Party changed since its creation?

19. Discuss the current course of either Welsh or Scottish nationalism and suggest where it is going.

20. What can you learn about Modern Britain from listening to a band like Oasis?

History 381 Calendar for Fall 2002

Week Beginning:	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Aug 26
Sept 02					Deadlines
Sept 09
Sept 16	Presentation 1
Sept 23	Presentation 2
Sept 30	Presentation 3
Oct 07	Presentation 4
Oct 14	Fall Break	Fall Break
Oct 21	Presentation 5		Mid term Exam		Presentation 6
Oct 28			Presentation 7
Nov 04	Presentation 8
Nov 11	Presentation 9
Nov 18	Presentation 10
Nov 25	Presentation 11		Thanksgiving	Break	Vacation
Dec 02	Presentation 12
Dec 09	Last day o’ classes!		Reading Study Day
Dec 16		Final Exam 10.15	Final Exams end