New Histories of Australian Politics

Subject HIST40027 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: A 2-hour seminar per week
Total Time Commitment: 10 hours per week: total time commitment 120 hours
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Sean Scalmer sscalmer@unimelb.edu.au x45957
Subject Overview:

The subject will examine the ways in which historians, commentators, political scientists and sociologists treat Australian politics, and how their work has shaped the writing of Australian history. It will engage students in different theoretical approaches to class, gender, race and identity, and different methodological treatment of organisation, representation and public life. Topics will include historical writing on political parties of the right and left, Aboriginal politics, the politics of gay activists, religion in politics, environmentalists, anti-globalism and "anti-political" movements. Students should gain insight into the changing boundaries of politics, and the place of politics in Australian history.

Objectives:
  • be able to develop an understanding of the practice of political history writing in Australia.
  • gain experience in public writing bases on scholarly research.
  • improve their critical interpretive skills through the writing of a major research essay
Assessment: A book review of 1000 words with an annotated bibliography of 500 words, 30% (due mid-semester), a research essay of 3500 words, 60% (due end semester) and seminar participation 10%
Prescribed Texts: A subject reader will be available.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources.
  • show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument.
  • demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.
Related Course(s): M.A.Australian Studies (Advanced Seminars and Shorter Thesis)
Master of Arts in History (Advanced Seminars and Shorter Thesis)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Australian Studies
Australian Studies
History
History
History
History

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