HIST 491 – Independent Study in Medieval History
Class time:
Location:
Name of Faculty:
Contact details:
TBA
British Faculty Offices
Prof. David Green
[email protected]
Office hours:
Monday 1:30-3:30
Course Description
HIST 491 Independent Study in History (1-3)
This course engages in research and/or focused readings for history majors and minors on aspects of
medieval Western European history (c.1000‐c.1500).
Students will be able to choose their own research area/s but particular attention will be paid to the
British Isles and France in the later Middle Ages.
Prerequisites: permission of the instructor and prior coursework in history.
*NOTE: History 491 may be taken for Honors credit subject to approval by the instructor and the
student’s home campus Honors program.
Credit Hour Policy Statement
This class meets the federal credit hour policy of:
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Other academic activities – e.g. 3 hours of supervised independent study per week for
approximately 15 weeks for each hour of credit, or a total of 45-75 hours for each credit.
General Education Objective
This course meets the General Education requirements for:
None applicable
Learning Objectives
The final project (essay) for the Independent Study will:
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show a detailed knowledge of relevant events/factual details
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analyse historical and historiographical evidence
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demonstrate a clear understanding of scholarly conventions
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be written in a clear and engaging manner using appropriate academic language
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employ the appropriate scholarly apparatus (e.g. correct means of citation)
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use a wide range of primary as well as secondary sources
Further Information about the Course
Course Procedures and Expectations
Students will be expected to work diligently and engage in a good deal of focused reading throughout
the semester following a program of guided research.
Specific requirements will be determined according to the credits to be received for the course (1-3,
Hons/Non-Hons).
Weekly/twice-weekly tutorials will take place throughout the semester.
A subject or range of subjects for research will be determined by Weeks 2-3 of the course and dates
agreed for the submission of intermediary projects/papers before the submission of a final paper which
will determine the overall course grade.
Students are expected to read widely among primary and secondary sources and may wish to take
advantage of the availability of British and European sources/resources (architectural, archaeological,
historical etc.).
Schedule of topics
Subject areas for study may include but are not restricted to:
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Anglo‐French relations in the middle ages (e.g., the Hundred Years War, 1337-1453)
Anglo‐Celtic relations (Ireland, Scotland, and Wales)
Kingship and queenship
The Black Death
Chivalry and knighthood
Religious belief (including heresy and popular religion)
Biographical explorations of major figures/families
Medieval art and architecture
Research topics may be linked with student UK or European travel in order to explore cities, castles,
cathedrals, etc.
The Wilton Diptych (c.1396) [The National Gallery, London]
Teaching Methods
Key Text(s)/Evidence:
To be determined on basis of research topic
Other Class Materials:
To be determined on basis of research topic
Teaching Methods:
Weekly/twice-weekly tutorials dependent on number of course credits
The Luttrell Psalter (c.1330) [British Library]
Schedule of Assignments
To be determined with students.
A typical 3 credit research project will involve the submission of draft essays (2,500-3,000 words) in
Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12.
These will be returned with comments and discussed in tutorials.
A final version of the complete research project with an additional Introduction, Conclusion, and
Bibliography (totalling 8,000-10,000 words) will be submitted by the end of Week 14.
with student
Assessment and Grading Criteria
ASSESSMENT
A series of projects will be provisionally graded and discussed over the course of the program as part of
an ongoing dialogue leading towards the submission of a final research paper.
A one credit project will consist of a research paper of not fewer than 2,500 words.
Different forms of assessment (e.g. a series of detailed poster projects) may be accepted following
discussion with the course tutor.
GRADING CRITERIA
A Excellent work: showing flair, critical analysis and independent thinking.
Excellent research (integration of a wide range of material and resources), exceptional clarity in writing,
original and compelling argument.
Tutorials: consistently excellent contributions to tutorial discussions.
B Good Work: evidence of consistent and intelligent engagement with the course.
Thorough research (showing a detailed knowledge of relevant issues) that supports a clearly written,
sustained argument.
Tutorials: consistently useful contributions to discussions.
C Reasonable Work: evidence of engagement with major course issues and themes.
Some good research (uneven coverage of relevant issues) but lacking sustained conceptual analysis and
which uses reasonable prose.
Tutorials: some useful contributions to discussions.
D Poor Work: partial / superficial coverage of key issues, lacking critical analysis, showing little evidence
of research and serious misunderstanding of major topics.
Inadequate research (superficial coverage of subject); poor or patchy argument, inconsistent prose (e.g.
poor grammatical structures and use of colloquialisms).
Tutorials: few contributions to discussion; limited engagement with course materials.
F Fail: major inaccuracies and omissions, no evidence of critical judgment, poorly delivered/ constructed;
very limited engagement with course materials.
Attendance Policy
Harlaxton College operates a mandatory attendance policy that is binding on all faculty and students.
The number of unexcused absences that are allowed before incurring a penalty is related to the
number of times a class meets during a week. This means that for courses which meet three times a
week students are allowed a maximum of three unexcused absences during the semester without
attracting penalty points, for courses meeting twice a week two such absences are permitted and for
courses meeting just once a week a single absence is allowed.
Additional unexcused absences will attract a grade penalty of a third-letter grade (A- to B+)
Students are responsible for the academic consequences of their failure to attend class. If any
assessment (e.g. in-class test, exam, paper, presentation, etc.) is missed, there is no expectation or
requirement that a faculty member will accept the work after it is due, provide an extension to a
deadline, or offer an alternative assessment opportunity for a student with an unexcused absence.
Drop/Add and Withdrawal Policy
There is normally about a 10 day period at the beginning of semester what a student may drop and class
and/or add a class. The deadline date is published in the Semester Guidance handbook. Drop/Add forms
are available from the library and completed forms should be returned to the same place. Faculty
signatures are required for all classes being added.
Students may withdraw from a class, with the exception of British Studies, for a longer period of time.
Again the deadline date is published in the Semester Guidance handbook. Forms are available from the
College Secretary, to whom completed forms should be returned. Forms must be signed by the faculty
member of the class being withdrawn from and the Principal.
All students must register for, and be continuously enrolled in, 12 credit hours of study to be eligible to
study at Harlaxton and remain in the United Kingdom.
Disability Policy
It is the policy of the University of Evansville (Harlaxton College) to make reasonable accommodations for
students with properly documented disabilities. University of Evansville students should contact the
Office of Counselling and Health Education to seek help with this. Students from Partner
Universities/Colleges should contact their own relevant student support office. For assistance whilst at
Harlaxton students should contact the College Secretary whose office is located adjacent to the
Principal’s office.
Written notification to faculty from the College Secretary is required for academic accommodations to
be implemented.
Honor Code
All students at the University of Evansville (Harlaxton College) agree to and are bound by the principles
and practice of the honour code:
‘I understand that any work I submit for course credit will imply that I have adhered to this
Academic Honor Code: I will neither give nor receive unauthorized aid, nor will I tolerate an
environment that condones the use of unauthorized aid.’
https://www.evansville.edu/offices/deanstudents/downloads/honorcode.pdf