HIS 101: Introduction to History
Course Description
This foundational course provides students with a comprehensive examination of
history as an academic discipline. It explores the context, purposes, and various
methodological and theoretical approaches that underpin historical writing and study. The
course is designed to equip students with essential skills, including the identification and
critical evaluation of primary and secondary sources, the development of research skills,
and a strong understanding of academic integrity and ethical behaviour in historical
scholarship. It will also highlight the importance of history in shaping various societies
around the world.
Course Contents
Unit 1: The Nature and Scope of History
• The Discipline of History: Defining history; its relationship with other social
sciences (e.g., sociology, political science, anthropology).
• The Purpose of History: Understanding the past, informing the present, and shaping
the future; history as memory and identity.
• The Historian’s Craft: The role and responsibilities of the historian; objectivity vs.
subjectivity in historical interpretation.
• Context and Causation: Examining the context of historical events; understanding
multiple causation and historical contingency.
Unit 2: Historical Methodology and Theory
• Schools of Historical Thought: Survey of major theoretical approaches (e.g., Marxist
history, Annales School, Post-structuralism, Cultural History).
• Historical Evidence: Distinguishing between primary and secondary sources; types
of sources (archival, oral, material, visual).
• Source Criticism: Techniques for external and internal criticism of sources;
evaluating authenticity, reliability, and bias.
• Historical Argumentation: Constructing a historical narrative; developing a thesis
and supporting it with evidence.
Unit 3: Research Skills and Academic Integrity
• Developing a Research Question: Identifying a topic, narrowing the scope, and
formulating a clear research question.
• Information Retrieval: Effective use of libraries, archives, and digital databases;
search strategies.
• Note-Taking and Organization: Systematic methods for recording and organizing
research data.
• Academic Referencing: Understanding and applying standard citation styles (e.g.,
Chicago, MLA, APA); the importance of accurate attribution.
• Ethical Conduct: Defining and avoiding plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification;
ethical considerations in working with sensitive historical data.
Unit 4: History in Global Perspective
• Historiography: The history of historical writing; how historical interpretations
change over time and place.
• The Importance of History: History’s role in national identity, political discourse,
and cultural memory in different global societies.
• Public History: The presentation of history outside academia (e.g., museums,
documentaries, historical preservation).
• The Future of History: New frontiers in historical research (e.g., digital history,
global history, environmental history).
i
Edited by ミperla
