This postgraduate course allows students to explore oral history theory and practices as a valuable means of understanding the past. We will examine the advantages and limitations of oral history as both a research methodology and an outcome by discussing key texts written by leading oral historians and related practitioners. In the second half of the course students will gain practical experience by designing and implementing a mini oral history project. By the end of the semester, students will have written a preliminary research design, submitted their project proposal for ethics approval, and conducted and analysed an interview.

10 x 1 hour lectures and 5 x 2 hour fortnightly seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled in MyCampus. This is one of the MSc options in History and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

HIST5198, HIST4089

None

Research design and ethics application (2,000 words) - 40%

Reflective essay (2,500 words) - 60%

This course aims to:

■ Explore the emergence, history, methodology and genres of oral history.

■ Teach students how to collect and analyse oral historical data.

■ Allow students to experiment with different genres of writing and sharing oral history for different audiences.

■ Explore the potential of oral history for educating and engaging the public.

■ Develop transferable skills by fostering individual initiative, personal choice, group discussion and, where appropriate, problem-solving teamwork.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Explain aspects of oral history theory and practice, including its strengths and limitations, and evaluate different genres of writing in oral history.

■ Critically analyse historical and oral historical sources in relation to existing historiography;

■ Acquire first-hand experience in producing their own source material by conducting an interview and transcribing and analysing the results.

■ Enhance skills in oral discussion, analysis and written argument.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.