This course aims to enable students to undertake original research in history.  Questions of method and ethics in historical research and writing will be discussed, and students will undertake research exercises and a research essay. Each student will be helped to formulate an independent research proposal based on primary evidence and will be encouraged to conduct research using a variety of traditional and non-traditional historical sources (i.e. published and archival written documents, oral history, material culture, place and cultural landscape, and visual sources such as photographs and film). Excursions will be arranged to various relevant institutions in Canberra (the National Library, the War Memorial, National Film and Sound Archive, the National Museum of Australia, the National Archives of Australia, the Noel Butlin Archives) and staff at each of these institutions will supply an introduction to the strength of holdings, relevance to historical research, and methods of access to the collections. Finally, a series of writing workshops will encourage students to experiment with historical writing, reflect on their work, and offer each other constructive criticism and support.

1,000 word research proposal (20%), a 4,000-word research essay (60%); and one exercise interpreting source material (20%).

Completion of 18 units in History.

HIST3005 Third Year Honours Seminar

Howell, M., & Prevenier, W., From Reliable Sources, Cornell, 2001.