HS2000 Historical Research Methods

1
HS2000 Historical Research Methods

• Introduction to the dissertation 2
• Bernard Attard

2
HS3501/3502

• 8,000-10,000 words.
• Due at the end of 2nd term/beginning of 3rd term.

• Design a research project
• Independent research
• Critical reading
• Mastery of of sources
• Presentation of research findings and analysis.

3
Preparing for the dissertation

• Defining the topic
• Locating the sources
• Identifying a supervisor

4
Essay questions

• Why were the Templars suppressed, and what does
  their fall tell us about the condition of the
  crusading movement in the early fourteenth
  century?
• What was the widows place in the early modern
  Italian family?
• How far did attitudes to poverty change between
  1834 and 1906?

5
Dissertation topics

• The Royal Navy and the Anglo-German naval race
  during Winston Churchill's period as First Lord
  of the Admiralty, 1911-1914.
• Life as an American prisoner of war in Britain
  during the American Revolution.

• The Queen doeth govern all the King's
  affairs an examination of the political
  influence of Henrietta Maria between 1625 and
  1642.
•  
• Medieval life on the edge the marginalia of the
  Howard Psalter and St Mary's church at
  Wiggenhall, Norfolk.

6
Questions you should ask ...

• What aspect of this topic am I interested in
  studying?
• What do I want to find out?
• What is my research question?
• Is there an existing literature in the field?
• What questions does it suggest?
• Is my topic practical within the limits of the
  dissertation?

7
Locating sources

• What contemporary evidence do I require in order
  to answer my research question?

8
Locating sources

• Investigate the sources as you formulate your
  topic.
• Familiarise yourself with the sources used by
  historians who have also written on your subject.
• Discuss possible sources with members of staff.
• Familiarise yourself with the potential sources
  that you have easy access to (e.g. University
  Library).
• Consider identifying a source in your general
  area of interest and designing a topic around it.

9
Identifying a supervisor

• List of members of staff, pp. 5-8 of Module
  Handbook.