HIS2324 : Black Atlantic History from c.1500 to the present
- Offered for Year: 2021/22
- Module Leader(s): Reverend Keith Magee
- Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
The purpose of this module is to explore and engage, in detail, the histories, issues, and debates concerning the varied forces that defined and shaped Global Black History from beginning of the Transatlantic slave trade of the sixteenth century to the present.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module will explore various historical, cultural, socio- political, and intellectual formations, movements, and connections crisscrossing the Atlantic. In understanding the geographic spaces framing the Atlantic littoral (England, Europe, Atlantic Africa, and the Americas) across five centuries, students will be expected to think broadly about historical and contemporary issues relevant to a Global Black history and presence. As often as possible, guest lectures, music and sound clips, documentaries, and films will be utilised to provide additional perspectives and views. An indicative syllabus follows:
• Introduction, Course Overview and Origins of the Black Atlantic History
• Movement, Circulations, and Diasporas
• Early Atlantic Encounters
• Gender, Race and Slavery
• Social Death, Cultural Life, and the “Africanisms” Debate
• Memory and Mobilising the Past
• (Re)memory, Reparations, and the Afterlives of Slavery
• Syncretism or Resistance? Black Atlantic Religions in the Americas
• Music across the Black Atlantic World
• Pan-Africanism, Black Nationalism, and Black Promised Lands
• Late Atlantic Encounters
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | PiP |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 73 | 1:00 | 73:00 | Preparation time for two assessment components |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | Seminars - PiP |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Seminars - Synchronous online |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 24 | 2:00 | 48:00 | 2 hours per week of directed seminar preparation activities |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 46 | 1:00 | 46:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Class Discussion |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
As a Stage 2 module, aside from an in-depth understanding of the content of the module, the teaching methods, which focus on small group work, presentational and oral skills, team work, lecture delivery and independent research and writing, relate to the core learning outcomes of supporting students in developing sophisticated research skills across a wide range of sources, being able to synthesise the information they collect and form convincing and coherent arguments.
Independent learning is essential to this module: students are expected to develop skills of source evaluation, critical reading and note-taking in an independent and effective manner. Seminar teaching complements these skills by allowing students the opportunity to share and debate information gathered independently. In addition, students will be required to work in small teams to deliver a poster and oral presentation, enhancing their team-working experience and skills. Oral skills of argument and presentation will be developed. Moreover, a significant part of seminar teaching will test the development of primary source analysis and problem solving.
Small group teaching will allow the students to explore ideas and patterns together in a structured way, and great emphasis will be placed on primary sources and their interpretation.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective log | 2 | M | 50 | Students will keep a weekly reflective log on the weekly theme/topic. for 10 weeks: 200 words per week: 2000 words total |
| Case study | 2 | A | 50 | Students will design and deliver a case study project, selecting from a variety of formats of 1500 words equivalent total. |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case study | 2 | M | Students will prepare a short case study proposal and will receive 1-on01 feedback from the ML. 150-200 words max. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
This module (1) supports and assesses student progression at Stage 2 and (2) endeavours to support their skills development, including academic and employability.
The assessment requires students to work as part of a team, set their own deadlines and goals, allocate work together and then present it. Organisational and time management skills are to the fore here. The research essay emphasises independent thinking and learning (supported by the Module Team), research literacy and finding skills, writing and structuring skills and working to deadlines.
Work submitted during the delivery of the module forms a means of determining student progress. Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- HIS2324's Timetable