AD3035 - Exploring the Culture and History of the North East

You will learn on the module through a stimulating range of lectures, seminars, film screenings and field trips. Your learning will be supported by the excellent library facilities, and by resources made available to you through the e-learning portal. Each week you will be given a preparatory activity (e.g. set reading, a source search) which will form the basis of your explorations in class for that week. Sessions will be delivered by the module team to ensure you benefit from their particular expertise across a range of disciplines.

By attending the lectures and seminars and undertaking the assignments you will be able to achieve the module learning outcomes. As you explore the history and culture of the North East you will develop foundational knowledge in research skills, time management, IT skills, critical thinking and evaluation as well as academic communication skills.

In addition to learning during contact hours with the module tutors, you will undertake the directed learning of the preparatory activities as well as independent learning. Independent learning generally will take the form of further reading and research, the consolidation of session materials and the completion of the assessment.

The module handbook provides details of sessions, reading lists and assessment criteria; lecture PowerPoint slides are made available on the e-learning portal. The module tutors will be available in taught sessions, as well as in feedback and consultation hours and on email/phone, to discuss any queries or concerns you have about how to excel academically on the module. Moreover, feedback on formative work and the first summative assessments will also serve as ‘feed forward’, giving guidance on how to improve during the module. In addition, you have a designated Personal Guidance Tutor throughout the entire duration of your programme. The academic side of the Personal Guidance Tutor’s role includes:
• monitoring your ongoing academic progress
• helping you to develop self-reflection skills necessary for continuous academic development
• directing you to further available services which can help them with their academic skills (e.g. Library’s Skills Plus)

You are advised to see your Personal Guidance Tutor at least twice each semester to review your academic progress.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1 demonstrate a capacity to evaluate primary and secondary sources including material objects and digital media.
2 develop some knowledge of the history and culture of Newcastle and the North East.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3 demonstrate a capacity to find research resources and maintain research records on which to draw for academic work.
4 demonstrate an understanding of different ways of presenting sources in academic writing.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5 demonstrate an awareness of the importance of accurate academic citation.

Formative

Presentation: You will give a 5 minute illustrated presentation your chosen topic for your research archive (MLO 1-2)

Summative:
1. Website analysis essay (40%): You will write a 1000 word critical analysis of the website for a historical/cultural institution in the North East (MLO 1, 4)

2. Research archive and either an essay or a piece of creative writing (60%): You will write 1000 words on a topic chosen from a list supplied by your tutor. Your essay/creative piece will be accompanied by a research archive which includes your bibliography as well as other research materials (e.g. photos, sound recordings) that you have collected in preparation for your submission (MLO 1-3, 5)

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On this module you will explore the history and culture of Newcastle and the North East. As you explore you will learn to find scholarly resources that help you interpret the region’s past and culture. At the same time you will learn how to evaluate primary and secondary sources whether they are buildings, books, or blogs. Finally, you will learn how to create an archive of research so that you can develop your own meaningful accounts of the lives and events that have shaped the region. The module will introduce you to some key people, places and periods in the history and culture of Newcastle and the North East, and you will also have the opportunity to investigate the region guided by your own specific interests.