7311.10 - The Faroe Islands: 1700-1900

7311.10

The Faroe Islands: 1700-1900

12

The primary purpose of this course is for students, through a consideration of Faroese history between AD 1700 and AD 1900, to acquire an understanding of the academic study of history, what methods are employed and what views of history lie behind the choice of themes researched, questions asked and historical narratives constructed. Students will also consider relevant didactic questions, i.e. how these issues are reflected in the teaching of history and current affairs in the Faroese primary school.

The course consists of four parts: 1) Analysis of research in history. In this part, students, using H.J. Debes’ Nú er tann stundin… and selected primary texts, will analyse primary characteristics of a major work in Faroes history writing, which may help them in their own study and research. They will consider and evaluate the role and function of such elements as research questions, secondary questions, theses, limitations, points of view (economic, social, cultural and political), views of history, writing style, main conclusions and perspectives (incl. chronological and geographical). 2) Finding relevant literature and using libraries, museums, databanks and the like. Students will gain experience in using e.g. libraries, museums and databanks, so that they independently can find, evaluate and use relevant sources, both primary and secondary. Students will be responsible for developing a presentation on a topic of their own choice, using the exhibition of cultural historical artefacts at a museum. 3) Source Criticism. Using selected source-critical methods, students, through various exercises, will learn to evaluate sources and consider what presuppositions one makes even before one commences to interpret the content of one’s sources. We will emphasise that all history writing is contextually bound, and that history is not only an informative school subject bu also a formative in, in which independent decision-making is paramount. 4) History didactics. Student will receive a collection of texts, in which they will be introduced to the following topics: History as a subject in school during different historical periods, characteristics of good history teaching, media, the critical study of history and historical fiction. Focusing on these issues in didactics, students will learn from the onset of their studies in history to differentiate between and integrate history as an academic discipline and as a school subject.

In this course, students are primarily evaluated on part 1 and 3 of the course, while the other parts will be a part of the evaluation in the other three courses in the history major. They will sit a 3-hour exam. They will write on both set and unknown text and will be evaluated according to the literature read for the course and the competence gained in employing source critical methods in doing historical research. Grades will be awarded on a passed/not passed basis