Module Descriptors
ORAL HISTORY AND LIFE STORIES
HIPO40220
Key Facts
Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies
Level 4
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Pauline Elkes
Email: P.Elkes@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 22
Independent Study Hours: 128
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- PORTFOLIO weighted at 100%
Module Details
Module Additional Assessment Details
Portfolio of 2,000 words in total to include
-an analysis of a biography, oral history, biopic or autobiography (Learning Outcome 1, 2 and 3)
-students own life story with reference to education, skills, family or work experience (Learning outcome 2 and 5)
-a life story - based upon an interview and / or other historical research - an explanation of how it will be presented in a format suitable for popular consumption (Learning Outcomes 1,2,3, and 4)
-an analysis of a biography, oral history, biopic or autobiography (Learning Outcome 1, 2 and 3)
-students own life story with reference to education, skills, family or work experience (Learning outcome 2 and 5)
-a life story - based upon an interview and / or other historical research - an explanation of how it will be presented in a format suitable for popular consumption (Learning Outcomes 1,2,3, and 4)
Module Indicative Content
Personalisation and life stories are key to the communication of popular narratives of the past - whether these narratives are communicated via the media, museums or leisure and heritage industries. Students will therefore analyse a selection of oral histories, life stories, autobiographies, biopics, documentaries and autobiographies. Discussion about the selectivity and partiality of such histories / stories will be explored alongside issues of memory.
A key part of the module will be practical work undertaking oral history and researching a life story. In preparation for this students will thus initially construct a version of their own life history. Exploration of the practical challenges of oral history and life stories will focus on the collection, analysis, structuring, display and publication of such material. Students will also visit Staffordshire Record Office to gain an understanding of potential uses of historical archives for life stories.
A key part of the module will be practical work undertaking oral history and researching a life story. In preparation for this students will thus initially construct a version of their own life history. Exploration of the practical challenges of oral history and life stories will focus on the collection, analysis, structuring, display and publication of such material. Students will also visit Staffordshire Record Office to gain an understanding of potential uses of historical archives for life stories.
Module Texts
Goodson, I. And Sikes, P. (2001) Life History Research In Educational Settings: Learning from Lives (Doing Qualitative Research in Educational Settings Open University Press
Perks, R. and Thomson, A. (2006) The Oral History Reader Routledge Oxford
Raleigh V. (2005) Recording Oral History: A Guide for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2 Rev Ed edition AltaMira Press, U.S.;
Portelli, A. (2007) The Order Has Been Carried Out (Palgrave Studies in Oral History Palgrave, Basingstoke
Thompson, P. (2000) The Voice of the Past: Oral History Opus Books, London
Ritchie, D. (2005) Doing Oral History: A Practical Guide Open University Press
Perks, R. and Thomson, A. (2006) The Oral History Reader Routledge Oxford
Raleigh V. (2005) Recording Oral History: A Guide for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2 Rev Ed edition AltaMira Press, U.S.;
Portelli, A. (2007) The Order Has Been Carried Out (Palgrave Studies in Oral History Palgrave, Basingstoke
Thompson, P. (2000) The Voice of the Past: Oral History Opus Books, London
Ritchie, D. (2005) Doing Oral History: A Practical Guide Open University Press
Module Learning Strategies
Workshops will provide and introduction to Oral History, Life Stories and Biographies, biopics and documentaries based on oral history or biography, the problems and practices, debates about memory and the structuring of narratives for popular consumption. Small group discussion within these workshops will be used to develop skills and deepen knowledge.
Tutorials will ensure contact with individual students and discussion of students experience and progress on the module and with the assessment.
Tutorials will ensure contact with individual students and discussion of students experience and progress on the module and with the assessment.
Module Resources
Recommended Library books, Journals and e-resources.
MP3 recorders
DVD and video
OHP's and screens
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.
MP3 recorders
DVD and video
OHP's and screens
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.