Aims

By the end of this seminar, students should be able to treat a question from history from the viewpoint of heuristics, criticism of sources and data interpretation. He should be able to write a research report delimiting the original question and synthesize hypotheses advanced, difficulties encountered and results obtained.

Main themes

The seminar puts the principles of historical criticism through case study and the concrete analysis of sources of various natures and origins to work. It also allows us to explore concepts and methods, as well as the models and hypotheses the confrontation of documentary sources and theoretical analyses give rise to.
During group working meetings, each participant, based on a personal preliminary work, presents his analysis of an aspect of the chosen theme, paying particular attention to heuristic and critical aspects, then submitting it for group evaluation.
The procedures and steps in treatment, as well as the synthesis and conclusions are developed in common.
By the deeper understanding of the historian's procedure it represents and the effort to communicate it involves, this seminar is direct preparation for the licence memoir.

Content and teaching methods

Relying on various teachings dealing with the history of non-European continents (African history, the history of European expansion overseas, Latin American history, the history of Christian expansion outside Europe), this seminar is centred on overseas territories in the contemporary period, from a perspective of economic, social and cultural history. It makes room for African studies, given Belgium's historical ties with Central Africa and a tradition of African studies at UCL. Problematics may occasionally be extended to relations between European and immigrant populations of overseas origin. This is research done in common under a professor's direction. Based a personal study of documents proposed by the instructor, each student submits his research results for the group's criticism.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Evaluation : Based on active participation in the seminar and the capacity to present a personal work both orally and in writing. The 1st licence student turns in a written assignment at the beginning of the month of February, those in 2nd licence for 23 December.
Teaching materials : Student notes.
Teaching : By the instructor and, in some cases, assistants assigned by the Department.
Preferably, this seminar should be attributed to two instructors.

Programmes in which this activity is taught

Other credits in programs