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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 39, Number 18, July 26, 1976.

History

History

Critique of History Courses.

211 Renaissance Europe

215 American History

315 The Life of the Mind of America.

HIST 211 (Renaissance)

Course Content; is the equivalent of a fast gallop through the zillion interacting aspects of the Italian Renaissance" centuries. Lecturing was enthusiastic with an amazing continuity. This course generates real interest but often moves too fast for some minds.

Assessment; 2 essays and I exam. Supposedly the final mark is taken from the best marks but many wounded hearts would question this. This years exam was a stinker and what is more, we were lied to by 'the friendly Beagle' "It will be very much like last year" was his assurance. The choice was much narrower, cut down even further due to all of the final tutorials being cancelled because Mr Fairburn was ill. This exam was a ripp off, in many opinions. Apart from this twist in the tail, the course was remarkable.

HIST 215 (American)

Course Content; Lectures were largely sleep inducing but we found that we could get by on the prescribed reading. Tutorials were compulsory. This course definately allowed for in depth study in areas of interest. A good course by a liberal minded lecturer, no dogma, no pressure until the last weeks of the 'dirty assessment hitch' when the 'Research Topic' and the Test on tutorials hit at once. Deadly for insomniacs!

Assessment; 2 short essays, the best mark is taken.

1 research topic, not too straining until combined with

The Test (25%) based on God knows what from tutorials. We moaned about this, so it may not exist next year. This is a valuable course for the 'not so lazy' student.

HIST 315 (The Life of the Mind of America)

Course Content; So far, so good. Once again, leaves room for in depth work in favoured areas. This course is run in tutorial/seminar two hour sessions of lively debate presided over by two entertaining minds - Ms Bunkle and Mr Phillips, allowing an interaction of differing ideas. The workload is consistantly heavy.

Assessment; Once again, all internal, one essay, research topic and wait for it, the hitch, each tutorial we must hand in a summary of tutorial reading which is assessed. All in all though, the history department is a hundred times more relaxed than the English department and more liberal as regards interdepartmental liason and student opinion. Correct me if I'm wrong.