Advanced Diploma in Family History
Human and Social Studies - Traditions History and Legacies
Purpose and Rationale
Programme Overview:
The Advanced Diploma in Research and Writing Histories is designed for mature students interested in exploring and documenting personal, family, or community histories. The programme is especially relevant in post-apartheid South Africa, where there is a growing interest in previously suppressed narratives and identities. The course provides group training and personalized assistance, focusing on practical research skills. Students will have access to various resources, such as archives, manuscript collections, and historical research institutes, to aid in their projects. The programme encourages a diverse range of interests, particularly those whose histories have been marginalized or overlooked.
Objectives:
- Equip students with research skills to work with primary sources, both documentary and oral.
- Assist students in developing and writing a coherent narrative based on primary research.
- Help students integrate analytical insights into their writing effectively.
- Support students in exploring personal, familial, or community history and identity.
- Guide students in representing history through verbal and visual means.
- Potential career paths include archivists, museum curators, tour guides, or roles in cultural tourism.
Programme Details:
- Emphasis on practical research skills
- Access to resources like archives, manuscript collections, and historical research institutes
- Encouragement to explore suppressed or marginalized histories
- Use of primary sources with contextualization in secondary material
- Integration of theoretical insights in local history, family history, and literary theory
- Development of cognitive skills for successful research projects
- Focus beyond genealogy or chronology towards a broader historical narrative
- Emphasis on representing history verbally and visually
- Wide range of interests welcomed, especially from marginalized or overlooked communities
By enrolling in this programme, students will be able to conduct in-depth research, write compelling narratives, and contribute to the preservation and representation of important historical stories.
Outcomes
- The ability to locate relevant primary sources in archives, libraries and the Deeds Office.
- The ability to contextualise and interpret such sources.
- The ability to reconcile and evaluate contradictions and divergences in the content of such sources.
- The ability to synthesise data.
- The ability to make critical use of oral sources.
- The ability to construct a coherent historical narrative using primary sources.
- The ability to locate relevant secondary sources.
- The ability to comprehend and integrate information from secondary sources.
- The ability to comprehend and apply insights drawn from relevant analytical and theoretical material.
Assessment Criteria
Students will be assessed on their ability to formulate a research question, conduct a literature review, analyze data, and draw conclusions. They should demonstrate critical thinking skills, research proficiency, and the ability to present their findings in a clear and coherent manner. The final research essay should include an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion sections.
Throughout the course, students will receive feedback on their progress and be given the opportunity to revise and improve their work. The final research essay will be graded based on the quality of the research, the clarity of the writing, the organization of the paper, and the overall coherence of the argument.
By successfully completing the research essay, students will demonstrate their ability to apply research methodologies, critically evaluate existing literature, and communicate their findings effectively. This assessment will help prepare students for future academic and professional endeavors that require strong research and writing skills.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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