Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 10:43
This course will examine the attitudes and approaches to witchcraft, magic and the preter/supernatural in early modern Protestant Scotland in the wider context of popular belief and traditional practice.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course will examine the attitudes and approaches to witchcraft, magic and the preter/supernatural in early modern Protestant Scotland in the wider context of popular belief and traditional practice.
This will be done through examining a number of key, inter-related themes:
Heavy emphasis will be placed on key secondary texts in the historiographical debates and major bodies of primary source documentation on the subject, in particular, the trials of the North Berwick witches and James VI’s Demonology.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 27 | Feedback Weeks | 26 | |
| Feedback |
Review several reviews of key historiographical secondary works published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Feedback will be provided online via MyAberdeen. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To display a critical and comparative appreciation of key debates and controversies |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of the impact of ‘the magical’ on early modern society |
| Reflection | Apply | To engage in intellectual debate and constructive criticism through written assessments, interactive discussions, and private study |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 35 | Feedback Weeks | 37 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided online via MyAberdeen |
Word Count | 2700 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To display a critical and comparative appreciation of key debates and controversies |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To analyse & critique the historiographical debates surrounding the occult and magical in the early modern world |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate primary and secondary sources |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of witchcraft as a mechanism of social control. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of the impact of ‘the magical’ on early modern society |
| Conceptual | Understand | To place witchcraft and magic in the broader context of popular beliefs and practices |
| Factual | Remember | To develop a detailed familiarity with the terms and categories associated with the occult both in their early modern context and modern-day historiographical usage |
| Factual | Understand | To assess changes to views on magic & witchcraft over time in the Scottish context |
| Reflection | Apply | To engage in intellectual debate and constructive criticism through written assessments, interactive discussions, and private study |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Students receive a brief (c. 20min) podcast summarising and commenting on the week’s comments and, occasionally, responses (usually via a course-wide Announcement) to specific comments should a house-keeping issue arise. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Evaluate | Students will engage in academic discussion, interacting with readings, online lectures, and the comments of other students. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 32 | Feedback Weeks | 39 | |
| Feedback |
Prepare a comparative analysis of the historiographical arguments and approaches in a selected pair of peer-reviewed academic articles. Feedback will be provided online via MyAberdeen |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To analyse & critique the historiographical debates surrounding the occult and magical in the early modern world |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To display a critical and comparative appreciation of key debates and controversies |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of witchcraft as a mechanism of social control. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of the impact of ‘the magical’ on early modern society |
| Reflection | Apply | To engage in intellectual debate and constructive criticism through written assessments, interactive discussions, and private study |
| Assessment Type | Formative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35 | Feedback Weeks | ||
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided online via MyAberdeen by course convenor participation in, and commenting on, Discussion Board Forum posts by students |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate primary and secondary sources |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of the impact of ‘the magical’ on early modern society |
| Conceptual | Understand | To place witchcraft and magic in the broader context of popular beliefs and practices |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Students will engage in academic discussion, interacting with readings, online lectures, and the comments of other students. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To analyse & critique the historiographical debates surrounding the occult and magical in the early modern world |
| Factual | Understand | To assess changes to views on magic & witchcraft over time in the Scottish context |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate primary and secondary sources |
| Factual | Remember | To develop a detailed familiarity with the terms and categories associated with the occult both in their early modern context and modern-day historiographical usage |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To display a critical and comparative appreciation of key debates and controversies |
| Reflection | Apply | To engage in intellectual debate and constructive criticism through written assessments, interactive discussions, and private study |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of witchcraft as a mechanism of social control. |
| Reflection | Create | To develop transferable skills through interactive learning and private study in an on-line environment |
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