Last modified: 12 Aug 2024 15:16
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 | First 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 | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 17 | Feedback Weeks | 19 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided online via MyAberdeen |
Word Count | 2700 | |
| 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 primary and secondary sources |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of the impact of ‘the magical’ on early modern society |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of witchcraft as a mechanism of social control. |
| 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 | 9 | Feedback Weeks | 11 | |
| 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 | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 12 | Feedback Weeks | 14 | |
| 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 | 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 | 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 primary and secondary sources |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate historiographical interpretations of the impact of ‘the magical’ on early modern society |
| Reflection | Create | To develop transferable skills through interactive learning and private study in an on-line environment |
| Conceptual | Understand | To place witchcraft and magic in the broader context of popular beliefs and practices |
| Reflection | Apply | To engage in intellectual debate and constructive criticism through written assessments, interactive discussions, and private study |
| 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 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. |
| Factual | Understand | To assess changes to views on magic & witchcraft over time in the Scottish context |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Students will engage in academic discussion, interacting with readings, online lectures, and the comments of other students. |
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