HIST 3035 - Reel History: World War II in Film
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code HIST 3035 Course Reel History: World War II in Film Coordinating Unit Historical and Classical Studies Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study Incompatible HIST 2054 Assessment Seminar attendance and participation, Online test, Short essay, Research essay Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Vesna Drapac
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1 Understand the relationship between popular perceptions of World War II and its representation on film. 2 Contribute to debates surrounding the nature and value of history on film. 3 Recognise the principal features and evaluate critically the representation and impact of World War II on film over time and in relation to traditional written histories. 4 Formulate historical arguments using appropriate evidence from multiple sources. 5 Develop high level written and oral communication skills through appropriate assessment tasks and structured and unstructured inclass activities. University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3, 4 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,2, 3, 4 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
5 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
4 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
Course details and other learning resources will be available via MyUni.
Readings for the weekly seminars will be available electronically via Course Readings. There is no text book for this course.
Films to be studied will be available via the BSL or other streaming services.Recommended Resources
All the required reading will be available on MyUni via Course Readings.
The Barr Smith Library has a rich collection of books, journals and electronic databases relevant to our subject and is the most valuable resource for the preparation of seminars and written work.Online Learning
This course has a website accessible through MyUni.
All the relevant information regarding weekly activities and assessment will be posted on MyUni.
Detailed instructions on the preparation and submission of all assessible work will be available on the course's website.
The lectures will be recorded and available online.
There will be an online test and some online activities.
The University provides electronic access to a huge range of books and databases and to the full text of articles in the major film and film history journals through the Barr Smith Library.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The course comprises face-to-face teaching on campus with one one-hour lecture and one two-hour
seminar per week.
Lectures begin in Week One and seminars begin in Week Two.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The total workload for ths course is approximately 150 hours which incorporates 3 contact hours per week, preparation for seminars including the viewing of films and course readings, and preparation for the assignments.Learning Activities Summary
Lectures will cover the main themes of the course and the films being studied. The themes that will be our particular focus include: the history and historiography of the war on film; wartime propaganda; the home front; documentary film made during and after the war; the soldier’s war; prisoners of war; the war in popular memory; gendered interpretations of the war; war films and nation building; resistance and collaboration on film; the Holocaust on film.Specific Course Requirements
Seminar participation is a hurdle requirement of this course.
All students will be required to watch the films set for the course prior to the seminars in which they are being discussed.
Students who are not prepared to participate in seminars and to view the films as required should not enrol in this course.
The films are available for viewing in the Barr Smith Library. Students may also choose to purchase the films or to view them through various streaming services.
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Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcomes Seminar participation Formative Hurdle Requirement 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Short Essay (1,000 words) Summative 30% 1,2,3,5 Online Test Summative 20% 1,2,3,5 Major essay (3,000 words) Summative 50% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Assessment Related Requirements
Seminar participatoin is a hurdle requirement of this course and absences other than for medical reasons (with supporting documentation) will result in serious penalties.
Students must satisfactorily complete all of the assigned work to pass this course.
No work will be accepted in lieu of seminar participation.Assessment Detail
Seminar Participation = Hurdle Requirement
In this course there is a very strong emphasis on building students' oral communication skills. Therefore, participation in weekly seminars is a hurdle requirement and frequent absences (other than for medical reasons) will lead to severe penalties and possible preclusion.
No work will be accepted in lieu of seminar participation.
Seminar tasks will vary and include, for example, informal presentations by group leaders. More information will be available in the Course Guide and at the first seminar.
Short Essay (1,000 words) = 30%Research Essay (2,800 words) = 50%
In this assignment students will focus on a film of their choice from the list of under review in the course and assess its historical signficance.
Online Test = 20%
This assessment will comprise short answer questions and test the students' capacity to synthesise succinctly and in clear prose their knowledge and interpretations of the films and themes under review.
For this assessment the main goal will be to develop an argument in a logical and persuasive style and to seek out appropriate evidence/examples to illustrate that argument. Students will be graded on their breadth of flimic knowledge and understanding, their ability to sustain their argument, and the initiative and creativity exhibited in their discovery and use of a range of sources.
Submission
Assignements should be submitted in two drop-boxes available via MyUni in the Assignments folder by 23.59 on the due date.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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