As you can see, below, last Spring the University of Ulster—Coleraine posted an ad, searching for a new history professor who specializes in “Modern Irish Gender History.” Pretend you are applying, and explain what you would teach and why with specific reference to Translations, The Ghosts of Belfast, Glorious Heresies, The Spinning Heart, or Small Things Like These, and any one reading from the first half of the semester. The resulting document should be at least four pages (1000 words).
Questions the search committee might have include how literature (drama, fiction, poetry) connects to or tells us something about history; the roles of languages in your consideration of modern Irish gender history; the role of narrative (story) in history and literature, especially modern Irish gender history; and whether context both accounts for and explains away behavior. They will also be interested in both your problem-spotting and your problem-solving skills. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list; rather, it is just a quick introduction to the kinds of questions that hiring committees in History departments will have in mind as they search for the very best applicants in Modern Irish Gender History.
“Lecturer in Modern Irish Gender History”
Ulster University – School of Arts and Humanities
Location:
Coleraine
Salary:
£36,402 to £51,829
Hours:
Full Time
Contract Type:
Fixed-Term/Contract
Placed On:
11th April 2022
Closes:
24th April 2022
Job Ref:
012045
Closing date: 24 April 2022
Ref: 012045
(Fixed-term until 9th January 2025, 16.1 hours p/w)
The postholder will undertake teaching and administration on the BA History programme. Teaching modules include HIS130 Historical Skills, HIS325 Family, Sexuality and the State, HIS515 Saints and Sinners: Women in 19th and 20th Century Ireland, and HIS325 – modern British gender/social history.
Ulster University holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality in higher education, read more on our website https://www.ulster.ac.uk/peopleandculture/employee-benefits/equality-diversity/athena-swan. The University has a range of initiatives to support a family friendly working environment, including flexible working.
We prefer to issue and receive applications via our on-line recruitment website by clicking Apply.
Hard copy applications can be obtained by telephoning 028 7012 4072.
The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.
Appointment will be made on merit.”
NB: Reading carefully is part of the assignment. An evaluation is not just an analysis, a comparison, or a report. Evaluations require analysis, comparison and summarizing, but those are not sufficient. To evaluate also includes making an argument. An evaluation implies “Do you agree? If so, why? If not, why not?,” but it also requires anticipating and countering objections.
For both these questions, you have enough information from the assigned readings. There is no need for any further research. Just think. And write. Then reflect. And revise.
As always, cite your sources (even our assigned readings), using exact words, quotation marks, page (in poetry, line) numbers, editions, and publication information when you do.
NB: Complete a draft a few days before deadline. If your conclusion makes a newer clearer claim than you had at the top, move that claim to the thesis position and revise the entire draft in the light of that claim.
This is a General Education “signature assignment,” and may be collected for assessment of Clemson’s Gen Ed outcomes.
hope this helps (more basic instruction)
– Multiple theses: “I want this job” is a thesis. But also say how you’re prepared (another thesis) and anticipate objections (history via literature?, for example), meaning more theses, etc.
– ^BASICALLY: why you want the job, how you are prepared for it, what and how you would teach the class, how this is related to gender, Ireland, history, and modern times (South Carolina gender laws, situations in the South regarding gender, Roe v. Wade, gender-affirming care, banned books, Irish gender issues both past and present, etc). Analyze the works and how you would teach them/what makes you qualified for the job. Talk about the topic and its connections to your life/environment in the present. What laws/bans/regulations impact you? How is gender discussed in your classes or in the books you read? What’s going on in the media?