In August 1914, millions of men were mobilised as European nations declared war on one another. As most of these nations were imperial powers, their colonies were also drawn into the conflict. How could Senegalese, Australians, Indians and South Africans find themselves fighting Germans or Ottomans they had previously limited to no contact with? How could European populations consent to total warfare for so long and at such huge costs? Millions of the men who marched to the battle fronts in 1914 later died as a result of a type of industrial warfare few had foreseen. And for what?

This course focuses on the global dimension of the First World War. Drawing from up-to-date transnational and comparative historiography, the course provides an understanding of a war that, in many ways, shaped the 20th century. It provides an opportunity to approach new ways of thinking about the conflict, outside of the national framework. The course provides students with an understanding of the origins of the First World War, back to mid-19th century Europe and the rise of nationalisms right through its consequences and its long-lasting effects on the 20th century. Taking students through the conflict, a wide array of topics will be explored such as trench combat, violence, shell shock, home-fronts, arts, reconstruction and commemoration.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. critically reflect upon the nature of military and cultural history, and how it has been practised in relation to the First World War;
2. understand and analyse key interpretations of the causes, conduct and consequences of the Great War;
3. engage with course themes through oral discussion and presentations; and
4. locate, collect, interpret and synthesise a range of historical sources to develop a coherent argument.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

The information published in this Class Summary may be subject to change, any changes in assessments or other course details will be communicated via Wattle and during the first week of the Semester. Any questions or concerns should be raised with the course convenor/lecturer as soon as possible.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture and Tutorial: Introduction and outline of the courseTutorial: introduction
2	Lecture: The Great War from a global perspective: why does it matter?Tutorial: The Origins of the First World War
3	Lecture: Mobilising men, mobilising minds, mobilising economiesTutorial: total mobilisation
4	Lecture: Mapping the Great WarTutorial: A world War
5	Lecture: Fighting together against one another: the universality of extreme violenceTutorial: Combat	19 March 2025: essay plan and bibliography due (25%)
6	Lecture: A Global Approach to Shell ShockTutorial: Trauma
7	Lecture: Engaging with other cultures: Soldiers' experiences away from the frontlineTutorial: Wartime Tourism
8	Lecture: 1918: the road to victory, and to defeatTutorial: Winning and losing a war
9	Lecture: From Versailles to Munich: 'exiting' the First World WarTutorial: The peace treaties and their aftermaths	6 May 2025: Research Essay due (45%)
10	Lecture: Representing the Great War: an artistic revolution?Tutorial: Arts and the First World War
11	Lecture: Common war and national singularities: remembering the Great War in the 20th centuryTutorial: myths, commemorations and history
12	Lecture: ConclusionsTutorial: In-class quiz during tutorial	In-class quiz during Week 12 tutorial (20%)

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Participation, ongoing 10%	10 %	*	1,2,3,4
Essay plan and bibliography 25%	25 %	19/03/2025	1,2,4
Research Essay 45%	45 %	06/05/2025	1,2,4
Quiz 20%	20 %	*	1,2,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Participation, ongoing 10%

Tutorial participation will be worth 10% of the assessment for the course.

Tutorial participation marks will be based upon evidence of you having done the assigned readings, of you having thought about the issues, and of your participation in class discussions. Please note that attendance alone is not counted towards assessment, but that tutorial attendance is required to receive a grade for participation.

Assessment Task 2

Essay plan and bibliography 25%

The Essay Plan and Bibliography task requires you to submit an outline for the Research Essay that includes a statement of argument “this essay argues that…” (or, at minima, a specific question you wish to tackle), a detailed plan, and a Bibliography. Remember to make sure your Essay Plan and Bibliography are closely focused on proving and “feeding” your argument. You are expected to use a minimum of 8 published academic secondary sources. For HIST2214 you are required to construct your own argument looking at any aspect of one of the themes explored during the topic. Your argument (or at least the theme you wish to approach) must be discussed individually with your course coordinator prior to writing this task. Take this opportunity to select a topic you are passionate about. Remember, an argument can only come after a substantial amount of research, so it is ok to discuss which topic you wish to choose in broad terms when you discuss it with your course coordinator, and come up with a definitive argument for the research essay. For this topic, you cannot base your essay on the historical experiences of one country only. Any essay you wish to write for HIST2214 must be transnational, including examples and case studies from at least 2 countries, and more preferably. The aim of the Essay Plan and Bibliography is to get you working on, and thinking about, how you approach your Research Essay. More information will be provided to you in the PDF version of the course guide. 

Assessment Task 3

Research Essay 45%

After you have completed your Essay Plan and Bibliography, you should be ready to tackle the Research Essay. It is expected that you will incorporate/address the feedback that you received on this task into the Research Essay. Remember: For this course, you cannot base your essay on the historical experiences of one country only. Any essay you wish to write for HIST2214 must be transnational, including examples and case studies from at least 2 countries, and more preferably. To demonstrate sufficient independent research, students are expected to draw from a minimum of 14 published academic secondary sources (in addition to any relevant materials in the Ereadings given to you) and at least 4 primary sources of your choice. Your research essay should have an introduction with an argument, a body made of some paragraphs and a conclusion. It will be followed by a bibliography on a separate page. More information will be provided to you in the PDF version of the course guide. 

Assessment Task 4

Quiz 20%

The in-class quiz will take place in Week 12 during your designated tutorial time. The In-Class quiz requires you to answer multiple-choice and short answer questions on historical knowledge covered in the lectures and compulsory readings throughout the semester. More information on the quiz will be provided during tutorial in week 9 and 10 of the semester. 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

N/A

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students