Introduction

Hello everyone!
My name is Yana, I’m 28 years old from Kristiansand, Norway.
I’ve thought about doing a dissertation about the witch hunts in Europe/Britain, but I haven’t decided a topic yet. Distanced learning have been a challenge as it’s difficult to give an impression or recieve understanding on the physical level through a screen. Seminars is especially difficult for someone who does not have english as the first language, to think over a question, come up with an answer, and then having to push buttons to reply, someone else might already have answered the question. At least that is something I experienced a couple of times during the previous semester.
Certainly these learning conditions are difficult to all of us at some extent and I hope we can still do our best! 🙂

Introduction – Jordan Murray

Hi everyone, my name is Jordan and I’m from a town called Gretna which is on the border between Scotland and England. I am interested in writing my dissertation on the Viking Age, however I have not yet decided on which specific events I wish to write about. As most people will agree the move to online learning has not been easy but I feel I have been able to adapt to these changes relatively well. I look forward to working with you all this semester!

Chloe Fergus – Introduction

Hey everyone!

My name is Chloe and I am from the outskirts of Edinburgh and my degree is ‘Scottish History’ so my dissertation topic must fall within that. I am deeply interested and fascinated by the Scottish struggle for independence and the roles of Wallace and Bruce however, after doing my Vikings module last semester I am now considering doing my dissertation on Viking settlement in Scotland (Orkney, Shetlands and areas such as Caithness) and assess whether or not there was assimilation or conflict as it is heavily debated! Regarding online learning I’ve struggled a bit as I am quite a luddite with technology and initially nervous when it comes to talking on teams however it has saved me a fortune on petrol and getting up super early to get to Stirling so that is a positive.

Introduction – Julia

Hi I’m Julia,

Personally, I have always been interested in race, gender and class studies and although throughout my uni experience so far I have tried to take modules which are out of my comfort zone such as those heavily focussed on politics and war, I never found myself enjoying them. I have lived in Scotland my whole life but my family is Polish and although I’m lucky enough to have quite a liberal family, it has always fascinated me how different attitudes towards gender, sexuality and race are in different parts of the world and countries such as Poland. This doesn’t ofcourse speak for an entire country, but it amazes me that such contrasts even exist.

Therefore, I would love to narrow my research on the beginnings of the civil rights movement and trying to find the most convincing catalyst for the movement or look into extracts made by women during the late 18th to early 19th century to see why feminism was born and what it was exactly that made women envision a different future for themselves and other women. This ofcourse might change completely but its a rough idea.

Nicola Hamilton – Introduction

Hello! My name is Nicola and I am from a small village just outside of Livingston. For my dissertation I am interested in race and gender history, however like others I am unsure of a specific area to focus on. I found online learning difficult at the beginning as I was easily distracted but as the semester went on I got the hang of it. I do miss the social aspects of university such as going to lectures and interacting face to face, so I am hoping things return to normal soon.

Introduction- Alix

Hi! My name is Alix and I’m from Bellshill which is in North Lanarkshire. I’m currently thinking of focusing my dissertation on a specific part of the Second World war, but last semester I completed a module on Africa and that has swayed my thoughts as I found it very interesting, so I am looking at online material to see what I have more access to and hopefully that will make up my mind! At the start of online learning I found it very difficult and tricky due to circumstances like technology sometimes getting in the way but I am now getting the hang of it!

Alex Patterson Introduction

Hi folks, my name is Alex and I live just outside Crieff, about 20mins from Perth. I am originally from Templepatrick, just outside Belfast in Northern Ireland.

I am currently looking at a dissertation linking the work, actions and legacy of William Wallace with the work and actions of Robert the Bruce in bringing about Scottish Independence in 1320. I intend to look at the experiences of Wallace and Bruce in key events such as the Battles of Stirling, Falkirk and Bannockburn and how they led to the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.

Learning online has been a bit of experience, but as last semester progressed I  became more comfortable being on camera for the seminars. The only issue I have to contend with is the fact, on a good day, I get 1.5mbps Wi-Fi speed which can make contributing in seminars difficult if other people are using the Wi-Fi at home.

Hello

Hello everyone, My names is James Clinton. I am from Cumbernauld which is just outside Glasgow. The thought of writing a dissertation is giving me anxiety already. I have a few different interests within different time periods. For the most part these involve Royal History.  My Thoughts so far involve Anglo-Scottish relations between the Stewarts and the Tudors in the sixteenth century. I am also interested in the relationship that evolved between Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I – Having done some independent research over the summer. Another topic that interests me is the seventeenth century – The English Civil  war and the changing attitudes towards the monarchy. I have found online learning a struggle in the autumn semester, mostly due to online reading. I prefer to read a book not through a screen.

Joanne Gilvear – Introduction

Hi I’m Joanne and I live at home in Stirling. I am leaning towards either race or gender history for my dissertation topic similar to Emily, I am still trying to decide between the two. Online learning for me has been a challenge as I find the atmosphere of campus much more motivating than home. However, I have adjusted and made myself a study area which has been working well.

Nadia Burnett

Hello everyone! My name is Nadia, I am from Fife and currently live in Stirling. Like Emily and Eilidh I have also been extremely torn on what sort of heritage or history dissertation to do. For now I have decided to base my dissertation on Early Modern Scottish History. So far I have had a very good experience with online learning. I do however miss attending lectures and being able to speak face to face in seminar’s but have my fingers crossed for next semester!