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History & The Arts
An introduction to music theory
Gain an understanding of the basic building blocks of musical theory and notation. This free course, An introduction to music theory, will introduce you to music staves, clefs, rhythmic and pitch values, rhythmic metre and time signatures. This OpenLearn course provides an introduction to music theory pitched at a level equivalent to Grades 1–3 ...
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History & The Arts
War Memorials
Learn the secrets of the past, revealed by clues on the high streets of today
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History & The Arts
Classical studies: it's more than the words
When thinking about ancient literature and historiography, we need to consider more than just the words written, but the aims of the author, role of the translator, political and cultural issues of the time of writing as well as the period in history.
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History & The Arts
Understanding Classical terms
Anyone reading and writing about the Classical world needs to make various choices concerning consistency in defining dates, spelling and use of names. Here’s some guidance from the OU 219 Course Team.
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level 2: intermediate icon
History & The Arts
Introduction to law in Wales
This free course, Introduction to law in Wales, gives a brief overview of the legal history in Wales from the 12th century, followed by an overview of devolution and referendums, the law making powers of the Welsh Assembly and the possible future for legal Wales.
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level 2: intermediate icon
History & The Arts
Introducing Virgil’s Aeneid
This free course offers an introduction to the Aeneid. Virgil’s Latin epic, written in the 1st century BCE, tells the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas and his journey to Italy, where he would become the ancestor of the Romans. Here, you will focus on the characterisation of this legendary hero, and learn why he was so important to the Romans of ...
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level 3: advanced icon
History & The Arts
Creative writing and critical reading
This free course, Creative writing and critical reading, explores the importance of reading as part of a creative writer’s development at the postgraduate level. You will gain inspiration and ideas from examining other writers’ methods, as well as enhancing your critical reading skills. Examples will cover the genres of fiction, creative ...
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History & The Arts
Ten commandments of research
Historical research is endlessly fascinating, occasionally frustrating and totally absorbing. Here are ten commandments to get you started. You should also be warned that it is often totally addictive!
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Health, Sports & Psychology
A reader's guide to Cold Comfort Farm
Something nasty in the woodshed, but there's something wonderful in Gibbon's novel.
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History & The Arts
The Italian Patient: Health care in Renaissance Italy
Were Renaissance hospitals hell-holes? John Henderson finds similarities to today's health care, and Katherine Park shows that autopsies were often performed.
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History & The Arts
What is the difference between distributive and commutative justice: A one minute guide
What are distributive and commutative justice? What do the terms mean, and how are they different? We've got a really simple guide...
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History & The Arts
The Partition of British India: Timeline
Track the key events during British colonial rule leading to the emergence of the independent nation-states of India and Pakistan in 1947.