History 398
Introduction to Historical
Thought and Methodology
Monday-Wednesday, 10:30-12:18, Dulles Hall 012
The Ohio State University
Winter Quarter 2005
Professor Jennifer Siegel
220 Dulles Hall
2-0314
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/siegel83/
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2:00-3:30 p.m., or by appointment
This course will introduce history majors to the practices, methodology, and techniques of historians. During the course of this quarter, we will examine what kinds of sources historians use, and how they use them. We will discuss what kinds of questions historians ask, and how these questions ultimately impact the answers that are obtained. Under the thematic umbrella of European imperialism, will examine a number of historical events through both secondary literature and primary sources and compare the existing scholarship with our own assessment of the primary sources. And we will read, discuss, and watch examples from a number of different forms of output for historical scholarship, including articles, biographies, historical fiction, historical movies, and scholarly monographs.
This course requires the active participation of each and every student, and will be conducted as a workshop and discussion class. The course will provide students the opportunity to develop their reading, writing, oral presentation, and analytical skills. Special emphasis will be placed on the tools and rules of scholarship, such as proper use and format of citations, how to use library and computer resources, how to write a pr残is, the art of writing reviews, and the principles and practices of writing historical essays.
Course
Requirements:
Late work will not be accepted without prior agreement of instructor. Failure to complete any one requirement will result in automatic failure of the course.
､ Attendance:
You are required to attend the weekly lectures and be responsible for the
material covered in them. Please come to class on time so that you do not
cause unnecessary disruption for your fellow classmates. Please also do
not leave class before the class is dismissed. Attendance will be taken. If you miss more than two sessions over the course of the
quarter, your final grade will be dropped 1/3 of a letter grade for each
additional day missed. More than
five total absences will result in automatic failure of the course. The only exceptions to this policy will
be made for medical or legal emergencies.
In accordance with departmental policy, the student will be expected to
present proof of the emergency, such as an official statement from the
University Medical Center.
､ Active participation in in-class discussions covering the readings and assignments. This course is designed as a discussion seminar, and our sessions will consist primarily of discussions concerning the readings and the homework assignments. Your participation grade will be based on attendance, quizzes, in-class writing assignments, and regular informed contributions to class discussion. (60 points)
､ Short essay: Write a short essay following instructions given in Furay and Salevouris, Chapter 1, ﾒThe Uses of History,ﾓ Set B, Exercise 2. (10 points) due 24 January
､ Pr残is: The pr残is is a summary of the authorﾕs
main points and arguments in his/her own words. Identify the work you
are summarizing (with the correct citation format), and (in approximately 250
words) to set out an organized essay that explains the authorﾕs argument and
reasoning. (10 points) due 28
February
､ Group
presentations: You will be
divided into three groups. Each
group will be responsible for leading the discussion of the sessionﾕs assigned
readings, offering questions to the class for discussion and presenting the
articles in question. (10 points)
､ Reading
response: You will write a
brief, 1-2 page reading response to Natalie Zemon Davisﾕs The Return of
Martin Guerre. This is not a formal book review. Rather, it is a more personal presentation of your reaction
to and thoughts about this book.
(15 points) due 7 February
､ Critical
book review of Bernard Porterﾕs The Lionﾕs Share: Write a 2-3 page review of the book. Your review must set out the authorﾕs
argument, establish how the author makes the argument, what sources he uses,
and what the significance of the book is (or isnﾕt). You should also include your own perceptions of the bookﾕs
strengths and weaknesses. (20 points) due 21 February
､ OSU
Historian Interview:
Choose an assistant, an associate, or a full professor who teaches on
the Columbus campus. Conduct an
interview of that historian in which you discuss the historianﾕs background,
their interest in history, how they came to their chosen field, what they are
working on right now, what kinds of things they would like to work on in the
future, what their methods are, what kinds of sources they use, what they think is most important about
their work, etc.. Prepare a 10
minute presentation, to be presented in class, (10 points) due 21 February
､ Film
review: Write a 2-3 page film
review of ﾒKhartoum,ﾓ incorporating lessons learned from Chapter 8 of Furay and
Salevouris. (15 points) due 7 March
､ library assignment: After our meeting with the librarian, I will assign a short library project for you to undertake. (10 points) 31 January
､ Final
Paper Assignment: Design an exhibit and write an
accompanying 3-5 page prospectus that examines your topic. Select a particular
topic, person, ethnic group, or organization that you want to research. Collect
written and visual documents about your subject. Create an exhibit that presents your findings in an
educational, analytical, and entertaining fashion. You will not have to
write the paper itself. Instead,
you are to write a 3 page description of your project, outlining what
you would argue if you were to write this paper and how you would go about so
doing.
Topic 1/12 (5 points)
Primary Sources 2/14 (15 points)
Preliminary findings discussion 2/16 (5 points)
Annotated Bibliography 2/23 (15 points)
Poster Presentations 3/7 and 3/9 (20 points)
Final Findings 3/12 by 4:00 pm (25 points)
､ Grade
complaints must be made in writing and only after 24 hours have passed after
grades are distributed.
､ Academic
dishonesty: Papers and exams must represent the work of the student
alone. Plagiarism or cheating will result in a failing grade on the
assignment and other penalties determined by university regulations.
Students are encouraged to consult with the professor if they are uncertain
about the proper use of sources.
､ In
accordance with departmental policy, all students must be officially enrolled
in the course by the end of the second full week of the quarter. No
requests to add the course will be approved by the department chair after that
time. Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of
each student.
､ Please
turn off cell-phones at the beginning of class.
*All students
with disabilities who need accommodations should see me privately during my
office hours to make arrangements. Please do so by the third week of
class.*
Readings
available for Purchase:
All readings for purchase available at SBX and on reserve in the Main Library
Davis, Natalie Zemon. The Return of Martin Guerre. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1983.
Furay, Conal and Michael J. Salevouris. The Methods and Skills of History,
2nd edition. Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson, Inc., 2000.
Porter, Bernard.
The Lionﾕs Share: A
Short History of British Imperialism 1850-1995. New York:
Addison Wesley Longman, 1996.
Rampolla, Mary Lynn.
A Pocket Guide to Writing in History. New York:
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2004.
Course Sessions and Readings:
Week I:
3 JanuaryﾑIntroduction
5 JanuaryﾑWhy Study History
Assignment:
Bring one piece of evidence to class that says something about your personal or family history. Be sure that it is something you are willing to share with the class.
Reading:
Rampolla, chapter 1, ﾒWhy Study Historyﾓ
Winks, Robin W, ed.. Introduction to The Historian As Detective. New York, Harper Torchbooks, 1968, pp. xiii-xxiv. [handout]
In class:
Furay and Salevouris, Chapter 1, ﾒThe Uses of History,ﾓ Set A, Exercise 1 and Set B, Exercise 1.
Week II:
10 JanuaryﾑIn-class Film, ﾒAraratﾓ
12 JanuaryﾑWhat is a Source?
Reading:
Rampolla, chapter 2, ﾒEvaluating Sourcesﾓ
Becker,
Carl. ﾒEveryman His Own
Historian.ﾓ The American Historical Review, Vol. 37, No. 2. (Jan., 1932), pp. 221-236. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-8762%28193201%2937%3A2%3C221%3AEHOH%3E2.0.CO%3B2-O
Excerpt from C. Vann Woodward, American Attitudes Toward History (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1955), pp. 1-20, in Winks, pp. 24-38. [handout]
In
class:
Discussion of
Ararat
Furay and
Salevouris, Chapter 2, ﾒThe Nature of History: History as Reconstruction,ﾓ Set
B, Exercises 1, 2 and 3.
Group I Presentation of assigned articles and questions for discussion.
Assignment Due:
Paper Topic DueﾑTwo to three sentences on what you plan to explore in your paper.
Week III:
17 JanuaryﾑNo Class, Martin Luther King Day
19 Januaryﾑ Primary Sources vs. Secondary Literature
Reading:
Porter, pp. i-118.
In
class:
Furay and Salevouris, Chapter 9, ﾒEvidence,ﾓ Set B, Exercises 1, 2 and 3.
Primary Source vs. Secondary Literature Exercise.
Week IV:
24 JanuaryﾑLibrary Session with David Lincove
Reading:
Furay and Salevouris, pp. 79-85.
Rampolla, Chapter 3, ﾒApproaching Typical Assignments in History.ﾓ
[Recommended reading: Get a head start on the future Porter assignments; thereﾕs a lot coming up.]
Assignment Due:
Short EssayﾑFuray and Salevouris, Chapter 1, ﾒThe Uses of History,ﾓ Set B, Exercise 2. [Essay must be typed, and at the very least, more than one page long. Follow the guidelines for paper writing outlined at the end of the syllabus.]
In Class:
Furay and Salevouris, Chapter 6, ﾒLibraries: Real and Virtual,ﾓ Set B, Exercise 4.
26 Januaryﾑ Citations and Avoiding Plagiarism
Reading:
Davis, 1-61.
Rampolla, chapter 6, ﾒPlagiarism: What It Is and How to Avoid It,ﾓ and chapter 7, ﾒQuoting and Documenting Sources.ﾓ
In class:
Workshop on Citations and Avoiding Plagiarism
Week V:
31 Januaryﾑ Library Activity
Reading:
Davis, pp. 62-end.
2 Februaryﾑ The Return of ﾒThe Return of Martin Guerreﾓ
Reading:
Finlay, Robert. ﾒThe Refashioning of Martin Guerre.ﾓ The American Historical Review, Vol. 93, No. 3. (June, 1988), pp. 553-571. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-8762%28198806%2993%3A3%3C553%3ATROMG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-R
Davis, Natalie Zemon. "ﾕOn the Lame.ﾕ" The American Historical Review, Vol. 93, No. 3. (June, 1988), pp. 572-603. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-8762%28198806%2993%3A3%3C572%3A%22TL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-A
Furay and Salevouris, pp. 111-12.
In
class:
Furay and Salevouris, Chapter 11, ﾒInterpretation,ﾓ Set B, Exercises 1, 2 and 4.
Group II Presentation of assigned articles and questions for discussion.
Week VI:
7 Februaryﾑ In-class film, ﾒThe Return of Martin Guerreﾓ
Assignment
Due:
Two page reading response to The Return of Martin Guerre.
9 FebruaryﾑReading Monographs
Reading:
Furay and Salevouris, pp. 105-110.
Porter, 119-238.
In
class:
Furay and
Salevouris, Chapter 7, ﾒReading History,ﾓ Set A, Exercise 1, and Set B, Exercise 1.
Week VII:
14 Februaryﾑ Writing a Book Review
Reading:
Porter, 239-307.
In
class:
We will read and discuss a number of reviews of The Lionﾕs Share, preparing to write reviews due 21 February.
Assignment Due:
Primary Sources DueﾑSubmit a list of at least three primary sources that you would use to write your paper.
16 FebruaryﾑWriting a Book, Writing a Paper
Reading:
Porter, 308-374.
Assignment
Due:
Preliminary Findings PresentationﾑBrief in-class discussion of your questions and methods for your final paper.
In
class:
Furay and
Salevouris, Chapter 12, ﾒThe History Paper,ﾓ Set B, Exercises 1-6.
Week VIII:
21 Februaryﾑ Presentations on
Interviews of OSU Historians
Assignment
Due:
Book review of The Lionﾕs Share.
23 Februaryﾑ Scholarly Articles and Historical Comparison
Reading (be sure to read these articles in this order):
OﾕBrien,
Patrick K. ﾒThe Costs and Benefits
of British Imperialism 1846-1914.ﾓ
Past and Present, No. 120. (Aug., 1988), pp. 163-200. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0031-2746%28198808%290%3A120%3C163%3ATCABOB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Q
Kennedy, Paul. ﾒThe Costs and Benefits of British Imperialism
1846-1914.ﾓ Past and Present, No. 125.
(Nov., 1989), pp. 186-192. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0031-2746%28198911%290%3A125%3C186%3ATCABOB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-F
OﾕBrien,
Patrick K. ﾒThe Costs and Benefits of British Imperialism 1846-1914.ﾓ Past and Present, No. 125.
(Nov., 1989), pp. 192-199. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0031-2746%28198911%290%3A125%3C192%3ATCABOB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-G
In Class:
Why do historians differ? Debate and discussion of Kennedy, OﾕBrien, and Porter.
Group III Presentation of assigned article and questions for discussion.
Assignment
Due:
Annotated
Bibliography DueﾑOutlined in Final Paper Instructions
Week IX:
28 Februaryﾑ Biography and HistoryﾑLast Days of General Gordon
Reading:
Strachey, Lytton. ﾒThe End of General Gordon,ﾓ in Eminent Victorians (London: Penguin Books, 1986), pp. 189-267. [on-line reserve]
Assignment
Due:
Pr残is of OﾕBrien (August 1988) article.
In class:
Discussion
of biography and history.
Discussion
of popular history.
2 Marchﾑ In-Class Film, ﾒKhartoumﾓ
Reading:
Furay and Salevouris, pp. 131-140.
Week X:
7 Marchﾑ Poster Presentations
Assignment Due:
Poster Presentations of research
project.
Film review of Khartoum,
incorporating lessons learned from Chapter 8 of Furay and Salevouris.
In class:
Discussion
of historical films.
9 MarchﾑPoster Presentations
Assignment Due:
Poster Presentations of research project.
12 MarchﾑFinal Paper/Prospectus due to my office (Dulles
Hall 220) by 4 pm.
Instructions
for the pr残is
1. A pr残is is a summary of the authorﾕs main points, arguments, and conclusions put into your own words. It should be organized to reflect the authorﾕs most important arguments and the reasoning behind those arguments. This is a difficult assignment to write because it must be so short! Eliminate all unnecessary words (adjectives, adverbs, passive constructions) and less significant points.
2. Your pr残is should be one typed page and double spaced, with an approximate length of 250-500 words. Use type no smaller than 12 point. Do keep a copy of your pr残is and everything else you submit.
Your pr残is will be graded on clarity, grammar, and the understanding you exhibit of the article being summarized.
History 398
Introduction to Historical
Thought and Methodology
FINAL PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Winter 2005
Final Paper Assignment - The Process of Writing a Paper
Over the next ten weeks, we will discuss the benefits of studying history and we will consider a variety of approaches to different historical subjects. We will ask: What sources are available to us when examining a particular event? What kinds of approaches should we utilize in our analyses?
For your final assignment, you will be asked to go about the process of preparing for a research paper. You will not have to write the research paper itself! Instead, you are to write a 3-5 page paper outlining what you would argue if you were to write this paper and how you would go about doing so.
Choosing a Paper Topic
While this often seems easy, choosing a paper-topic is not. You need to narrow in on a topic that is manageable, and could be sufficiently covered in a 15-20 page paper. For example, while you might think that it would be interesting to write about the Vietnam war (and you would, of course, be right), you can not possibly tackle the topic in one quarter. Instead, you will want to think about narrowing down your topic of interest. What interests you about the Vietnam War? Its representation in film during the 1990s? The way it is studies in college curricula? The Anti-War movement at OSU?
Your topic must rely in some way on PRIMARY sources as well as SECONDARY sources.
You need to choose your topic by
12 January.
For assistance in thinking through this process, you may want to refer to Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History.
Research
Once you choose your topic, you may need to narrow it down even more. In order to think through your topic well, you must take advantage of our library and its collections. To help you use the library better, we will be meeting with the director of the library that houses the history collection, David Lincove, on 24 January.
As you conduct your research, you will want to think about:
(1) your objective: what is the purpose of your project? What do you hope to prove? What do you think you will find and why? What questions do you intend to ask of your sources?
(2) your source base: what sources will you be looking at? Are they primarily primary sources? Secondary sources? Where are they located? Are there pitfalls at looking at these sources only? What do you think you will discover when looking at them?
(3) your methodology: how would you describe your approach? Top-down? Bottom-up? Cultural? Intellectual? Social? Quantitative? What made you choose this approach?
You must submit 3 primary sources concerning your topic in class on or before 14 February.
Preliminary Analysis
First, you singled out your sources, an approach, and an objective. Now it is time for us to discuss what your analysis (or argument) might be. On 16 February, please be prepared to briefly discuss what your paper will argue and how it will go about doing so. In addition, set out what questions you have at this point. What problems have you encountered?
Secondary Sources
Your paper will rely on secondary
sources as well. Please submit a
bibliography of 4-5 works of secondary literature that you will be using in
your study, with brief annotations outlining what the work covers, why you feel
it will contribute to your study, and what. Due 23 February.
Poster Presentations
How can you best present your
material to your classmates? Please
create a poster presentation of your project ﾐ pretend that you were crafting a
museum exhibit. What points would
you wish to get across? What
design would you choose? Why? You will be graded both on your poster
and n the questions you pose to others.
Poster Presentations in class, 7 and 9 March.
The Final Analysis
Now that you have presented your works to others and received their feedback, you will be ready to make your final analysis. Perhaps youﾕve read something or received a comment that has gotten you thinking in new directions? Did you overlook something? Read something new? You will not need to write a final paper setting out these thoughts, but you will need to write a final prospectus, which will establish your argument, methodology, sources, and possible contribution. We will look at other prospectuses to get a sense of their form.
Your prospectus is due Friday, 12 March by 4:00.
History 398
Introduction to Historical
Thought and Methodology
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR PAPERS AND WRITEN
ASSIGNMENTS
Winter 2005
All papers and assignments must be turned in at THE
BEGINNING OF CLASS on the day they are due, unless you are otherwise
instructed. Papers and assignments
that are submitted after the professor has begun teaching will be considered
late, with no exceptions. Late
work will be penalized one-third of a letter-grade per day. Electronic submissions will not be
allowed without the prior agreement
of the professor.
You will always be graded on your writing style and grammar as well as the content of your work. Be sure to proofread and edit thoroughly before turning in your assignments. Margins should not be smaller than one-inch. Fonts should be serif and 12 point. Lines must be double-spaced. Your pages must be numbered (no number on the first page of text) and for papers there must be a separate title page. Your paper must have a bibliography and footnotes, when appropriate, (not parenthetical citationsﾑif you do not know what this means, ask) and your citations must follow the Chicago Manual of Style, as outlined in A Pocket Guide to Writing in History. Guidelines for the use of the Chicago style can be seen at the following websites (the first is for notes, the second is for bibliographic entries):
http://gethelp.library.upenn.edu/PORT/Port7c.intextChHu.html
http://gethelp.library.upenn.edu/PORT/Port7c.bibliographicChSS.html
I urge you to always be extremely vigilant in crediting your sources. As The Ohio State University Code of Student Conduct outlines: ﾒPlagiarism is the representation of another's work or ideas as one's own; it includes the unacknowledged word-for-word use and/or paraphrasing of another person's work, and/or the inappropriate unacknowledged use of another person's ideas.ﾓ Plagiarism is considered to be academic misconduct, which will result in disciplinary action. Anything that is not an original idea, the product of original research, or common knowledge (such as ﾒWorld War I began in 1914ﾓ) needs documentation, including information that you have gleaned from your class notes.
The University Committee on Academic Misconduct has provided the following page, which contains numerous websites dealing with plagiarism and how to avoid it: