History 301

Introduction to Historical Research Methods

 Dr. Marybeth Carlson (office: HM 447 / phone: 229-3380)
Office Hours: MF 12-1, W 2-3 and by appointment
E-mail: Marybeth.Carlson@notes.udayton.edu

Evaluation Components

Updated Assignment Schedule  NOTE: Printed copies of the Response Papers and drafts of the historiographical essays must be submitted on the dates below.  Solve your printer problems already.  If you cannot bring the required printed material to class, bring a drop slip.  No, we do not offer HST 301 during the summer.
Week Eight (Oct 6-8)
Mon -- Learning to Make Your Case
  • Presentation Two: Five minute analysis of major historians associated with one interpretation of topic followed by five minutes of discussion and questions 
Wed -- Escapes from the Tower (Note that any student who has already missed a class or a meeting may not miss this one, no matter the circumstances, excepting only the hospitalization of a parent or sibling.)
  • If necessary, presentations will continue at the beginning of this meeting.  If time permits, we will discuss Arnold, chapter four.  Please see the Response Paper assignments at the end of this schedule.
Week Nine (Oct 13-15)
Mon -- Meetings with the Instructor.  Students should be able to discuss the theses of at least six readings from their current working bibliography.

Wed -- Questions of Sources and Questions of Approach

  • Read: Arnold, chapters four (if not discussed on October 8) and five.  Please see the Response Paper assignments at the end of this schedule.
Week Ten (Oct 20-22)
Mon -- The Art and Science of Persuasion
  • Presentation Three: Five minute analysis of major historians associated with one interpretation of topic followed by five minutes of discussion and questions 
Wed -- Telling Stories, Telling Tales
  • If necessary, presentations will continue at the beginning of this meeting.  If time permits, we will discuss Arnold, chapter six.  Please see the Response Paper assignments at the end of this schedule. 
Week Eleven (Oct 27-29)

Mon -- Social History and Its Discontents

  • Bring three copies of first drafts of historiographical essays to class.  If for any reason a student will miss this class, he or she MUST email me a copy of his or her first draft before 2:30pm on Monday, October 27.  All other students must bring three printed copies to class.  No student who has already missed a class or a meeting may miss this meeting.
  • Read: Arnold, chapters six (if not discussed on October 22). and seven. Please see the Response Paper assignments at the end of this schedule.
Wed -- In-class workshop on first drafts of historiographical essays. Due to the fact that students in this class are depending on each other to critique their papers, no student may miss this workshop, no matter the circumstances, excepting only the hospitalization of a parent or sibling.
  • Note: Turn in a copy of the final bibliography for your historiographical essay today. 
Week Twelve (Nov 3-5)
Mon -- Papers are Nearing Completion!
  • Bring three copies of the second draft of historiographical essays to class. If for any reason a student will miss this class, he or she MUST email me a copy of his or her first draft before 2:30pm on Monday, November 3.  All other students must bring three printed copies to class.  No student who has already missed a class or a meeting may miss this meeting.
  • Also due: November 3 Response Paper.
  • If discussions of Arnold's book have been completed, then optional meetings with the instructor will be scheduled for today.
Wed -- In-class workshop on second drafts of historiographical essays. Due to the fact that students in this class are depending on each other to critique their papers, no student may miss this workshop, no matter the circumstances, excepting only the hospitalization of a parent or sibling.
 
Week Thirteen (Nov 10-12)
Mon -- One Final Chance for Proofreading!
  • Due: November 10 Response Paper
  • Optional meetings with instructor will be scheduled for today.
Wed -- Historiographical Essays Due. Digital versions should be uploaded to www.turnitin.com by 4:30.
Week Fourteen (Nov 17-19)
Mon -- The Historian's Toolbox: Primary Sources
  • Assignment to be announced
Wed -- Adventures in Primary Sources (meet at University Archives, 208 Albert Emmanuel Hall)
Week Fifteen (Nov 24; no class Nov 26)
Mon -- Further Adventures in Primary Sources
  • Read: Nicholson Baker.  Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008), sections 1-10.  Please see the Response Paper assignments at the end of this schedule. 
Week Sixteen  (Dec 1-3)
Mon -- Yet More Adventures in Primary Sources
  • Read: Baker, sections 11-20. Please see the Response Paper assignments at the end of this schedule.
Wed -- Given the Evidence, Do You Buy His Argument about "The Good War"?
  • Read: Baker, sections 21-31. Please see the Response Paper assignments at the end of this schedule. 
Week Seventeen (Dec 10)
Wed -- Wrap up of course themes, Evaluations, Post-test
Finals:  Portfolio due during the finals meeting; final exam schedule is Online

Response Paper Assignments
What are response papers?  The response papers are designed to orient your thoughts toward the course’s content and provide a written basis for a discussion of the readings.  They are also designed to tune your mind to examine historical issues in a critical manner.  You will be responding to the questions that accompany each reading assignment in the syllabus.  Here are the ground rules for this assignment.

1. I will NOT accept make-ups or late submissions of this assignment.

2. There will be nine of these assignments throughout the course of the semester.  Eight of the nine must appear in your portfolio in order to receive credit for this assignment.

3. Initially, I will grade this assignment pass/fail.  Papers which contain more than two errors in spelling or grammar will automatically be graded "fail."  When you submit your portfolio at the end of the semester you will select your two best response papers for a letter grade.  You will indicate which two response papers you wish to have graded by placing them at the beginning of this section of your portfolio.

4. Your paper should be approximately 500 words in length (i.e., two double-spaced pages, twelve-point font, one inch margins).

5. Make sure that your response paper answers the question which appears on the syllabus.  Do not simply summarize the reading.  I and your other professors are confident that you have mastered the skill of summarizing by this time.  You must answer the question which appears on the syllabus to pass the assignment.