HIST 0600: History Research Seminar

FALL 2011

Febe Armanios

Paul Monod

Kathryn Morse

             The main goal of this seminar is to prepare you to pursue independent historical research and writing at a greater degree of depth than you are likely to have done before.  Each student will define a topic and pursue research and writing of a formal paper of 25-30 pages (including footnotes but not bibliography).  The paper will combine your own findings from research in primary and secondary sources with a discussion of the historiography of a particular topic, that is, what previous historians have written about it.

             One way to think of this course is as an experience in historical research and writing similar to riding a bicycle with the training wheels on.  We will exert influence over the kinds of topics and questions you pursue, and the kinds of sources you use in your research.  We will also make the final selection of your topic, once you have made three possible suggestions.  The goal of doing history with the training wheels on is to prepare you to write a senior thesis in history next year (or, if you are already a senior, next term).  The senior thesis will be a research and writing experience with the training wheels almost entirely off.  It will be a truly independent project.  The success of this semester’s project will still depend largely on your growing ability to read, research, and write independently of direction from professors.

             Each of us, as scholars and teachers, has particular areas of expertise in historical reading, research, and writing.  As a result, the topics we will suggest and the sources we know well will tend to cluster around those areas of expertise, and we expect that the topics that you propose will be appropriate for those areas of expertise.  We will offer direct and detailed guidance on the particular areas and topics we introduce in the early part of the semester.

             We will meet as scheduled, two times a week, for the first two weeks of the semester.  After that, we will split into three groups, each group assigned to one of the three professors.  We will meet less frequently after that, according to the schedule detailed below, to allow maximum time for research and writing.

Books:  We have asked you to purchase or have access to one book, Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History (6^th edition).  This book is available in the college book store, and is also on reserve in the Library.

Classroom Policies:  Please be on time to class.  If you need to leave early for a compelling reason, let us know in advance and leave the class as quietly as possible.  Please do not leave the classroom to use the bathroom or get a drink and then return.  Take enough time to prepare for class before the class begins.

E-mail policy:   Before you call or email any professor with a specific question about details of the course (or about anything), ask yourself this important question:  Is there any other way to gain this information or answer this question without asking a professor? The syllabus? A classmate? If so, use that other method!

The Honor Code:  The Honor Code is, of course, in effect for all work submitted in this class.  We will discuss researching and writing with academic integrity throughout the semester, particular with regard to plagiarism. 

Intercollegiate Athletics: If you are a member of a team whose schedule will require you to miss class, it is your responsibility to inform us of your schedule, what work you will miss, and how and when you intend to make up that work.  We do not regularly check sports schedules or know team departure times, so it is your job to present us with that information, well in advance of the absence itself.

             If at all possible, we would like to know at the beginning of the semester exactly when you will be gone, so as to head off any complications well in advance.

Grading & Late Penalty:  Grade will be determined by evidence of preparation for and willingness to contribute to the discussions, by preparation for one-on-one meetings with your professors, by your peer review of another person’s draft, by the submission of topics, prospectuses and drafts and by the final version of your own research paper.  Attendance at scheduled classes is mandatory, and you will be graded down for unexcused absences, or for failing to appear at an individual meeting.  We will take absences and missed deadlines into account in calculating final grades.

The final paper is due on Friday December 9, 2011 by 5:00pm. You will be penalized one third of a letter grade for each day (including weekends) that your papers are late (e.g., a B becomes a B-, a C+ becomes a C, etc., for each late day).

A Word on Sources:  You are expected to use primary sources where possible, and to take some care to insure the reliability of secondary sources.  Very general sources, such as encyclopedias, may be useful in the early stages of research by pointing you towards more specialized sources, but they are not suitable for citation.  Similar restrictions apply to “open source” resources, such as Wikipedia.  The History department has adopted a policy that Wikipedia is not an acceptable citation, even though it may lead one to a citable source.

Useful websites for historical researchers:

             Bowdoin College History Guide: 

http://academic.bowdoin.edu/WritingGuides/

             Univ. of Wisconsin Learning Historical Research:

http://www.williamcronon.net/researching/index.htm

Office Hours:

Prof. Armanios, Tues. 10:30-noon and 1:30-3:30; and by appointment (Axinn 340)

Prof. Monod, Mon. and Wed., 10-12; Thurs., 1:30-2:45; and by appointment (Axinn 330)

Prof. Morse, Tues. 9-10:45 (Hillcrest 119); Wed. 9-11; 1:30-2:30, (Axinn 240); and by appointment.

COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK 1: Topics and Disciplines

Mon. Sept. 12: Welcome to the class!

Wed. Sept. 14:  Introduction to Topics and Disciplines. Assigned readings for class discussion: Ussama Makdisi article & William D. Bryan article. Come prepared to discuss the topics, questions, and arguments of both articles.

Recommended Reading: Rampolla, chapter 1

WEEK 2: Topics and Disciplines

Mon. Sept. 19:  Introduction to Topics and Disciplines. Assigned Reading for class discussion: Anthony Pagden article.  Come prepared to discuss the topic, question, and argument of the article.

Wed. Sept 21: Bring to class for group discussion 3 proposed topics, with 3 summaries, each 3-4 sentences in length.  You should formulate one topic for each of the areas of expertise of the three professors teaching this course, based on the handouts from Week 1 and your further research.  We will make the final determination as to which topic each student will pursue for the final research paper.  Try to include topic and question, as well as an indication of which sources you anticipate using.

Recommended Reading:  Rampolla, chapter 2, chapter 3a-b, and chapter   5a-c.

Friday, Sept. 23: Due by 5 pm, emailed to all three professors:  Final statement of 3 topics with 3 summaries, each a separate paragraph of 3-4 sentences each.

Over the weekend:  we will email you with information about which group and professor you will meet with henceforth (and thus, which topic you will be writing on).

WEEK 3: Topics and Prospectus

Mon.  Sept. 26: Meet in groups: Professor Armanios (AXN 219), Professor Monod (CHT 109), Professor Morse (RAJ Conference Room).

Wed. Sept. 28: Library Sessions (details TBA by e-mail).

Friday, Sept. 30: Due by 5 pm, submit to your individual professor, Final Prospectus (2-3 pages, plus brief list of primary and secondary sources, for total of at least 4 pages ((based on your professor’s preference, by email or hard copy).

WEEK 4: Intense Research

Mon. Oct. 3: No class.  Intense research continues.

Wed. Oct. 5: No class.  Intense research continues.

Recommended Reading: Rampolla, Chapter 5 d-e

WEEK 5: Research and Writing

Mon. Oct 10: No class. Meet on your own with professors as needed Writing: submit to your individual professor THREE PAGES of writing featuring your primary sources (based on your professor’s preference, by email or hard copy).

Wed. Oct. 12: Meet in groups. Bring THREE COPIES of those THREE PAGES of writing featuring your primary sources.

WEEK 6: Research and Writing

Mon. Oct. 17: Reading:  Previous Middlebury junior history research papers as announced and assigned by individual professors (by email).  We will meet to discuss.

Wed. Oct 19:  No class. Meet on your own with professors as needed

Friday October 21, 5 pm: Writing:  Email your two writing partners TEN (new) pages of writing on primary sources; submit the same material to your professor (based on your professor’s preference, by email or hard copy).

WEEK 7: Research and Writing

Mon. Oct. 24: No Class.  (Fall Break)

Wed. Oct. 26: Meet in three groups with individual professors to discuss classmates’ drafts.

Recommended Reading: Rampolla, Chapter 6

WEEK 8: Research and Writing

Mon. Oct. 31: Meet in three groups with three individual professors.  Session on introductions, conclusions, and other difficult tasks! In class discussion of sample introductions and conclusions

Wed. Nov. 2: No Class. Meet on your own with professors as needed

WEEK 9: Research and Writing

Monday Nov. 7: By 5 pm, submit to your individual professor 5-7 pages additional (new) writing on either secondary or primary research (based on your professor’s preference, by e-mail or hard copy). 

Wed. Nov. 9: Meet in three groups with individual professors for peer writing critique of drafts emailed on Monday.

Recommended Reading: Rampolla, Chapter 7

WEEK 10: Research and Writing

Mon. Nov. 14: No Class. Meet on your own with professors as needed.

Wed. Nov. 16: Meet in three groups with three professors to discuss rewriting and rethinking arguments.

WEEK 11: Writing and Revising

Mon. Nov. 21: By 5 pm, submit to your individual professor a 25-page draft of your paper (based on your professor’s preference, by e-mail or hard copy). 

Wed. Nov. 23: No Class. Happy Thanksgiving!

WEEK 12: Writing and Revising

Mon. Nov. 28:  No Class. Meet on your own with professors as needed

Wed. Nov. 30:  Meet in three groups with three professors to discuss drafts and planning for final paper.

WEEK 13: Final Revisions

Mon. Dec. 5:  No formal meeting.  Meet with professors individually as needed.

Wed. Dec. 7:  No formal meeting.  Meet with professors individually as needed.

Fri. Dec. 9: Final papers due in hard copy at History Department conference room (Starr Axinn 336) by 5 pm.