History 6684 Fall
2007 Dr.
Thursdays: 5:30-8:00 P.M. Office: Cobb Hall
Class: TLC 3205 Phone: 678-839-6031
Office hrs: MWF 10:00-11:00, MW 2:00-4:00 TTH: 2-4
Prerequisite
for students: Admission to the M.A. Program
Historiography, or the historian’s
craft, is an introduction to the history of historical thought from its
emergence in the classical world to the present. The course will cover many of the major
historiographical schools and ideas that have developed over time. Students will study the tools and methods of
various historians, how they formulate hypotheses from gathering of
information, and how different historians write about the same era or subjects.
The course is required of all M.A. history graduates.
Class meetings: Students are expected to attend each class and to participate in the class discussions. More than two unexcused absences will result in a lower final grade. Please make sure that all cell phones, pagers, etc., are turned off before coming into the classroom.
Tests, Quizzes, etc.: There will be two tests covering the material in the reading assignments and class materials. Students with documented special needs must see me to make special arrangements for test taking and/or other needs.
Papers: There will be a research paper due for this class. The paper will be a twelve to fifteen-page research paper on a topic approved by the instructor. The instructor will distribute guidelines for the paper. The paper will be due 29 November 2007. No late papers will be accepted.
Reports: Students will prepare summaries and responses to two of the reading assignments during the term and will help lead a class discussion on those class days. Summaries and responses should be approximately two to three pages in length indicating the major ideas presented, examples to illustrate the thesis or chief ideas of the section, and the student’s critical response to the reading. A signup sheet will be circulated in class for these reports.
Class discussions: Part of your final grade will depend upon class participation. Students are expected to have read the material for the class period and will be expected to be prepared to discuss it. Often that will mean bringing the correct text to class.
This syllabus is subject to change, so please attend class to keep up with assignments.
Grading:
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The final grade for the course will consist of the following: |
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Research paper 40% |
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1st test 15% |
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2nd test 15% |
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Class participation and reports 30% |
|
100% |
Fischer, David H. Historians’ Fallacies.
Ginzburg, Carlo. The
Cheese and the
Linenthal, Edward T. and Tom Engelhardt, eds. History Wars: The Enola Gay and Other
Battles for the American Past.
Tosh, John. The Pursuit
of History: Aims, Methods and New Directions in the Study of Modern History.
4th ed.
August 16: Introduction, nature of course, review of syllabus
August 23: The Emergence of History as a discipline
August 30: Historical Methods
September 6: Writing and Interpretations
September 13: Historical Methods and the Challenge of Post-Modernism
September 20: Meaning and Oral History
Reading: John Tosh, Pursuit of History, chs. 10-Conclusion
September 27: First Hour Exam
October 4: Practicing History: A Case Study
October 11: No class Fall Break
October 18: Practicing History: A Case Study
October 25: Uses and Battles for the Past
Reading: Linenthal: History Wars, Introduction and chs. 1-3
November 1: Uses and Battles for the Past (con’d)
Reading: Linenthal: History Wars, Introduction and chs. 4-8
November 8: Discussion of Research and Paper Projects
November 15: Historians’ Fallacies
November 22: No
Class—Thanksgiving
November 29: Historian’s Fallacies
Paper Due
December 11: Second Examination—5:30-7:30 P.M.
[Tuesday]