HISTORY 6685: SPECIAL PROBLEMS
GRADUATE SEMINAR
“TO KINGDOMS STRANGE”:
NON-EUROPEAN WORLD IN THE AGE OF DISCOVERY
3 Credit Hours
SUMMER 2006 DR. R. LOVE
Seminar Meetings: Thurs.,
2:00 – 4:45 pm., TELC 3-205.
Office
Hours: TELC 3-217, Tues.-Thurs.,
1:00 - 2:00 pm, and by appointment.
Telephone: (678)
839-6039
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Tacitus, The Agricola and the
Polo,
The Travels
Pigafetta, Magellan’s Voyage
Cabeza de Vaca, Adventures in
the Unknown Interior of America
Harriot, Report of the New Found
Recommended
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:
History 6685, Special
Problems, is an unspecified graduate course, the purpose of which is to involve
students at the Masters level in special discussions, research and readings on
topics not regularly taught in the department.
The particular area or time period covered by the course and the course
materials is left to the discretion of the individual instructor. At the same time, however, the subject matter
or theme of the course is defined broadly enough to allow graduate students
from a wide spectrum of fields to apply their knowledge, research and writing
skills in various new ways that will culminate in a final research project and
permit them to explore a different facet of their chosen field in order to
broaden their intellectual horizons.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are three principal dimensions to the
course:
1. The introduction of graduate students to the close
analysis of a specific genre of printed primary sources that opens an essential
doorway into the past, by means of focusing on several European accounts of
encounters with the non-European world.
From these sources, much can be learned about the Age of Discovery and
imperial ventures with respect to the mentalities not just of those observed,
but also of those observing.
2. The introduction of graduate students to the
fundamental process of sharing ideas and developing interpretations based upon
sources that are often ambiguous in meaning to arrive at a deeper understanding
and appreciation of contemporary authors from their perspective, as opposed to
the modern one. Because an instructor
merely guides the class, acts as moderator and a source of additional
information and expertise, the students are responsible for initiating and
maintaining the discussion. Each member
of the class thus contributes to the discussions based on the readings. Ultimately, and ideally, instructor and
students alike benefit from the experience, but especially the students who
acquire the self-confidence to present their views before their peers, in
addition to a body of interpretive skills essential to historical research and
synthesis.
3. The introduction of graduate students to the
refinement of interpretive and research skills via the close scrutiny of a
unique form of historical source material.
History 6685 focuses upon the contacts between the western and
non-western worlds, beginning with an exploration of early European travel
literature from ancient through early modern times, authored by explorers,
merchants, diplomats and adventurers who encountered new societies and peoples
both unfamiliar to, and widely different from, their own culture. A competent historian should be able to read
these works with understanding, both as to what they say about the civilization
described and what they reveal about the mentality of the author who does the
describing. Through reading such
sources, the historian is introduced to the world through contemporary eyes,
which saw the globe in very different ways and some remarkably similar ways to
our own perceptions. Through analyzing
these works, as well as investigating their historical significance, students
in this course should gain a better appreciation of the craft of History.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
THIS IS NOT A LECTURE COURSE. In the
beginning, class time will consist of discussion of the assigned readings,
which may be preceded by short quizzes based on the content of those readings
at the instructor’s discretion. Any
quizzes that may be given will influence the final grade. There will be no make-up exams for missed
quizzes. Approximately mid-term, class
discussions will focus on the students’ research for their major essays,
including methods, interpretation of texts, difficulties, etc. This
will be the core of the course.
ATTENDANCE IS EXPECTED. Two unexcused
absences will result in the forfeiture of 10% from the students’ final
grade. Three or more unexcused absences
will cost a further 10%. Students are
also expected to meet assigned deadlines.
PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED. This includes
oral preparation and discussion, as well as various writing activities during
the course. Hence, students are expected
to be in class, on time and fully prepared.
Students are expected to share their views, exchange ideas with their
classmates and even engage in debate. In
other words, leave your feelings of embarrassment and shyness at the door!
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Final
Research Project 60%
Class
Presentations 20%
Total 100%
Research Paper: This will be a
standard research essay based upon the general theme of the class, chosen in
consultation with the professor. The
range of selection is almost limitless, however. Students do
not have to confine themselves to the Age of Discovery, but can examine the
accounts of medieval travelers to
Mechanics: The Chicago Manual of Style is the
official style manual of the History Department and must be consulted for
stylistic forms. The research paper is
expected to be 15-25 pages in length, and it will be due in class on Thursday, 20 July. Numerous mechanical errors and
general sloppiness resulting especially from the lack of proof-reading will
lower the grade for the paper, as much as flawed research or faulty reasoning
will. Students are also encouraged
to make two copies of their paper: one
for the instructor and one for themselves in the event of loss. Periodically, students will also be required
from time to time to provide preliminary drafts of their work for their
classmates for discussion in the seminar.
A Word About Deadlines: Most of the
value of the preparation of an essay is lost if there is not time for careful
criticism and consideration of the criticism before the next written assignment
is due. Hence, students should strive to
submit their essays on due date. Such
papers will receive a thorough written
critique with marginal comments. Late papers, on the other hand, will
have an automatic extension of one week without penalty to the grade, but they
will be returned with a mark only, minus marginal comments and a critique. Finally, any papers submitted after the
extended deadline will lose a full
grade. NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER
THE LAST DAY OF CLASS AT THE END OF THE TERM.
BETWEEN ME AND THEE: My office door
is open to students. If you want to chat
about the course, please do. If you want
to drop in just to chat, do that also.
Above all, should you have any difficulties in understanding the course material, whether from the readings or the lectures, see
me! If you are having problems, it is
best to get a drop on them early instead of when it becomes too late.
GOOD LUCK! AND ENJOY THE CLASS
CLASS
SCHEDULE: The following is a rough schedule for class
discussions and assignments, though it may vary according to student interests
and student needs. The first part of the
course will be devoted to class discussions of the assigned texts; the second
part of the course will focus on the presentation and discussion of the
students’ research projects as these projects develop. Because the summer session is short, the pace
of reading, research and writing must be swift, so it is important that students
endeavor to work steadily.
Tues., 6 June: Brief introduction to the
class and “business” matters.
Thurs. 8 June: No Class; students should use this
time to begin reading Tacitus and Polo, as well as to consider what subject or
what geographic area and epoch they wish to pursue for their research projects.
Tues., 13 June: Class discussion of Tacitus; also,
preliminary discussion of student research projects.
Thurs., 15 June: Complete discussion of Tacitus and
begin discussion of Polo. (Students
should begin to read Pigafetta, while starting the
research for their projects.)
Tues., 20 June: Complete
discussion of Polo. Students will submit
a brief written abstract of their research project.
Thurs., 22 June: Class discussion of Pigafetta. (Students should begin to read Cabeza de Vaca.)
Tues., 27 June: Class discussion of Cabeza de Vaca. Students will submit a preliminary
bibliography for their research projects.
(Students should also begin to read Harriot.)
Thurs., 29 June: Class
discussion of Harriot.
Tues., 4 July: No Class.
Thurs., 6 July: No Class. (Students are expected to use this time to
advance the research on their projects.)
Tues., 11 July: Discussion of mechanical and
stylistic matters related to the students’ research projects, as well as
challenges encountered in the research and writing process.
Thurs. 13 July: Discussion of the introductions and
early portions of the preliminary drafts of the students’ research projects.
Tues., 18 July: Continuing discussion of the early drafts of the students’
research projects.
Thurs., 20 July: Student
presentations on their research projects.
Tues., 25 July: Student presentations on their research projects.