I. Description

An overview of the basic skills and methods needed for the study of history. Topics will include library and archival research, historical writing, historiography and interpretation, use of the computer and quantitative analysis in history, and the professional opportunities for the history major. Students will complete a supervised research project as the Sophomore-Junior Diagnostic.

II. Purpose

This is a History Major Required course.

Objectives for the student:

1. Understand what constitutes historical scholarship, the nature and trends in historiography, interpretation, and historical theory.
2. Be familiar with professional opportunities for the graduates in history.
3. Know important historical trends, ideas, events, and personalities of our common heritage.  
4. Demonstrate competence in methods of historical research and the historical method.
5. Practice critical and analytical skills on historical problems, showing knowledge of how to use library, archival, oral and other source materials.
6. Understand the value of computer usage and quantitative analysis of historical data.
7. Formulate a thesis and present relevant historical data and arguments in proper written and oral form.

Goals for the student:

1. Improve understanding of major events which have influenced the modern world
2. Understand the influence of the past on contemporary events and problems, or, in other words, to develop "Historical Mindedness."  See <http://www.wethepeople.gov/newsroom/amnesia.html>.
3. Be and intelligent consumer and evaluator of information about events in the world.
4. Develop a global perspective which recognizes the political, economic and cultural interdependence of all nations.
5. Prepare for life in our contemporary society.
6. To manage information appropriate to the standards of historical scholarship.

General Learning Outcomes for the student:

In addition to the more content related objectives described above, this course has some general liberal learning goals. Successful completion of this course is expected to help improve your ability

1. To manage information, which involves sorting data, ranking data for significance, synthesizing facts, concepts and principles.
2. To understand and use organizing principles or key concepts against which miscellaneous data can be evaluated.
3. To differentiate between facts, opinions and inferences.
4. To frame questions in order to more clearly clarify a problem, topic or issue.
5. To compare and contrast the relative merits of opposing arguments and interpretations, moving between the main points of each position.
6. To organize your thoughts and communicate them clearly and concisely in a written form.
7. To obtain practice in selecting and presenting information and arguments within a restricted environment, especially the limitations of time in exams.

III. General Requirements

A. Textbooks:

Benjamin, Jules R. A Student's Guide to History. 11th ed. Boston and New York: Bedford/Saint Martin's, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0-312-53502-5. [See <http://bedfordstmartins.com/benjamin>.]  Listed in schedule as JRB.

Davidson, James West and Mark H Lytle. After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection. Combined 6th Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2010.  ISBN-13: 978-0-07-338548-8.  Listed in schedule as AtF.

Loewen, James W. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. Revised ed. New York: Simon and Shuster/Touchstone, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-9628-1.  Listed in schedule as Lies.

These books are intended both to provide you with important factual and background information and to be used as review and reference work. Before class, according to your printed class schedule, you should read the chapters or pages assigned. You are responsible for the material in the books for classroom activity.

It is highly recommended that you use other textbooks as reference works.

In your texts, you should prudently make notes in the margins or a notebook, underline key statements, highlight important passages, and/or annotate essential details. After class, regularly though the semester, you should review your class notes and compare them with the texts' versions of the material.  

The instructor will give quizzes to test your textbook reading and comprehension.  

B. Class Participation

Participation and attendance are necessary to achieve class goals and objectives. Thus a portion of your grade (about 25%) will depend on your in-class performance. You are required to attend each class, maintain proper classroom decorum, respond to questions, ask questions and participate in discussions and/or class projects.  For class discussions you may be asked to present a short oral report or lead a discussion.  Unexcused absences will substantially lower the class participation portion of your grade.

Absences due to college activities, emergency or extended illness may be excused by the appropriate college official.  Other absences are unexcused and will substantially lower the class participation portion of your grade.  After any absence, you are responsible for making up missed work, requesting hand-outs and already returned assignments, or borrowing notes from other students.  

All students who have a learning disability, physical handicap and/or any other possible impediment to class participation and requirements should schedule an appointment with the instructor within the first two weeks of classes to discuss available accommodations. 

If at some point during the semester you must discontinue the course, due to poor performance, illness or some other cause, be sure to follow proper administrative procedures for withdrawal.

C. Academic Honesty

Be aware of the academic honesty policy concerning cheating and plagiarism, and your moral, ethical and legal obligation only to submit work completed by you yourself.

D. Deadlines

Meeting due dates are an important aspect of school work.  You must turn in the assignment on the date required, in person, at the beginning of class.   The only exceptions are extended illness or medical emergency attested to by a physician's written note or the written statement by an appropriate college official.  Without an acceptable excuse, late papers/projects will receive zero points for that assignment, nevertheless you must turn in every assignment, even if late, before the last day of classes or receive an F for the course. Since this class is necessary for graduation with a history major, please be aware of possible consequences for failing to meet class requirements.

E. Exams and Quizzes

Throughout the semester you will have to take one major final exam and many quizzes. Testing will require knowledge from classwork, readings, general knowledge about current events, material you have learned as a history major, or the material of social studies. 
To study for these quizzes, you should read any assignments, pay attention in class, attend to daily news reports, but also review material learned over the years.
The final exam will be made up of questions related to methodology, major projects, minor projects, and general knowledge of history and the social sciences acquired from your studies in the Core. 

Much of this is meant to help secondary education double majors with the Social Studies PRAXIS exams.  For more on these exams, check the following web page: <http://www.ets.org/praxis/>.

For other information about the understanding of US history see:  The National Report Card <http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ushistory/>.

F. Written Assignments

Throughout the semester you will participate in various projects in class (to be announced) and have brief written assignments due as assigned, each worth from 10-20 points. 
For presentation guidelines of the assignments and the major project, see presentation guidelines (URL: <http://departments.kings.edu/history/presentation.html>). Citations/Bibliography must be in Turabian/Chicago Manual of Style format.  More information on common writing errors is at <http://departments.kings.edu/history/grading.html#error>.  

G. Minor Projects:

See relevant handouts.  

F. Major Project (Sophomore/Junior Diagnostic):

Learning is a cumulative process in which knowledge and skills are developed and enhanced from course to course. At Kings College the Sophomore/Junior Diagnostic Project This project should determine your ability to transfer learned skill to a significant work of history. It should reveal strengths and weaknesses in your ability to be a successful history major, which will be communicated to the faculty of the department and your major advisor. 
You will have great deal of responsibility to do this assignment. The expectations are laid out for you--it is up to you to meet them. If at any time you are having any difficulties or questions, see the instructor, or another full-time faculty member as soon as possible. 
For details, see the relevant handouts.  For suggestions about research, click here.  

IV. Grades:

You earn your grade through work done for this course.  It is your responsibility to understand why you have achieved a certain grade, and what steps you can take to maintain or improve your grade.  You are encouraged to consult with the instructor about all assignments in person (during office hours or by appointment) or through e-mail. 

For your protection, in case of errors in recording, you should keep copies of all assignments until you have received notice of your grade.  Check your printed syllabus for more information and see grading policy.   Any and all materials done for this course may become the property of the instructor, who may use them for assessment, evaluative, informative, scholarly, research, or other purposes.  

VI. Topics and Schedule:

All topics and assignments on the schedule are tentative; the instructor may change them at his discretion.    

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URL: http://departments.kings.edu/history/hist261.html Site built, maintained & Copyright MMIX by Brian A. Pavlac Last Revision: 13 May 2009