History Senior Seminar
History 4380
6:00 M
Cook 209
Dr. Donald S. Frazier (dfrazier@mcm.edu)
793-3862
Formal Office Hours: 8-9, 10-11 MWF; 1-5 MW
And by Appointment
Class Format: Heavy emphasis on discussion, outside research, and analysis.
Course Content: A practicum on the researching and writing of history
Grading: Your final grade in the course will be determined as follows:
Milestones (25%)
Critique (25%)
Class participation (25%)
Final Revised (25%)
The following grading scale will be observed:
A: 93-100; A-: 90-92;
B+: 88-89; B=83-87; B-=80-82;
C+: 78-79; C: 73-77; C-:70-72;
D+: 68-69; D: 63-67; D-: 60-62;
F: less than 60.
Attendance Policy:
Attendance is Mandatory. Only official University absences are recognized as excused. Unexcused students missing tests can not take a make-up. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL DOCUMENTATION OF EXCUSED ABSENCES AND TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THEM FOR THE INSTRUCTOR UPON REQUEST.
A reminder:
• If you are sick, a doctor’s note is required
• If there is a death in the family, an obit is required
• If there are other circumstances, a note in writing is required
• Makeup exams will not be administered except under the above conditions
Plagiarism and Academic Honesty:
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. Students must turn in their own work and if ANY evidence of plagiarism exists, the student will receive a “0” on the assignment, and may be asked to withdraw from the class (at the instructor’s discretion). Plagiarism is defined as either writing the words on another author (whether a fellow student or a published author) as one’s own, OR using the ideas of another author without giving the proper credit (citing your source). If you have any doubts or questions, come see me.
Class Participation
Students will be asked to participate in all class discussions regarding the writing and researching of history. All students in class will be expected to participate in debating the salient points presented by very prepared students.
Milestones
Participants will need to follow closely the attached schedule of assignments, and to turn in the various “milestones” of their projects as directed. Failure to do so will erode your grade.
A. Evaluate the author’s writing style (Did you like it? Why or why not?) . How well did the author organize the paper. Is the work mainly chronological narrative or topical analysis?
B. Evaluate the author’s sources and documentation. Did the author base this piece mainly on secondary works (other books, journal articles), or did the notes include primary sources (newspapers, diaries, collections of letters and contemporary documents). How well did the author’s evidence support his/her thesis?
C. Your evaluation of the above points may be either favorable or unfavorable. Was the author’s thesis convincing? What were the work’s strong points? What were its weak points?
Assign topics; Discuss research planning/process/begin preparing prospectus
Week Two - Aug. 30:
PROSPECTUSES Due – discussion of sources, plan of research: Discuss how to outline your paper. Assignment: Bring examples of good introductions from articles in the library to class next week
Week Three - Sept. 6:
OUTLINES DUE – seminar discussion of outlines, next steps;
How to write an Introduction. Discuss the qualities of different introductions. Compare between the ones brought to class by students.
Week Four - Sept. 13:
NO CLASS.
Week Five - Sept. 20
INTRODUCTIONS DUE – seminar discussion of introductions. Discuss next steps. Gather working bibliography.
Week Six - Sept. 27:
Show and discuss sources. Footnote workshop.
Week Seven - Oct. 4
NO CLASS
Week Eight - Oct. 11
Progress Reports and trouble shooting; Assign official critics; instructions to critics
Week Nine - Oct. 18
No Class
Week Ten - Oct. 25
Progress Reports and trouble shooting;
Week Eleven - Nov. 1
FIRST DRAFT OF PAPER DUE; COPIES TO ALL IN THE SEMINAR;
Assignment: Read and mark up all papers; write official critiques for your assigned classmate
Week Twelve - Nov. 8
NO CLASS
Week Thirteen - Nov. 15
CRITIQUE PAPERS
Week Fourteen - Nov. 22
Revise Papers; gather names and addresses of likely targets for submission;
Week Fifteen - Nov. 29
Final Draft of Paper Due; Meet to discuss publication submissions.
Week Sixteen - Dec. 8
Submit Paper for publication