This course will raise two questions central to the activity of all students of the past and of all professional historians. How can we know the past? and What use is that knowledge? In exploring the possible responses, the course’s readings and discussions will address the contemporary shape of the historical discipline as well as earlier models of historical study. Because "Studying History" is designed for history majors and minors--although other students are welcome--all activities draw on participants’ prior experience in historical study. The Department hopes that individuals develop views of the historical discipline which draw from their respective special interests.

The course is divided into three parts: (1) an examination of the nature of History, (2) a "history of historians" including perspectives drawn from different periods and different cultures, (3) an analysis of major contemporary trends in the discipline.

Students are expected to do the reading and participate actively in class discussion, to do a series of short "thought pieces" in response to questions raised by the reading and discussion and post them to the class’s electronic forum, and to prepare an essay (15 to 20pp) which deals with the historical perspectives on a particular subject. By the second Wednesday of the course, each student will choose (in consultation with the instructor) a special research topic. The paper should be historiographical in nature. That is, it should deal with different historical approaches to an issue, event or problem. How do the historians view the issue? Why do they see it in that way? What assumptions inform their arguments? What evidence do they use, and what do they minimize or set aside? Which of the assessments makes sense to you, and why? Or, rather than investigating historians' treatment of a particular issue or event, you could examine one historian’s approach to the discipline through an analysis of his/her major works. Keep in mind that this topic could serve as the focus of your Senior Essay or Thesis.

This paper will be the subject of a formal student presentation at the end of the third week. Students submit rough drafts of their papers to the instructorand to one other student. Each person then presents his/her own work and a formal commentary on one other paper. Commentators give an oral assessment of the paper and provide typed copies of their comments to the presenter and the instructor. The presenters provide one-page summaries of their papers for all members of the class outlining their research and conclusions with an annotated bibliography of at least three sources. Everyone other than the commentator provides a more informal set of comments and questions on each project after the presentation.

 

Class Readings

Class Sessions