HISTORY 399: STUDYING HISTORY
BLOCK 4, 2002                            
BOB MCJIMSEY AND DENNIS SHOWALTER

 

Purpose: The course discusses the reasons why people have wanted to study the past and the ways in which that study has been carried out. The course also considers the ways in which historians have tried to give meaning to past events and to the lives of individuals.

 

Method: The course begins with presentations on the development of historical study and interpretation. It proceeds with the discussion of how history has been used, misused, ignored in relation to particular issues within a particular national tradition. It concludes with each student researching, writing up and handing in an essay based on independent study.

 

Writing: In addition to the final paper, there will be shorter writing assignments. These will be coordinated with the assigned readings. These shorter assignments are due to be handed in on the day scheduled for discussion of that particular reading. The longer writing assignment should be about 15 pages. The shorter assignments should be about 800 words.

 

Due dates: The shorter writing assignments are due on the day assigned for the discussion. The research paper is due at 2 PM on the Wednesday of the final week.

 

Required reading (Buy this book!)

 

ERNA PARIS: LONG SHADOWS: TRUTH, LIES AND HISTORY

 

Required reading (Download this article)

 

GEORGE LICHTHEIM: “THE CONCEPT OF IDEOLOGY”

(Available through Tutt Library on Jstore. Use this link:

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0018-2656%281965%294%3A2%3C164%3ATCOI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-T

For downloading instructions go to: http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/library/course/history/mcjimsey.html

 

Assignments:

 

WEEK I

 

Monday

 

Introduction and general chat about the course.

 

Tuesday

 

Bob and Dennis tell it like it is.

 

Wednesday

 

Bob and Dennis tell it like it is.

WEEK II

 

Monday

 

LICHTHEIM: “THE CONCEPT OF IDEOLOGY”

 

What does Lichtheim consider to be the main task of an ideology? How successfully does he believe the ideologies he studies have carried out that task?

 

Tuesday

 

PARIS: Part One: Memory and the Second World War

 

 

Wednesday

 

PARIS: Part Two: War, Memory and Race

 

Why did the “facts” of South African apartheid merit an effort at reconciliation while the “facts” of United States slavery did not?

 

 

Thursday

 

PARIS: Part Three: War, Memory and Identity

 

Friday

 

PARIS: Part Four: Is there Justice and the Coda

 

Is Erna Paris an historian?

 

 

WEEK III

 

Conferences with Professors and research and writing

 

WEEK IV

Final days writing.

Papers due at 2 PM Wednesday

Thursday: Final wrap up and evaluation. Attendance required.