Georgia Regents University
Spring 2014
History 3001 – Historical Research Methods
MW 9:00-10:40
Instructor:
Office Location:
Email:
Office Phone:
Office Hours:
Dr. W. J. Turner
AH E-212 Conference Room
wturner1@gru.edu
706-737-1500
Available after class until 11:30; otherwise, please schedule appointment
with Kathy Slivka (EFL) or Dr. Turner
Course Description
As a history major you need several practical skills in order to excel. This term we shall learn those by
working on different topics in European history. As a group we will examine various approaches to
history as we share what we are reading with the class, looking in particular at the method of each
writer.
This course is designed for adults and its daily conduct is based on the same standards you are expected
to meet in the work force. Be on time and prepared for each meeting. Act professionally; there is no
excuse for students who are routinely late for class or who leave early.
Any work done outside of class must be turned in on time and must reflect the best effort you can make.
Shoddy or incomplete work will be rejected. If you are uncertain about what I expect, speak with me.
Please note the University's policy on student academic integrity. Plagiarism and cheating are forms of
theft. In a case where you are not sure whether or not to footnote, be safe and include a note; or ask
me. If you are found to have plagiarized, you will receive a zero for the assignment. I generally do not
accept late work. I will not give incompletes except in extreme circumstances (in the hospital and on
your deathbed, that sort of thing).
It is difficult to present research to your colleagues and friends. Be courteous and respectful of one
another. Inside and outside of class, be tactful in your criticisms and generous with your support and
encouragement.
This is an intense course. It requires your consistent participation and involvement in your learning
process. Some of your assignments will be due online. You all have an email and a D2L account given to
you by ASU: become familiar with them.
Course Goals
This course is designed to teach you those skills and provide you with the necessary tools to become a
good historian. It is only an introduction to the tools, methods, and theories that historians use in their
craft. One aspect of the course will be quite mechanical: using the computer, using the library, taking
good notes, preparing for exams, writing a book review, writing a proposal, writing a draft, writing a
finished research paper, and giving a presentation. Another aspect of the course will be theoretical and
methodological: identifying the craft of an historian. You will investigate and share your findings about
great historians and produce a paper using the skills you have learned.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the course you should be able to:
o use the computer programs normally employed by historians
o use the materials found in the library reference room
o write an essay examination
o write a book review
o write a research paper
o present historical information in a public forum
o understand the contributions of some of the world's great historians
o discuss historical material in a professional manner
Pre-Requisites
None.
Teaching Methods or Teaching Philosophy
This is a seminar style course. You are expected to keep up with the work and arrived prepared
for discussion. I will facilitate the discussion but it is up to you to provide the content. I strongly
encourage you to arrive ready to ask questions about your topic, about methods, or about
writing issues.
Expectations and Grading
Research project
This course is based around your research project. You will select an aspect of European history and
write a paper to answer a specific question. We will talk about questions in class. The paper will be
written, as all papers are, in stages. But, rather than only turning in the final copy, in this class you will
turn in each stage so that at each stage in the process you get feedback and guidance in order to hone
your historical research skills.
1. Proposal -
50 points
This consists of a restated question, a thesis, and an initial bibliography.
2. Book Review -
50 points
You will review a monograph—an historical book on a specific topic—
that pertains to the research you are doing. I will give you examples of
good and bad book reviews, and we will talk about how to approach
reviewing the work of your colleagues and peers.
3. First Draft Paper -
50 points
This draft may be incomplete but it should be as complete as you can
get it. It should be in the general formal of the final paper.
4. Second Draft Paper- 100 points
This should be a finished paper. All notes and text should be properly
formatted. If the paper is as finished as you can get it, you can opt out
of the final draft and take the same grade for both the second draft and
the final draft.
5. Final Paper-
200 points
This will be your finished, polished, as-perfect-as-you-can-get-it formal
research paper prepared in accordance with class comments and the
standards contained in Turabian’s Manual. (See book list.)
Other assignments
Presentation - 100 points
This is a formal "peer review" session in which you will present the substance of your
paper to the class. Student and instructor comments will focus on ways you can improve
your work before turning in your final copy. Each presentation will take about 20
minutes (think about 2 minutes per page) with 10 minutes for questions.
Reviews of Colleagues – 50 points
When your colleagues present, you will practice how to grade and comment. We will
discuss how to do this in class. You will receive your comments in time to make
adjustments to your paper.
Final Exam -
100 points
The final is cumulative. The purpose of this exam is for you to demonstrate how much
you have learned about the historians discussed in class and the proper methods of
preparing for and taking an examination.
Class participation and attendance - 100 points
The business of history is much more than simply reading books and writing papers.
Discussing, comparing, peer reviewing, and listening to papers brings depth to your own
work and breadth of knowledge. Presentation of ideas and papers also adds to your
understanding of a topic and the general knowledge of others, a "high-class" version of
instructing. Discussions concerning the latest ideas about the field of history are
important to you as a scholar. You must, therefore, attend class in order to pass the
course. You will also be expected to present aspects of your research in class for the
benefit of your fellow classmates and instructor.
Grand Total - 800 points
Explanation of Academic Grades
Many people ask, "What does it mean to get a 'B'?"
An 'A' indicates:
The student's performance exceeds the expectations and standards of the class. Their work is on time,
complete, and represents a best effort. The student is willing and prepared to participate. The student
performs at the highest cognitive level, demonstrating an ability to synthesize and evaluate the material
presented.
A 'B' indicates:
The student's performance meets the expectations and standards of the class. Their work is on time,
complete, and represents a good effort. The student has only occasionally missed class or arrived late.
The student performs at the middle cognitive level, consistently demonstrating an ability to analyze,
apply and comprehend the material presented.
A 'C' indicates:
The student's performance partially meets the standards of the class. Work may be late, or missing.
Work appears to have been a hasty attempt to meet the requirement. The student may have missed
classes or arrived late regularly. The student performs at a lower cognitive level, demonstrating an
ability to comprehend and memorize the material presented.
A 'D' or an 'F' indicates:
The student's performance does not meet the standards of the class. Work may be late or missing, or it
may represent an unsatisfactory attempt to meet the requirement. The student may not have attended
with regularity. The student has not performed at the lower cognitive levels and understands or retains
little of the material presented.
Text and Resources
Daniel Lord Smail, On Deep History and the Brain, UC Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-520-25812-9
Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers, Eighth Edition, Chicago Press, 2013, ISBN 978-0-22681638-8
Carlo Guinzburg, Threads and Traces: True and False Fictive, UC Press, 2012, ISBN 978-0-52027448-8
Some material will be handed out in class.
Academic Honor
GRU maintains a strict policy on plagiarism (stealing of another person’s written work or ideas)
and academic honesty. We will discuss this further in class, but any student caught not doing
his or her own work, intentionally not including references in an effort to pass off work done by
another as his or her own, will receive a failing grade for the assignment. As the professor
deems appropriate, a formal record of such plagiarism will be filed with the department and
the university becoming part of the student’s permanent record and could result in expulsion
from the university or difficulty finding employment after graduation. Please, when in doubt,
add footnotes or ask.
Student Needs
Students with disabilities (physical or learning) enrolled in this course and who may need
disability-related classroom accommodations are encouraged to make an appointment to see
me before the end of the second week of the term. All discussions will remain confidential,
although the Office of Testing and Disability Services might need to be consulted to discuss
appropriate implementation of any accommodation requests. For this particular course, most
all work is done at home or in the library and you should have ample time to complete your
work.
Additional Support for your Learning
Many of you might want to take advantage of the Writing Center’s Peer Tutoring Services. If
you are not a strong writer or have forgotten many of the rules of writing, please take
advantage of their services. As the term goes along, they often become busy. Be sure to make
appointments early.
Tentative Course Schedule
Phase
Date(s)
Topics or Activities
1
Jan 6, M
Jan 8, W
Introduction to Historical
Research Methods
Choosing topics: a how to guide
Jan 13, M
Discussion: What is a method?
Jan 15, W
Methods of organization /
Methods of research; writing
proposals
Jan 20, M
Reading and Research: Two
different things?
2
Jan 22, W
Jan 27, M
Jan 29, W
Feb 3, M
Writing book reviews
Guest Speaker
Library
Feb 5, W
Library
Feb 10, M
Technical Grammar Stuff you
should know!
Feb 12, W
Discussion: methods of the
monographs you read
Feb 17, M
Learning
Objectives
Addressed
Critical
Thinking;
proposals
Computer;
critical
thinking
Computer;
library; critical
thinking; note
taking
Computer;
critical
thinking; note
taking
Theory
Note taking;
Computer;
library
Computer;
library
Computer;
writing skills;
research rules
Library
Research;
writing
Assignments, Exams,
or Readings
Topic Ideas Due (no
credit)
Topic Proposal Due
(50 points)
Discussion: Ginzburg
Book review due
How to use Turabian
Feb 19, W
Theory
Feb 24, M
Writing a test / Taking a test
Feb 26, W
Mar 3, M
Historiography: what is it?
Historiography: how can it help
me?
Mar 5, W
3
4
No Class (I’m reading)
Individual Meetings
Individual Meetings
Individual Meetings
Second Draft Due
Mar 26, W
Mar 31, M
Apr 2, W
Apr 7, M
Apr 9, W
Apr 14, M
Apr 16, W
Apr 21, M
Apr 23, W
Individual Meetings
Individual Meetings
Individual Meetings
Spring Break
Spring Break
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Discussion: What have you
learned and how do you apply it
in your other classes?
Final Paper Due
Apr 28, M
Apr 30, W
May 5, M
Test
understanding
Theory
Theory
Writing;
research;
critical
thinking
Mar 10, M
Mar 12, W
Mar 17, M
Mar 19, W
Mar 24, M
Finals
Discussion: Daniel Lord
Smail
Writing;
research;
critical
thinking
Presenting
Presenting
Presenting
Writing;
research;
critical
thinking
First Draft Due