HISTORY 684
Disease and History
Prof. Ronn Pineo
Office Hour: Tuesday 5:00-6:00
Office: LI 119 N; Telephone: (410) 704-2918
Course Description:
This graduate seminar explores the ways in which human diseases have affected
history. By the end of this course you will be familiar with the major developments in the
history of epidemiology. More importantly, you will be challenged in this course to think
independently. You will be expected to participate in classroom discussions. It is the
goal of this course to help you teach yourself to think more critically and hence to think
more clearly. In this course you will challenge received opinion.
Required Readings:
John M. Barry, The Great Influenza (New York: Penguin, 2005).
E. Fuller Torrey and Robert H. Yolken, Beasts of the Earth: Animals, Humans, and
Disease (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2005).
Thomas McKeown, The Origins of Human Disease (New York: Basil Blackwell, 1988).
Michael B. Oldstone, Viruses, Plagues, & History (Oxford: Oxford University Press,
1998).
Noble David Cook, Born to Die (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998).
Jonathan B. Tucker, Scourge (New York: Atlantic Monthly, 2001).
Andrew Spielman and Michael D’Antonio, Mosquito (New York: Hyperion, 2001).
Arno Karlen, Man and Microbes (New York: Putnam, 1995).
Richard Kluger, Ashes to Ashes (New York: Vintage, 1997).
Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (New York : Farrar, Straus,
and Giroux, 1997).
Grades:
1.) Class Participation (especially as designated discussant) (10%)
2.) Two Oral Reports (5% each) (10%)
3.) Five Book Reviews (10% each) (50%)
4.) Term Paper (Topical) (30%)
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GRADES
I. CLASSWORK AND ATTENDANCE (10%) This course is a graduate seminar; you
will be expected to participate in classroom discussions and debates. You must come
to class prepared to discuss the readings.
Attendance Excessive absences will seriously affect your overall grade in the course.
It is your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet. Unless special circumstances
apply, missing five or more hours of classroom time will result in receiving the grade of
F for the course.
Designated Seminar Discussants For each session two students will be designated
discussants. Discussants are required to prepare five general questions about that
week's reading that will stimulate further thought and discussion. Please submit your
questions to Pineo@towson.edu on the Friday prior to the next Tuesday seminar. In
addition, discussant #1 will offer a summary of the book reviews of the work under
consideration and discussant #2 will profile the author of the work under consideration.
Current History Session For the meeting of week fifteen (12/8) you are required to find
and read two articles dealing with stories on disease and current history. Come to class
prepared to present these articles. Each presentation should be about five minutes. Do
not read the clipping to the class. Identify and analyze the leading themes of the piece.
II. BOOK REVIEWS (5 papers, 10% each) (50%) Write a three to five page review of
five of the required seminar texts. Book Review #1 due 9/22, Book Review #2 due 10/6,
and Book Review #3 due 10/20, Book Review #4 due 11/3, and Book Review #5 due
11/17.
Rewrites: In some cases rewrites of book reviews are possible. Please see the
instructor to discuss rewrite opportunities and to obtain a rewrite permission form. No
rewrites will be accepted without a signed permission form.
III. SEMESTER PROJECT (Two Oral Reports 5 each%) (Term Paper 30%)
Topic Proposal Find a subject pertaining to the history of humans and disease that is
of abiding interest to you and for which you can obtain readings. Submit your topic
proposal for approval by week three (9/15).
Project Reading Proposal Go to a library and locate a book (other than the required
texts), two articles or chapters from various other books or journals that deal with your
topic, two articles regarding the historiography surrounding your topic, and at least 25
pages of source material. All of your readings should be on the same general topic.
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Not all the topical works should be by the same author. Write down the author, title, and
journal or book of all your proposed readings. Turn in your reading proposal by week
five (9/29).
Oral Reports (5% each)
Report #1 (topical) : Report on your semester project. Reports should be about 15 -20
minutes. Organize your oral presentations as you would an essay. Sign up for your
presentation dates for either week twelve or thirteen (11/17 or 11/24). All students must
give their reports as scheduled unless special circumstances warrant.
Report #2 (historiographical): Each student will give a brief presentation (10-15
minutes) on the historiography of their approved topic. Prepare a one page bibliography
(typed, single spaced) of the major works on your topic. Turn in your bibliography by
week thirteen (11/24). All reports will be given on week fourteen (12/1).
Term Paper (30%) The paper (25 pages, typed, double-spaced, footnotes,
bibliography) is due the end of week fifteen (12/8). Your paper must develop a
sustained argument based on specific evidence drawn from your readings. No late
papers. Because the paper is due at the last meeting, it will be impossible to arrange
for rewrites. Accordingly, arrange to meet with the instructor during the semester for
advice on outlines and rough drafts.
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General Grading Scale All graded assignments for the course are expressed in letter
grades "A" through "D-". (An "A+" is never possible.) (A = 4.0; A- = 3.67; B+ = 3.33; B =
3.0; B- = 2.67; C+ = 2.33; C = 2.0; C- = 1.67; D+ = 1.33; D = 1.0; D- = .67; F = 0). The
final course grade is determined by the grade point total earned, weighted by
assignment category. (For example and A on the term paper would equal 4.0 times
35%.) The points for each assignment are apportioned according to the weight of that
assignment (e.g. midterm exam = 35% of the grade), the total being added up to
determine the final grade. Threshold grading applies (for example, 2.7 is a B, 2.69 is a
C). Graduate level grading at Towson University may not include pluses and minuses.
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COURSE OUTLINE
Week One (9/1): Introduction, Course Themes, the Syllabus, Developing a Critical
Outlook, Finding Materials for Semester Projects, Designation of Weekly Student
Discussants, Preparing for One Minute Rounds.
Week Two (9/8): John M. Barry, The Great Influenza (New York: Penguin, 2005).
Week Three (9/15): E. Fuller Torrey and Robert H. Yolken, Beasts of the Earth:
Animals, Humans, and Disease (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2005).
Topic Proposals Due.
Week Four (9/22): Thomas McKeown, The Origins of Human Disease (New York:
Basil Blackwell, 1988). Book Review Due.
Week Five(9/29): Michael B. Oldstone, Viruses, Plagues, & History (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1998). Reading Proposals Due.
Week Six (10/6): Noble David Cook, Born to Die (Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1998). Book Review Due.
Week Seven (10/13): Andrew Spielman and Michael D’Antonio, Mosquito (New York:
Hyperion, 2001).
Week Eight (10/20): Johnathan B. Tucker, Scourge (New York: Atlantic Monthly,
2001). Book Review Due.
Week Nine (10/27): Arno Karlen, Man and Microbes (New York: Putnam, 1995).
Week Ten(11-3): Richard Kluger, Ashes to Ashes (New York: Vintage, 1997).
Book Review Due.
Week Eleven (11-10): Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
(New York : Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1997, Guest Instructor, Dr. Karen Oslund.
Week Twelve (11/17): Oral Reports on Topics. Book Review Due.
Week Thirteen (11-24): Oral Reports on Topics. Oral Report on Historiography
Bibliography Due.
Week Fourteen (12/1): Oral Reports on Historiography.
Week Fifteen (12/8): Disease and Current History Presentations. Term Paper Due.
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University Policy
University policy states that a student may not repeat a course more than once
without specific prior permission from the Academic Standards Committee. If you have
taken this course twice before and have not received written permission from the
Academic Standards Committee to take the course a third time, you should not be
registered in the course--please consult the Registrar's Office about the procedure for
petitioning the Academic Standards Committee.
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will be punished in accordance with university
guidelines.
Disability Accommodation Statement: All students who may requires accommodation
due to a disability should please arrange to meet with the professor. Please bring to the
meeting a statement from the Towson University Disability Support Services to specify
such accommodations as will be required.
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