Introduction to Historiography
Description: This graduate level history class serves as the introduction to historiography
(the history of history). Our goals are two-fold: The first is to familiarize ourselves with
major trends in historiography across sub-disciplines. The second is to study examples of
historical writing that represent those trends. We start from the Greek historians and
then go until the present day. Next, we will focus on American historiography. This class
may appear fairly limited on the assigned readings, but that is because your midterm
and final project will entail doing historiographic research on your own on a topic of
your choice throughout the course. Emphasis will be on developing written and analytic
skills. Basic skills like citation and historical research are reviewed.
Required reading:
Caroline Hoefferle, The Essential Historiography Reading (Prentice Hall)
Eric Foner and Lisa McGirr, eds., American History Now (Temple University Press)
Readings on Black Athena and Slavery and Capitalism (to be handed out)
Schedule:
o Week One: January 28th
Introduction to the class and syllabus
Get your books and start reading
Start thinking about your historiography project—pick a topic and period
Every week we will have a check in to see how you are doing on your project
o Week Two: February 4th
Hoefferle, x-61
o Week Three: February 11th
Readings on Black Athena—part I
NO CLASS FEB. 18th PRESIDENT’S DAY • NO CLASS FEB. 20TH
o Week Four: February 25th
Readings on Black Athena—part II
SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS MARCH 4TH
o Week Five: March 11th
Hoefferle, 62-138
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o Week Six: March 18th
Hoefferle, 139-208
o Week Seven: March 25th
Hoefferle, 209-298
MIDTERM HISTORIOGRAPHY ARTICLE WRITEUP DUE
o Week Eight: April 1st
Foner and McGirr, vii-95
o Week Nine: April 8th
Foner and McGirr, 96-200
o Week Ten: April 15th
Foner and McGirr, 201-313
EASTER RECESS: NO CLASS APRIL 22ND
o Week Eleven: April 29TH
Foner and McGirr, 314-420
o Week Twelve: May 6th
Readings on Slavery and Capitalism
FINAL DUE DATE: May 15th @ 7 PM by email
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