Trent University
History 1001H-OS – Summer 2009
CANADIAN LIVES
Course Instructor:
Helen V. Bajorek MacDonald
helenmacdonald@trentu.ca
PREFERENCE: WebCT Email
Secretary:
Patricia Heffernan-Frost
Lady Eaton College, S101.3
(705)748-1011, ext. 7706
history@trentu.ca / pheffernan@trentu.ca
Course Description
Canadian Lives takes an innovative approach to the social, political, and cultural history of Canada, pre-20th
Century. Each week, the lives and experiences of Canadians will be examined and interpreted to reveal a
snapshot of Canadian society. The course explores the lives of workers, political leaders, immigrants, rebels,
the famous, the infamous, and sometimes the ‘ordinary.’ While not a ‘survey’ of Canadian history, the course
will provide context for the lives of those examined through lectures, readings, and film. The development of
critical consideration of a range of texts as well as [history] writing skills are key objectives of the course.
Students who do not enjoy reading, and who do not feel a responsibility to their peers, should not take this
course.
The class meets twice weekly (Monday and Wednesday, 7:10 – 10 p.m.) for a 1.5-2 hour lecture
followed by a 40-minute tutorial. Alternating online tutorials are a component of the course.
NOTE: The final exam has been scheduled for Friday, June 19 at regular class time / location.
~~~
Access to Instruction: It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student
has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that s/he may need accommodations to succeed in this
course, the student should contact Craig Cameron at the Disability Services Office.
Email:
ccameron@trentu.ca Phone: 905-721-3003 ext. 2050, as soon as possible. At main campus: Disability
Services Office (BL Suite 109; 748-1281; disabilityservices@trentu.ca).
Required Texts
1) Helen V. Bajorek MacDonald (ed.) (2009). Coursepack: Canadian Lives HI-1001H-OS. Toronto:
Canadian Scholars Press.
2) J. M. Bumsted (2007). A History of the Canadian Peoples. 3rd ed. Toronto: Oxford University Press.
3) Mary Ann Armstrong, et al. (2001). Notes on the Preparation of Essays in the Arts and Sciences. 5th ed.
Peterborough: Academic Skills Centre at Trent University.
Readings in the coursepack will provide the basis for tutorial and online discussions, as indicated below in the
schedule of tutorials and readings. Bumsted’s A History of the Canadian Peoples should be used to provide
historical background as supplement to lectures, discussions, and Coursepack readings.
In their writing, students will be expected to conform strictly to the bibliographic and citation conventions, in
accordance with History standards, including of footnoting as described and explained in Notes on the
Preparation of Essays in the Arts and Sciences.
Lecture, Tutorial and Readings Schedule
May 11
Introduction to the Course; history methods
• Essay Proposal/Annotated Bibliography Assignment
May 13
Thanadelthur
• Canadian Peoples, Chapter 1-3
• Van Kirk, Sylvia. “‘Women in Between’: Indian Women in Fur Trade Society in
Western Canada,” Coursepack.
Film: Frances Hopkins [NFB Petticoat Expeditions Series, pt. 2]
Helen V. Bajorek MacDonald – Trent /CAST-HIST-1001H-OS Summer 2009
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May 18
LIBRARY SKILLS
DUE – online
Victoria Day Holiday – no classes
May 20
Primary/Secondary
DUE – online
Mary Ann Shadd
• Canadian Peoples, Chapter 5.
• Harvey Amani Whitfield. “‘We Can Do as We Like Here’: An Analysis of Self
Assertion and Agency Among Black Refugees in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1813-1821,”
Coursepack.
• W. A. Spray. “The Blacks in New Brunswick,” Coursepack.
FILM: Remember Africville
May 25
Essay Writing Workshop
May 27
ESSAY PROPOSAL/
BIBLIOGRAPHY
DUE – in class
Canadian Balladeers: Gordon Lightfoot, Stan Rogers, Robert Service, Ian &
Sylvia Tyson
• Canadian Peoples, Chapter 4
• Robin Fisher, “Gold miners and Settlers,” Coursepack.
• Terri Hunter, “Crinoline Cargo”, Coursepack
• Robert Service, “The Cremation of Sam McGee,” Coursepack.
• John C. O’Donnell. “Music as an Expression of Culture in the Mining
Communities of Cape Breton Island,” Coursepack.
FILM: The Cremation of Sam McGee
June 01
John A. Macdonald
• Canadian Peoples, Chapter 6.
• Donald Creighton. “Macdonald and the Anglo-Canadian Alliance,” Coursepack.
• Donald Creighton, “Epilogue: The Sixth of June, 1891,” Coursepack.
June 03
Louis Riel
• Canadian Peoples, Chapter 6.
• Douglas Owram. “The Myth of Louis Riel,” Coursepack.
• Thomas Flanagan. “Louis Riel: Icon of the Left,” Coursepack.
Film: This Riel Business
MID-TERM TEST – online – to be completed by Midnight, June 04
June 08
Canada in Transition – Yip Sang
• Canadian Peoples, Chapter 7.
• Patricia E. Roy, “The Colonial Soujourners, 1858-1871”, Coursepack
• Stephanie D. Bangarth. “‘We Are Not Asking You to Open Wide the Gates for
Chinese immigration’: The Committee for the Repeal of the Chinese Immigration
Act and Early Human Rights Activism in Canada,” Coursepack.
June 10
The Working Class
ESSAY DUE – in class • Peter De Lottinville. “Joe Beef of Montreal: Working-Class and the Tavern, 18691889,” Coursepack.
• Craig Heron. “Taking the Pledge,” Coursepack.
Film: TBA
June 15
Emily Carr
• Canadian Peoples, Chapter 7.
• Cole, Douglas. “The Invented Indian / The Imagined Emily,” Coursepack.
• Moray, Gerta. “Wilderness, Modernity and Aboriginality in the Paintings of Emily
Carr,” Coursepack.
Film: Emily Carr: A Woman of All Sorts
Helen V. Bajorek MacDonald – Trent /CAST-HIST-1001H-OS Summer 2009
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June 17
Wilfrid Laurier
• Robert Laird Borden. “Conscription,” Coursepack.
• Nellie McClung. “Introduction” and “What Do Women Think of War? (not that it
matters),” in Coursepack.
Film: Wilfrid Laurier
June 19
***EXAM*** – no alternative time/date scheduled
Assignments
1) Library Skills Test: Students will complete an online WebCT course customized by the university
librarians for History 1001H. This online course will be available to students after our first class and
must be completed by Monday May 18, 5 p.m. – online. Worth 5% of final grade.
2) Students will complete an online WebCT Primary/Secondary source assignment by Wednesday,
May 20, 5 p.m. – online. Students will then comment on peer submissions in “Discussions” by
Monday, May 25, 5 p.m. Worth 5% of final grade.
3) Students will submit an Essay Proposal and Annotated Bibliography for their term essay, due in class
Wednesday, May 27. Students must consult with course instructor in choosing a topic that is related
to Canadian Lives; suggestions are provided on the assignment handout. Students might consider the
course topics listed in the weekly outline as a starting point for a topic; then narrow to a more specific
focus. This assignment will provide you with important feedback and direction in the development of
your argument and research, as you prepare your term paper. Students who have limited experience
or difficulty with research and essay-writing skills are strongly encouraged to seek support from
Academic Skills. Worth 15% of final grade.
4) Students will complete a mid-term online quiz, June 04. Worth 5% of final grade.
5) Term paper is due in class on Wednesday, June 10. The essay will be 1750 words in length
(approximately 6-7 pages). Worth 25% of final grade.
6) Students will facilitate, with a team of peers, one 15-minute tutorial presentation during the term.
Worth 15% of final grade.
7) Students are required to actively and meaningfully participate in tutorials held in class and online.
Worth 20% of final grade.
8) Final Exam: June 19. Worth 10% of final grade.
*** RE-READ ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES – AND YOUR WORK – BEFORE SUBMITTING
FOR GRADING. Work must be submitted as hard copy, in class. Electronic submissions will not
be accepted. ***
Any assigned work that does not meet assignment criteria, will be returned ungraded.
A re-do may be negotiated with the instructor; late penalties will apply.
Examples of unacceptable papers:
- papers that show no evidence of contemporary scholarly research and methods relevant to the
discipline of history
- papers that are under, or that exceed, the length criteria
- papers that do not include footnotes or an appropriate bibliography in accordance with history
standards as outlined in Notes on the Preparation of Essays in Arts and Sciences
- papers that do not meet history department and Trent University criteria for original work
produced by a student for this course alone
Participation
Participation is a significant component of the final grade and will be determined by the quality and consistency of
active participation in tutorials and in Blackboard (WebCT) discussions. In contributions to discussions, students
must demonstrate that they have done the readings. In their writing, students are expected to use clear, concise
and corrections conventions of the English language and to communicate ideas in respectful tone and language.
Dynamic, stimulating and challenging discussions will be the result of careful, thoughtful and wide reading by all
members of the group. There is no alternative for oral participation, nor opportunity to make up for missed tutorials.
Helen V. Bajorek MacDonald – Trent /CAST-HIST-1001H-OS Summer 2009
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Deadlines and Penalties
All work must be produced by you for this course alone. Because assignments sometimes get lost and
because questions of authorship sometimes arise, for your protection it is essential to keep your research notes
and rough drafts for all of your assigned work, even after it has been returned. If working on a computer, be
sure to back up material regularly.
All deadlines are firm. Late assignments will be penalized 5% for the first day and 2% for each day
thereafter, unless there are exceptional circumstances and a prior arrangement has been negotiated, in writing,
with your instructor. Students should be aware that failure to organize time will not be accepted as a reason for
submitting late work.
There are no options for alternative assignments in this course. Do your best work first time round!
Grading Scheme
May 18
May 20
May 27
June 04
June 10
... sign up ...
... ongoing ...
June 19
Library Assignment – WebCT Skills Test/Course
Primary / Secondary Assignment – online
Essay Proposal with Annotated Bibliography
Midterm Test – online
Essay
Tutorial Presentation
Tutorial Participation
Final Exam – in class
5%
5%
15%
5%
25%
15%
20%
10%
Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic offense
and carries penalties varying from failure in an assignment to suspension from the University.
Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are set out in Trent
University’s Academic Integrity Policy which is printed in the University Calendar. It is the student’s
responsibility to be familiar with this policy.
Disclaimer
This outline documents the instructor’s intentions for this course. Over the period of the term, it may become
clear that some modifications may be necessary. Any modifications that may influence student success or the
marking scheme will be made only after frank discussion with the students and the prior approval of the Chair
of the History Department.
Helen V. Bajorek MacDonald – Trent /CAST-HIST-1001H-OS Summer 2009
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