HISTORICAL METHODS
Rowan University, Fall 2008
TH 4:45–7:15
Dr. Melissa Klapper
klapper@rowan.edu x3982
This course is an introduction to historical writing and to historiography. It is designed to give students
practical experience in the researching and writing of historical papers and to provide a survey of the
discipline of history as practiced by a wide variety of historians. Students will undertake supervised
research projects that will culminate in a clear and persuasive historical paper (10-12 pages) based on
both primary and secondary sources. Course work will focus both on the mechanics of writing research
papers and on exemplary historical literature focused on particular topics and/or methodologies.
Progress reports on the research projects will be shared on a regular basis in class. We will structure the
class as a writers’ workshop, regularly conducting peer reviews.
Typically, each class meeting will be divided into two parts. During the first part we will discuss the
assigned readings for the day, focusing on the form and structure as well as the content of the readings.
During the second part we will focus on the research projects, taking into account both process and
product. Writing assignments throughout the semester are designed to integrate these programs of
reading and writing, providing a literature-based program of historical methods. There will be reading
and writing assignments for most class meetings. You are expected to complete each day’s reading
before coming to class. In most cases the writing assignments are based on the reading. No written
work will be accepted late.
Attendance is mandatory. Please contact me in advance if you must be absent. More than one
unexcused absence will result in an automatic reduction of your final grade of one grade point per
absence (e.g., from B+ to B). Participation in classroom discussions and in-class activities will form an
important part of your grade.
Honesty and accountability in research are basic to the historian’s craft. Plagiarism of any kind
constitutes grounds for immediate failure.
Required Texts
Carr, Edward Hallett. What is History?
Davis, Natalie Zemon. The Return of Martin Guerre.
Paludan, Philip Shaw. Victims: A True Story of the Civil War.
Rampolla, Mary Lynn. A Pocket Guide to Writing in History. 5th edition.
Spence, Jonathan D. The Death of Woman Wang.
Streissguth, Thomas, ed. The Sinking of the Titanic.
In this section of Historical Methods, we will be focusing our research on the decade of the1930s in the
United States. You may pick any specific topic you like (subject to approval), but it must address some
aspect of American history during the 1930s, an exciting decade that will provide ample possibilities for
exploration.
1
Your final grade will be calculated according to the following plan. Please note that no student who fails
to hand in the research proposal, rough draft, or final research paper will pass the course.
Participation
15%
Research proposal
10%
Rough draft
15%
Final paper
25%
All other assignments (7 x 5% each)
35%
Course Schedule (subject to change)
All writing assignments are due at the beginning of the next class meeting unless otherwise indicated.
We will discuss each writing assignment in more detail in class.
Thursday, September 4
Anti-plagiarism workshop
reading assignment: Rampolla, Chapter 1; What is History?, first three chapters
writing assignment: paraphrasing and documentation exercise
Thursday, September 11
Constructing an argument, writing a thesis statement, drafting an outline
reading assignment: Rampolla, Chapter 2; What is History?, last three chapters
writing assignment: 5-paragraph essay
Pick any argument Carr makes and defend or oppose it.
3 ideas for research topics due
Thursday, September 18
Historical sources and historiography
Library research workshop
reading assignment: The Sinking of the Titanic
writing assignment: 5-paragraph essay
What have different historians and observers concluded about the sinking of the Titanic? What
kinds of sources led them to draw this conclusion?
Preliminary bibliography of 10 items due. Include at least 4 primary sources, no more than 2
internet sources, and no more than 4 sources of the same kind (e.g., books, journal articles). This
assignment will help you determine your final choice of research topics.
Thursday, September 25
Research proposals, note-taking systems
reading assignment: Rampolla, Chapter 3; The Return of Martin Guerre
writing assignment: mock research proposal for The Return of Martin Guerre
Final research topic due
2
Thursday, October 2
Peer review of mock research proposals
Narrative and history, microhistory
reading assignment: The Death of Woman Wang
writing assignment: 5-paragraph essay
Which of Spence’s sources seems the most reliable and/or useful to you?
Thursday, October 9
no class–Yom Kippur
Thursday, October 16
Book reviews and review essays
reading assignment: Victims: A True Story of the Civil War
writing assignment: book review of Victims
Thursday, October 23
Individual consultations
writing assignment: research proposals
Thursday, October 30
Peer review of research proposals
Oral history
reading assignment: Rampolla, Chapters 4 and 5
Research proposal due
Thursday, November 6
Faculty presentations on research methodology
Conventions of historical writing, use of quotations
reading assignment: Ellen Gruber Garvey, “Reframing the Bicycle: Magazines and Scorching Women,”
Chapter 4 in The Adman in the Parlor: Magazines and the Gendering of Consumer Culture,
1880s to 1910s (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996).
writing assignment: thesis statement and outline
Thursday, November 13
Women’s and gender history, prescriptive vs. descriptive sources
writing assignment: rough draft
Thesis statement and outline due
Thursday, November 20
Film: The Return of Martin Guerre
Rough draft due
3
Thursday, November 27
no class–Thanksgiving
Thursday, December 4
Peer review of rough drafts
reading assignment: Karin Calvert, “Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth,” Chapter 4 in Children in the
House: The Material Culture of Early Childhood, 1600-1900 (Boston: Northeastern University
Press, 1992).
writing assignment: final papers
Thursday, December 11
History and material culture
Oral presentations of research topics
individual consultations to be scheduled
TUESDAY, December 16
Final papers due by 5 p.m.
Rowan University has a licensing agreement with Turnitin, an online service to help prevent student
plagiarism. As part of this course, I will be using Turnitin at my discretion to determine the originality
of your work. If your work is submitted to Turnitin, it will be stored in the Turnitin database. You have
the right to refuse either to submit your work to Turnitin or have the university do so; availing yourself
of this right will not negatively impact your success in the course. If you do not wish to use Turnitin,
you must notify me by email within two weeks of today’s date. If you object to the use of Turnitin, I will
use other procedures to assess originality.
You will need to first enroll in Turnitin, following the simple steps on the website, and then enroll in this
class. Below is the information you need to enroll in our class. Please make sure you are enrolled by the
time we have our second session of class on September 11.
Turnitin
Class Name: Historical Methods 4:45
Class ID: 2340195
Class Enrollment Password: klapper445
4