History 101: Latin America: Senior Thesis (CC# 39339)
125 Dwinelle
Tu/Th 2:00-3:30
Louis Segal
Office Information: 3118 Dwinelle; 642 1116; [h] 655 6784
louis_segal@hotmail.com
Office Hours: 8:30-10:00 or by appt.
Description: This 101 is for history seniors who are specializing in Latin American and Inter-American history. The
emphasis of this 101 will be on research strategies, honing thesis questions, outlining, drafting and writing your senior
thesis on a subject that treats Latin American and Inter-American themes. Initially, we will read and discuss some
exemplary passages from classic essays on and histories of Latin American history with an eye towards both
methodological and historiographical questions. The first three or fours weeks of the course will be devoted to these
joint readings and guided group discussions. As we examine these "big" questions, the 101 students will
simultaneously also hone their own research project and devise strategies to complete their research paper in a
timely fashion. As we move into the middle weeks of the semester, the weekly seminar meeting will become
secondary to individual research and regular, individual consultations with the instructor. At the end of the semester
the student will submit a journal-size [30 to 50 page] research paper. Towards the end of the course, we’ll
reconvene our class meetings for progress reports and findings.
Books: There is a Course Reader that is available at University Copy Service, 2425 Channing Way [510 549 2335]. You
should get that this week. There is a History 101 Handbook for Students that you need to download from the Department’s
website. The 101 Handbook recommends that you get the most recent edition of Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research
Papers, Theses, and Dissertations [7th edition] or the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers [7th edition]. I also highly
recommend that you have a recent copy of either for constant reference.
Course Schedule
Thesis description, primary and secondary sources
A précis of scholarly article [select from JSTOR or library]
A précis of 101 thesis [select a 101 thesis of interest] from History Library
Annotated bibliography
An thesis introductory paragraphs and/or outline
First draft
Revisions: second draft
Final draft
Completed thesis
101 Course Requirements and Grading
Attendance [includes punctuality] and participation:
Assignments [evaluation will consider content, form, and meeting deadlines]
Thesis description
Précis [101 thesis]
Précis [journal article]
Annotated bibliography
Introductory section and/or complete outline
First draft
Revisions: second draft
Final draft
Completed thesis
Due on January 24
Due on January 31
Due on February 7
Due on February 14
Due on February 21
Due on March 14
Due on April 2
Due on April 23
Due on May 2
20%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
40%
Course Calendar
Week One: Introductions and Library
January 22:
Introductions
Assignment [due on January 24]: Write a concise thesis description [one page], your secondary sources [one page],
your primary sources [one page].
January 24:
Meet in the Library [2:00 in 550C Moffett]
Read by January 29: Schama’s “Clio has a Problem,” Paz’s foreword, “The Flight of Quetzalcoatl,” and Womack’s
prologue to Zapata and the Mexican Revolution in the Course Reader
Assignment [due on January 31]: Write a one-to-two page précis on any academic journal article that interests you.
Week Two: Models and Methods
January 29:
Discussion of course readings
January 31:
Discussion of journal articles
Read by February 5: Keen’s “Main Currents,” Lockhart’s “Charles Gibson,” and Vanderwood’s “Resurveying the
Mexican Revolution” in the Course Reader.
Assignment [due on January 7]: Write a one-to-two page précis on any 101 thesis [to be found in the History
Library] that interests you.
Week Three: Historiography and Periodization
February 5:
Discussion of course readings
February 7:
Discussion of 101 theses
Read by February 12:
Davidson and Lytle’s “The View from the Bottom Rail” and Trouillot’s “”An Unthinkable
History” in Course Reader
Assignment [due on February 14]: Write a minimum of 4 pages of an annotated bibliography.
Week Four: Problems of Interpretation
February 12:
Discussion of course readings: problems and challenges
February 14:
Discuss note-taking and annotated bibliography
Read by February 19:
Brading’s “The Incas and the Renaissance” in the Course Reader
Assignment [due on February 21]: Write introductory paragraphs of thesis and/or clear thesis outline.
Week Five: Context and Mobilization
February 19:
Discuss interpretation and context and course readings.
February 21:
Form groups and schedule for remainder of semester.
Assignment [due on March 14]: First draft of your thesis
Week Six: Now is the time to write!
February 26:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
February 28:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
Assignment [due on March 14]: First draft of your thesis
Week Seven: Write on!
March 5:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
March 7:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
Assignment [due on March 14]: First draft of your thesis
Week Eight: And yet more!
March 12:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
March 14:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
Assignment [due on April 2]: Revisions and Second Draft
Week Nine: Breathe deep and have a compañero/a en letras look at your work. And write some more!
March 19:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
March 21:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
Assignment [due on April 2]: Revisions and Second Draft
Week Ten: Spring Break. Break is a euphemism. You must edit and cross the T’s and dot the I’s, track down the last
sources.
Week Eleven: Hasta siempre la escritura!
April 2:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
April 4:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
Assignment [due on April 23]: Write your final draft. Include scholarly apparatus, bibliography.
Week Twelve: Read and reflect. And Write.
April 9:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
April 11:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
Assignment [due on April 23]: Write your final draft. Include scholarly apparatus, bibliography.
Week Thirteen: You’re almost there! Write on!
April 16:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
April 18:
Individual consultations in my office on 2-4
Assignment [due on April 23]: Write your final draft. Include scholarly apparatus, bibliography.
Week Fourteen:
April 23:
April 25:
Convene again as a whole
Discuss our projects
Discuss our projects
Assignment [due on May 2]: Polish your thesis. It must be turned in on May 2.
Week Fifteen: Final classes
April 30:
Discuss our projects
May 2:
Discuss our projects. Turn in your Senior Thesis.