University Studies Course Approval
Department or Program:
Course Number: 496
HISTORY
Number of Credits: 3
Course Title: Senior Research Seminar II
Catalog Description
In-depth research and writing on selected topics in the spring semester. In this course, students will complete
the writing of a major research paper begun in History 495. Students will conduct research based on primary
research materials gathered in 495: Senior Research Seminar I, and they will write the paper in Senior
Research Seminar II. Prerequisites: History, Law and Society or Social Science/History Major status, senior
standing, History 298, History 495, and permission of the instructor.
This is an existing course that has previously been approved by A2C2: No
This is a new course proposal: Yes
University Studies Requirement this course would satisfy: Writing Flag
Department Contact for this Course:
Marianna Byman
Email: mbyman@winona.edu
History 496: Senior Research Seminar II
University Studies -- Writing Flag
History 496: Senior Seminar II will address the outcomes specified for the University Studies Writing Flag as follows:
Practice the processes and procedures for creating and completing successful writing in their fields.
The centerpiece of the course is the production of a major historical research paper. Students will work from a
historiographic introduction and research plan developed in 495: Senior Research Seminar I. The process will
involve students in writing one section at a time, peer and instructor review of it, and revision, repeated for each
section of the paper.
Understand the main features and uses of writing in their fields.
Students will gain an enhanced understanding of the feature and uses of writing in the field by producing a
major research paper, receiving peer and instructor feedback each step of the way. The will have the
opportunity to experience he full range historical research possibilities and limitations that historians confront as
researchers.
Adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their fields.
Students will receive peer and instructor feedback on successive drafts of their paper, giving them the
opportunity to adjust their writing to these expectations.
Make use of the technologies commonly used for research and writing in their fields.
There is no norm for technology use in the field, and the course will convey this fact to students.
Learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields.
The course will enhance students’ understanding of the conventions of evidence use through writing the
research paper and receiving peer and instructor feedback on their writing. In addition, the course will require
students to use the Chicago Manual of Style for guidance in documentation style.
Department: History
Date: October 9, 2003
Proposal for: New Course
Course Title: Senior Research Seminar II
New Course Proposal
Course No. 496
Course Title: Senior Research Seminar II
Credits: 3
Frequency of Offering: Annually
Prerequisites: History, Law and Society or Social Science/History Major status, senior standing, History
298, History 495, and permission of the instructor.
Grading:
Applies to:
XX Grade Only
__P/NC
__P/NC Option
XX Major
___Minor
__General Education
XX Elective (Law and Society and Social Science/History)
XX Required (History Major)
A. Course Description
1. Catalog Description
In-depth research and writing on selected topics in the spring semester. In this course, students
will complete the writing of a major research paper begun in History 495. Students will conduct
research based on primary research materials gathered in 495: Senior Research Seminar I, and
they will write the paper in Senior Research Seminar II. Prerequisites: History, Law and Society
or Social Science/History Major status, senior standing, History 298, History 495, and permission
of the instructor.
2. Course Outline of Major Topics and Subtopics
There is no one single outline since the topics will vary from term to term and student to student.
The course, however, will feature assignments that fulfill requirements of the University Studies
Writing Flag consistently. Each offering of the course will require students to:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Write a significant research paper
Meet interim deadlines for production of parts of the paper
Provide oral progress reports to the class
Serve as peer reviewer for other students¹ papers
3. Basic Instructional Plan
The bulk of the term will be devoted to class discussion, independent writing of research paper,
oral progress reports, and peer (as well as instructor) evaluation of written work.
4. Course Requirements
Students will be graded according to their record of meeting deadlines and participations as peer
reviewers, as well as the quality of the final draft of their papers. The writing process and
requirements will be such that they will fulfill those specified for the University Studies Writing
Flag.
5. Course materials
Students will make use of the Chicago Manual of Style for guidance in documentation, but there
is no one single or group of textbooks for the course since the topics will vary from term to term
and student to student.
6. List of References
There is no single list of references since the topics will vary from term to term and student to
student.
B. Rationale
1. Statement of Major Focus and Objectives
Students will write a significant research paper on a topic selected and researched in History 495:
Senior Research Seminar I. This research course is required of all History Major Program
students, and serves as an option for students in the Law and Society Program and Social
Science/History. The particular topics explored will, naturally, vary from student to student. The
paper is the capstone experience for history majors.
Following several Assessment Day focus group interviews with students and an external
consultant review, the department decided that students needed added time to prepare senior
research papers. A one-semester course, even one that carried 4 credits, did not permit sufficient
time for students to identify the topic, read the relevant secondary literature, identify research
materials, conduct the research and write a major paper of 50 or so pages. Consequently, the
department decided to restructure the seminar, creating a new course (History 496: Senior
Research Seminar II) and converting History 495 from a 4-credit course to a 3-credit course. This
new structure provides students more time to devote to the project (a major concern voiced at
several Assessment Day sessions), and the 6 credits will more accurately reflect the amount of
work students put into the project. Dividing the seminar into two 3-credit courses permits
instructors to base one course (Senior Research Seminar I) grade largely on the work put into
the research and base the grade for the second course (Senior Research Seminar II) largely on
the quality of the final draft of the paper.
The net result of this change will be that the semester credits for the senior research seminar
experience will increase from 4 to 6.
D. University Studies Course Proposals
The department is proposing this course as a University Studies/Writing Flag course. The University
Studies papers are accompanying this proposal.
Sample Syllabus
History 496: Senior Research Seminar II
3 Credits
University Studies – Writing Flag
In this course students will complete the writing of their senior research paper. The paper will be in the
neighborhood of 50 pages. It needs to use the documentation style common to the field and described in detail in
the Chicago Manual of Style, copies of which are available in both the library and the History Department office. You
can also expect to serve as a peer reviewer for the work of at least one other student.
Course Requirements:
Each student will be graded according to the following:
20%
Participating as peer reviewer
20%
Meeting deadlines for oral reports and paper sections
60%
Final draft of paper
University Studies Note:
This course fulfills the requirements for the University Studies Writing Flag. As such, it addresses the University
Studies/Writing Flag outcomes as follows:
Practice the processes and procedures for creating and completing successful writing in their fields.
The course requires you to complete a senior research paper. For each section of the paper, you will prepare a
draft, submit it for peer and instructor review, and revise it in light of the comments you receive. You will gain
further understanding of the process by serving as a peer reviewer for at least one other student’s work.
Understanding the main features and uses of writing in their fields.
You will gain an enhanced understanding of the features and uses of writing in the field of history through the
process of writing, receiving criticism, and revising your work.
Adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their fields.
Your writing will receive instructor and peer feedback that will help you make appropriate adjustments in your
writing.
Make use of the technologies commonly used for research and writing in their fields.
There is no norm for technology use in the field of history, and the process of writing your paper and serving
as a peer reviewer will make that clear.
Learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields.
The course will enhance your understanding of the conventions of evidence use through writing and revision of
your work. In addition, the course will require you to use the Chicago Manual of Style for guidance in
documentation style.
Course Schedule:
Week 1
Introduction and peer review guidelines
Week 2
Draft paper outline due
Oral reports and peer review of outlines
Week 3
Instructor conferences
Week 4
Revised outline due
Oral reports and peer review
Week 5-14
Each week you will prepare a section of the paper and serve as a peer reviewer for at least one
other paper.
Week 15
Final draft of paper due