SYLLABUS
HSTR 4181: TOPICS IN ORAL HISTORY - METHODOLOGY
FALL 2013
Monday 10:30 AM – 1:20 PM
Room 209
Instructor: Al Lowe, MA, DMin
Adjunct Professor of History
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today at TAMUCT.org/UNILERT
1.0
COURSE OVERVIEW: This course explores the origin, definition,
methodology, justification of oral history; conduct a project including preparation,
performance, transcription, and analysis of an oral history project. The student will be
required to become certified by the National Institutes of Health, Protecting Human
Research Participants (PHRP).
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COURSE OBJECTIVE: The student will
Understand theories and methodology of oral history.
Create and conduct own oral history project.
Contribute to the Oral History Project of TAMUCT.
2.1
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
The student will have a basic working knowledge of oral history and the methodology to
prepare, conduct, and analyze an oral history interview.
3.0
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4.0
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REQUIRED READING and TEXTBOOKS
Donald A. Ritchie. Doing Oral History. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press,
2003.
Lynn Abrams. Oral History Theory. NY: Routledge, 2010.
National Institutes of Health, Protecting Human Research Participants Course.
(online) http://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/login.php
Audio Recorder
Video Recorder (optional)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
PHRP: Student must complete the online training course and submit to the
instructor a hard-copy of the certificate before being conducting oral history
interviews. Multiple attempts are allowed.
http://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/login.php
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TAMUCT Project: Student will complete not less than one (1) oral history
project including
o Project
o Questions
o Contact interviewee, arrange time and place for interview
o Proper use of equipment
o Transcript
o Analysis
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION
o To succeed in this course the student must
 Attend scheduled classes
 Participate in discussions
 Meet deadlines
 Complete PHRP on line certification
MANDATORY:
o To conduct oral history interviews and receive a passing grade for this
course, the student must participate in and receive certification of
completion of the PHRP training course.
GRADING CRITERIA RUBIC: 1,000 points possible
Sep 30
Test #1:
 Define Oral History
50 points
 Compare/contrast Oral History/Tradition
50 points
Oct 21
 “Interview”
50 points
 Transcribe in class questions.
50 points
Oct 28
 PHRP turn in date (can be submitted earlier)
Nov 18
 Project purpose statement
100 points
 Not less than five project questions
100 points
Dec 09
 Complete Project
o Purpose Statement
50 points
o Contact/appointment
50 points
o Interview
100 points
o Transcription/Analysis
100 points
 Class attendance & participation
100 points
100 points
100 points
200 points
200 points
400 points
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE 1,000
900 – 1,000
800 – 899
700 – 799
A
B
C
600-699
000-599
D
F
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KEY DATES:
Oct 28: Hard Copy PHRP Certification due (can be submitted early). The certificate can
be turned in as LATE WITH PENALTY on November 18. The penalty for turn in after
October 28 is 10 points for each class (including holidays) the project is late. If not
turned in by November 18, student will not pass the class. Participation in the oral
history project requires the student to successfully complete and present to the instructor
PHRP Certification.
6.0
COURSE CALENDAR
Aug 26
Introduction of Course
Sep 02
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY: NO CLASS
Sep 09
 Readings for class
o Ritchie 1, 2
o Abrams 1, 2
 PHRP explained, assigned http://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/login.php
 Oral History definition
 “OH v Tradition”
Sep 16
 Methodology: Preparation of the Project
 ASSIGNMENT: Write, be prepared to present a Preparation Paragraph
Sep 23
 Methodology: Preparation of Project
 Student present Preparation Paragraph
Sep 30
 TEST
o Define Oral History
o Compare / Contrast Oral History v Tradition
Oct 07
 Reading for class
o Ritchie 3
o Abrams 3, 4
 Methodology: Questions
 ASSIGNMENT: Write, be prepared to ask five questions
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Oct 14
 Methodology: Questions
o Bring Recorder
o Student will ask questions to another student, recording the event
o Student will transcribe event for turn in as GRADED EVENT Oct 21
Oct 21
 Turn in Transcript: GRADED EVENT
 Analysis
Oct 28
 PHRP Certification Due: GRADED EVENT
 Reading for class
o Ritchie 4
o Abrams 5, 6
 Justification
Nov 4: STUDENT PROJECT ASSIGNMENT
 Reading for Class
o Ritchie 1-4
o Abrams 3-6
 Explain project, distribute interviewee
o Individual Project
o Contact interviewee
o Arrange time, place for interview
o Prepare your questions
o Practice
o Check equipment
o Conduct interview
o Transcribe interview
o Analysis of interview
Nov 11:
VETERANS DAY – NO CLASS
Nov 18:
Discussion of the project
 LAST DAY TO TURN IN PHRP CERTIFICATION WITH PENALTY
Nov 25:
Instructor in class, available for guidance
Dec 02
Instructor in class, available for guidance
Dec 09 :
TURN IN YOUR PROJECT; can turn in earlier, but not later!
 Purpose Statement
 Questions
 Unrestricted Oral History Deed of Gift Agreement
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Recording (CD)
Transcript (hard copy)
Analysis (hard copy)
7.0
DROP POLICY
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and
ask for the necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the
responsibility of the student. The record’s office will provide a deadline for which the
form must be returned, completed, and signed. Return the signed form to the records
office, wait 24 hours, go into Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If
you are still enrolled, FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately. You are to
attend class until the procedure is complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you
miss the deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will receive an “F” in the course.
8.0
ACADEMIC INTERGRITY
Texas A&M University Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of
personal and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty included, but is not limited to, cheating on an
examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource
materials. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of
academic dishonesty. More information can be found at
www.tamuct.org/studentconduct.
9.0
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES
If you have or believe you have a disability, you may wish to self-identify. You can do
so by providing documentation to the Academic Support Programs Coordinator.
Students are encouraged to seek information about accommodations to help assure
success in this class. Additional information can be found at
www.tamuct.org/studentAffairs.
10.0 TUTORING
Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects
tutored include Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA and
MLA). Tutors are available at the Tutoring Center in Founder’s Hall, Room 204, and
also in the library in the North Building. Visit www.ct.tamus.edu/AcademicSupport and
click “Tutoring Support” for tutor schedules and contact info. If you have questions or if
you are interested in becoming a tutor, contact Ryan Thompson at 254-519-5796 or by
email at rthomp8@ct.tamus.edu.
Tutor.com is an online tutoring platform that enables TAMUCT students to log-in and
receive FREE online tutoring and writing support. This tool provides tutoring in
Mathematics, Writing, Career Writing, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Spanish, Calculus,
and Statistics. Chat live with a tutor 24/7 for any subject on your computer. To access
Totor.com, click on www.tutor.com/tamuct. If you have any trouble logging in, contact
Ryan Thompson at 254-519-5796 or rthomp8@ct.tamus.edu.
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11.0 LIBRARY SERVICES
INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to
live and work in an information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in
the development of critical reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use
of secondary research techniques. Help may include, yet is not limited to: exploration of
information resources such as library collections and services, identification of subject
databases and scholarly journals, and execution of effective search strategies. Library
Resources are outlined and accessed at
http://www.tarleton.edu/centraltexas/departments/library
12.0
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INSTRUCTOR POLICIES
Late Work: In the student needs to miss an assignment or exam deadline, s/he is
encouraged to notify the instructor in advance. Arrangements can be made for
such events. If the student misses an assignment or exam without notification, it
is the students responsibility to arrange for a time to make up that assignment or
exam. There is a 25% penalty for assignment or exam make-up without
notification.
PHRP Certification has a deadline of October 28. Early submission of certificate
accepted. Certification can be submitted after October 28 with a penalty of 10
points per class meeting the certification is not turned in through November 18.
PHRP Certification will not be accepted after November 18. If the PHRP
Certification is not turned in by November 18, student will not pass the class. It is
the responsibility of the student to drop the class. See DROP POLICY above.
Participation in the oral history project requires the student to successfully
complete and present to the instructor a PHRP Certification.
INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
“I take seriously my responsibility to evaluate students’ historical understanding, to
provide substantive and timely feedback, to assist students in improving their individual
abilities in research and writing skills in Oral History.”
The Instructor reserves the right to amend this syllabus at any time!
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