"HIST 490A Senior Research Seminar Dewey Fall 2024" by Robert Dewey
 

Document Type

Syllabus

Publication Date

Fall 9-1-2024

Course Description

History 490, the capstone of your History major, allows you the opportunity to employ and refine the research, writing and communication skills you have developed over the past three years. The course entails completion of a significant research and writing project, one that requires a sophisticated approach to sources, analysis, argumentation and presentation. In the process you will: • identify and narrow an appropriate topic for research • participate in a process that emphasizes peer review and interaction • develop and support an argumentative thesis • collect and critically assess an array of primary and secondary source materials • situate your research in its historiographical and historic contexts • convey your thoughts and conclusions in an organized and consistent manner both in class and in written assignments • produce a polished essay of approximately 30-40 pages of text with additional pages for endnotes and bibliography (roughly 8500-9500 words, the length of a scholarly article or academic book chapter) Although secondary source material will assist the early exploration of selected topics, it is expected that the bulk of the paper will rely upon primary sources.

Student Outcomes

Students will be able to: Outcome: Analytical skills - evaluate historical arguments, historiographical debates and develop and frame historical arguments in their own work. Outcome: Expertise/depth - research and write an original, argumentative history paper that engages primary and secondary sources Outcome: Oral communication skills - communicate effectively in class discussions and final research presentation

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