HISTORY
201: INTRODUCTION TO HISTORICAL
METHODOLOGIES
Whitman College Fall 2003
TUES. 7:00 - 9:50 PM Maxey 302
Dr. Brian Dott
|
OFFICE: 225 Maxey |
Office Hours: MTTh
1-2 ; MW 4-5 |
|
PHONE: 527-5776 |
also available by
appointment |
Course Description: This course
is an introduction to the methods, techniques, and concepts used by
historians. While the main emphasis will
be on the methods of historical research and analysis, there will be material
on specific problems confronting historians in dealing with evidence and
interpretation. This course is designed
to demonstrate what history is, what it means, how it is written, explore
different types of history, and the different approaches historians take. In other words, this class will prepare you
to become historians.
Course Expectations: Emphasis will
be on discussion of the readings and writing. You must complete the assigned
readings and be prepared to discuss them in class. The course focuses on the development of the
skills of the historian. To help
facilitate this there are a number of different written assignments throughout
the semester. Each student will write a
critical analysis of an article and a book of their choice, related to their
research topic. Many of these
assignments are steps in the process of writing a research paper based upon
primary and secondary sources. The topic
for the research paper must be approved by me.
Books: available at
the bookstore
Arnold, John, History: A Very Short Introduction
Polachek, James, The Inner Opium War
Storey, William, Writing History
Turabian, Kate, A Manual for Writers
Wilson, Norman, History in Crisis?
Grading:
Discussion 15%
Article Analysis 10%
Source Analyses 10%
Book Analysis 10%
Historiographical Essay 15%
Annotated Bibliography 10%
Research Paper 30%
SCHEDULE
9/2: Introductions
Video: “Who Owns History?” an episode of Think Tank from 1994
Lecture: Overview
of the Opium War
9/9: Library Tour meet
at 7:00 at the Reference Desk
What is History?
Readings: Arnold, chapt. 1-3; Wilson, chapt. 1-2; Storey, Intro. & chapt. 1
9/16: Research Proposal Due Guest
Historian: Brian Dott
Types of History
Classic, Diplomatic view of the Opium War
Readings: Wilson, chapt. 3-4
Opium War: Costin,
excerpts from Great Britain and China
9/23: Postmodern & Postcolonial Histories Guest Historian:
David Schmitz
Revisionist / Apologist views of the Opium War?
Readings: Wilson, chapt. 5-7
Opium War: Wakeman “The Canton Trade and the Opium
War”;
Fairbank
“The Creation of the Treaty System”
9/30: Book
Review Due Guest
Historian: Jeremy Ball
Types of Sources
Readings: Arnold, chapt. 4-7; Storey, chapt. 2-4
Opium War: handout of Palmerston’s declaration of war
Commissioner
Lin's letter to Queen Victoria
The People of Canton
Against the English
10/7: Article Analysis &
Journal Tour Due Guest
Historian: Mike Bottoms
Historiography of the Opium War
Readings: Opium War: Basu historiography essay; Brook & Wakabayashi “Intro.”
10/14: Mid-Semester Break – No Class
10/21: Historiographical
Essay Due Guest Historian:
Lynn Sharp
Anthropology & the Opium War
Readings: Opium
War: Chun article
10/28: In-class Source Analysis Guest
Historian: Elyse Semerdjian
Excellent
Resource for finding Primary Sources
Reading a monograph
Readings: Opium
War: 2
book reviews of Polachek’s Inner Opium
War
Marianne
Bastid-Bruguiere’s review in Journal
Asian Stds via JSTOR
Antonia
Finnane’s review in Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs
Polachek,
Intro., Chapt. 1-2
11/4: 2nd Source
Analysis Due Guest
Historian: Kyra Nourse
Readings: Opium
War: Polachek, Chapt. 3-5
11/11: Annotated
Bibliography Due Guest
Historian: Trey Proctor
Assessing Polachek
Readings: Opium
War: Polachek, Chapt. 6-8
11/18: Research Paper Outline Due Guest Historian: Julie Charlip
Gender & the Opium War
Readings: Opium
War: McMahon article; excerpts from Daughter of Han
11/25: Thanksgiving Break – No Class
12/2: Writing Workshop Guest
Historian: Nina Lerman
Readings: Storey,
chapt. 5-10
12/9: Nationalism
& the Opium War
Film: “The Opium War”
Readings: Opium War: Zhiwei Xiao article
12/16: Research Paper Due by 5 pm
(Final’s Week, no class)
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RESEARCH PAPER
Researching and writing a 20-25 page paper is a major
part of this class. Most of the
assignments relate to researching and writing of the paper. You must
use primary sources in this paper.
While the paper will not exclusively depend upon primary documents, the
analysis of some significant primary materials is an essential component of the
assignment. The availability of primary
sources, therefore, is a main criteria in the selection of a topic. The paper should be based on a topic from a
history course you have already taken so you will have enough background
knowledge to conduct your research. The
topic must be specific and one that you can adequately cover in 20-25 pages and
in the time you have to conduct research.
Please be sure to discuss your topic with me.
1. RESEARCH PROPOSAL due at the beginning of class on 9/16
You need to discuss your ideas with the relevant faculty
member in the department. Any exceptions
to this will need my approval. The
proposal must include your topic, a preliminary thesis statement (i.e. an
argument you will be making), both the primary and secondary sources you have
identified so far, and any questions you have for me to answer. In addition, you must have the signature of a member of the history department. This is to demonstrate that you have talked
to them about your topic, and that they agree that there are primary sources
available for you to use and that the topic is one you can complete in a
semester.
2. HISTORIOGRAPHIC ESSAY due at the beginning of class on 10/21
This will be a discussion of the secondary sources you
are using, and the debates and controversies about your topic. In other words, what are the main interpretations
about your topic that currently exist and what are the questions you will
address in this debate.
3. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY due at the beginning of class on 11/11
You will divide your sources into primary and
secondary. You will begin each entry
with the source citation following the bibliographic format in Turabian. This will be followed by a short discussion
of what that particular source contains in relation to your topic (about 3-5
sentences for each source). At the end
of the bibliography you will list the various bibliographies and data-bases you
have used to find your sources. After
each one list the main categories, key words, or subject headings you used for
your search.
4. OUTLINE due
at the beginning of class on 11/18
The outline of your paper will include: a) a 2-4 page draft of your introduction
which includes a clear thesis statement (marked in bold), an indication of the
significance of your topic, and a discussion of the methodology or
methodologies you are using; b) an outline of the paper; c) questions you have
for me; and d) your annotated bibliography (corrected if necessary).
5. FINAL PAPER due by 5 pm on 12/16
Your final paper must include: a) a clear thesis statement and indication of
the significance of your topic; b) a
discussion of the relevant sources and historiography; c) a clear analysis and presentation of the
topic supported by primary and secondary research; d) proper historical citations; and e) a complete bibliography divided into
primary and secondary sources.
Your paper must be
double-spaced, with 1” margins, & 12 point font. Max. length = 25 pages.