Reading History •
Lessons from HistoriographyComplete the following reading selections by the listed date and come to class prepared to discuss these questions:
What is the historical question, or questions, that the author seeks to answer?
What is the author's argument? Are multiple arguments proposed?
How does the author approach the topic?
How does the author organize the work?
What are the author's sources and how well are they used?
Does the work reflect an identifiable bias or point of view? How might this have influenced the conclusions?
When was the work first published?
What else do you notice about the way the author has crafted this work?
September 3, Wednesday: An introduction to cultural scholarship
• Lawrence Levine, "The Folklore of Industrial Society: Popular Culture and Its Audiences" in The American Historical Review (December, 1992), pp. 1369-1399; access via jstor.org
• Lawrence Levine, "The Historian and the Icon" in The Unpredictable Past, pp. 256-290
• Shane and Graham White, "The Long-Veiled Beauty" in Stylin', pp. 180-219
September 8, Monday: Exploring gender, youth, and class in mass culture
• Paula S. Fass, "Introduction" and "Symbols of Liberation" in The Damned and the Beautiful, pp. 1-9, 291-326
• Lizabeth Cohen, "Introduction" and "Encountering Mass Culture" in Making a New Deal, pp. 1-9, 99-158
• Eric Avila, "A Rage for Order" in Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight, pp. 106-144
September 10, Wednesday: Understanding the culture of war
• John W. Dower, "Know Your Enemy," "Apes and Others," and images in War Without Mercy, pp. 15-32, 77-93, 181-190
• Paul Fussell, "Chickenshit, An Anatomy," "Fresh Idiom," and "The Real War Will Never Get in the Books" in Wartime, pp. 79-95, 251-297
Assigned readings are in the Course Reader, available at Copy Central, 2560 Bancroft Way.
Beginning Research •
Choosing a Topic and Exploring Sources
September 12, Friday: PAPER PROSPECTUS due
A formal Paper Prospectus should be roughly 3 pages in length and must include the following:
• Title. Encapsulate your topic.
• Concise statement of the thesis. In one or two sentences, explain your overarching argument. What historical question do you plan to answer? Remember, this is not a topic description, but a statement of what you intend to demonstrate.
• Proposed framework. In a few paragraphs, describe the issues you will address and how these will support your argument. How will your research answer your historical question? This, like your thesis, may change a bit as you dig deeply into your research materials, but take a stab.
• Discussion of research materials. In one or two paragraphs, offer an overview of a few of the primary sources you intend to draw on and any secondary literature you plan to consult.
• Timeline. In one or two paragraphs, lay out a plan for your research and your first round of writing, up to the Rough Draft. How much time will you spend mining your primary sources? Secondary literature? Do you anticipate any special circumstances (e.g., interlibrary loan) that may delay your timeline?
No email submissions. Place a hard copy in my mailbox in 3229 Dwinelle no later than 4pm, Friday, September 12.
September 26, Friday: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY due
A proper Annotated Bibliography includes a comprehensive list of your sources, both primary and secondary. List these either chronologically (by original publication date) or alphabetically. For each, provide a complete citation and a paragraph describing the source, its significance for your paper, and your current access to it (whether you already have a copy, you've placed a request for it, you plan to visit a library out of town to view it, etc.). You may add or subtract from this list along the way, but this bibliography should serve as a key research checklist.
No email submissions. Place a hard copy in my mailbox in 3229 Dwinelle no later than 4pm, Friday, September 26.
Crafting the Paper •
Drafts, Critiques, and Revisions
October 27 , Monday: ROUGH DRAFT due
You are advised to submit a complete Rough Draft, one that resembles a final paper. This will be the only draft that I and your peer reviewer will see before you submit your Final Draft; the more thorough this draft is, the more helpful our feedback will be. At the very least, your draft should include a detailed outline that displays how the paper will progress and how your thesis will unfold. It should integrate most (if not all) of your research and must include examples of proper footnote citations.
Bring TWO copies to submit in class, Monday, October 27. No email submissions.
November 3, 5, & 10: ORAL PRESENTATIONS and PEER REVIEWS
This assignment is in two parts.
First, you will prepare a 20 minute presentation of your paper to deliver to the group. Discuss in detail your topic, your argument, and your conclusions. Also, explain to us what is significant and exciting about your research, chat about the current state of your project, and feel free to discuss any challenges you've encountered along the way. You will be asked to field questions from the group and to respond to the constructive feedback offered by your peer reviewer.
Second, you will read one classmate's Rough Draft. In one to two typed pages, offer your classmate a list of constructive suggestions for improvement. For instance, note where the author's points could be clarified or expanded and give your overall impression of the overarching argument and the author's conclusions. Bring two copies to class; you'll give one to your classmate and one to me. Finally, come to class prepared to ask the author thoughtful questions in response to his or her Oral Presentation referring, if you'd like, to your written review.
Bring TWO copies of the Peer Review list to submit in class. Oral Presentations and Peer Reviews will be scheduled early in the semester.
The Final Draft •
Congratulations!
December 3, Wednesday: FINAL PAPER due
Your final paper is due and must be submitted to the History Main Office, 3229 Dwinelle, no later than 4:00 pm. You must print and submit TWO COPIES. One copy must include 2 title pages: a standard title page (title, your name, course, instructor name, and term) and a second title page omitting your name. Be sure your name does not appear on any page other than the title page in either draft. Spell-check and proof-read your work and be certain to follow each of the required specifications for the Final Draft. Finally, celebrate your accomplishment!
• typed with 1.0" margins all around
• Times New Roman 12-pt font
• double-spaced
• numbered pages
• title page, including the title of your paper, your full name, the name of the course and instructor, and the term
• bibliography
• footnote citations in proper Chicago Style format; absolutely no in-text parentheticals
• 30 to 40 pages in length, not including the bibliography and title page
• do not include your name on any page other than the title page
• staple pages together; papers should not be bound
More information on paper specifications will be offered in class.
Bring TWO COPIES to submit to the History Main Office, 3229 Dwinelle, Wednesday, December 3. No email submissions.
