Course Objectives

In this course you will "do" history. In other words, History 201 introduces students to the strategies, methods, and critical thinking skills historians use to apply their craft. The class is required for history majors, but offers the opportunity to learn research and writing strategies that benefit anyone interested in improving their critical thinking skills. Specifically, students are exposed to the standard historical methods for conducting scholarly research, interpreting and collecting primary and secondary evidence, evaluating historiography, and writing quality book reviews and research papers. We will discuss issues concerning academic integrity, ethics and scholarship, public history and popular memory, and the teaching of history. The course will also introduce students to a variety of technological tools employed by historians. Finally, we will examine possible careers and other opportunities for history graduates.

Students should plan sufficient study time each week to complete the reading assignments, post required responses to the course Blackboard website, conduct research in the library and in online resources, as well as write. It is essential to keep up with the weekly assignments in order to do well in the course. The standard rule is that you should spend at least 2 hours outside class for every hour in class. This is a 3 credit course so you should plan on a minimum of six hours per week for working on assignments outside of class.

Weekly assignments are part of a multi-step process designed to help you hone skills necessary for completing a high quality 12-15 page historical research paper.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and be able to discuss historiography as an important tool used by historians to better understand the human experience.

• Strengthen research skills used in gathering primary and secondary historical evidence.

• Strengthen analytical skills used for interpreting the past and beyond.

• Develop a thesis and use evidence to logically answer a historical research question through writing and revision.

• Strengthen skills for evaluating and identifying different perspectives.

• Identify strategies for strengthening success-oriented skills such as planning ahead, avoiding procrastination, turning assignments in on time, and collaboration.

Attendance and Class Participation

Students are required to purchase CPS clickers for this class. Attendance is mandatory and I will take attendance using the clickers at each class.  Attendance and class Participation is an important part of your final grade, so simply coming to class and engaging in class discussions and clicker surveys/quizzes will help to boost your final grade. On the other hand, you will be penalized 10 points for each unexcused absence. Assignment due dates are NOT flexible. Late assignments will be penalized one letter grade per day. Note; the CPS clickers will register your attendance, so don't forget your clicker and keep fresh batteries on hand.

The Course Schedule may be found on the Blackboard Website and at http://www.research.umbc.edu/~lindenme/hist201/schedule.htm

The UMBC Office of the Registrar dates and deadlines for the Spring 2008 term is available at: http://www.umbc.edu/registrar/schedule/S08dates&deadlines.html

Academic Integrity

I expect students enrolled in this course to uphold the UMBC Policy on Academic Integrity http://www.umbc.edu/provost/integrity/acc_policy/. In the Spring of 2002, the UMBC Faculty and Student Senates adopted the following statement emphasizing the importance of academic integrity:

Online Blackboard Syllabus

• This course has a web-based syllabus that utilizes UMBC's Blackboard software. All students registered for this course are automatically enrolled in the Blackboard Course Website. ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING THIS COURSE FROM ME, THE TEACHING ASSISTANTS, AND YOUR PEERS WILL GO TO YOUR UMBC EMAIL ACCOUNT UNLESS YOU CHANGE THE PERSONAL INFORMATION AT YOUR BLACKBOARD LOGIN. Instructions for changing your personal information is available online at: http://www.umbc.edu/oit/newmedia/blackboard/personalinformation.html
• Helpdesk personnel in the on campus computer labs can assist with any questions or problems you might encounter when trying to use Blackboard or your UMBC email account.
• The UMBC Office of Instructional Technology maintains a helpdesk at 410-455-3838 (ECS 20) and has a good website at: http://www.umbc.edu/oit/.

I will send all email messages to your UMBC email account unless you change your email address on Blackboard as referenced above (yourusername@umbc.edu) through the personal information section (http://www.umbc.edu/oit/newmedia/blackboard/personalinformation.html). If you do not want to check your UMBC account, change your address in Blackboard, or have all messages to your UMBC account forwarded to your preferred email address (such as aol, hotmail, gmail, yahoo, etc.). For help with this procedure, or if you have other questions about UMBC's Office of Information Technology services visit the OIT helpsite at http://www.umbc.edu/oit/. Helpdesk personnel in the on-campus computer labs can help with most questions. Also feel free to visit me during my office hours or make an appointment (lindenme@umbc.edu). The helpdesk phone number is 410-455-3838.

Required Items to Purchase

• Richard Marius and Melvin E. Page. A Short Guide to Writing About History. 6th ed.
• CPS Clicker (you may only return the clicker if you have NOT broken the seal) These are only available for purchase at the UMBC bookstore. Students may use the same CPS clicker for any course that requires their use.

Recommended, but not required:

• Kate Turabian. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed.

World Wide Web Documents

• Assigned readings are also linked to the syllabus through the Course Lecture and Assignment Schedule.

  Course Requirements

  • Blackboard Discussion Group Assignments (5@10 points each--50 points) Students should prepare to discuss the assigned readings during class meetings and on the online Blackboard Discussion Board (found under "Communications"). Required on-line postings (to the Blackboard Discussion Board) are due before class. Details are explained on the Course Schedule.
  • Class Participation and Attendance I will generally take attendance using the CPS clickers. Attendance is mandatory, but I understand that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances that keep students from attending a class. You must tell me in advance (at least by midnight the day of the class) if you need to miss a lecture, or you will be penalized 10 points.
  • Library Research Trail (100 points) This assignment will take you on a "tour" of the UMBC library using a variety of sources helpful to historians. You should use the trail to help you build a prospective bibliography for your research paper.
  • Prospective Bibliography (100 points) A prospective list of books, articles, archival materials, oral histories, etc. that will serve as the major sources for your term paper. This is a prospective bibliography so it is understood that you will probably not be able to actually utilize all of the materials you identify for this list. Be sure to follow the format guidelines for a bibliography spelled out in Marius/Page and writing handbooks such as Kate Turabian's Guide to Writing Theses and Dissertations, as well as the Department of History's Stylesheet.
  • Book Review (100 points) Students must write a book review of not more than 1000 words (equivalent to about 4 pages double-spaced typed 10 pt or 12pt text). Be sure to follow the specific guidelines for this assignment. All book reviews must be turned-in in a print and digital form (posted to the Course Discussion Board).
  • 1st Draft (50 points). A 4-5 page draft of your final paper.
  • 2nd Draft (100 points) A 8-10 page draft of your final paper.
  • Final Research Paper (400 points). A 12-15 page formal research paper on an approved topic. Late papers will be penalized 50 points per day.
  • Peer Evaluation (50 points) You will be assigned another student's paper to review. Post your analysis to your assigned Blackboard Discussion Board.
  • Museum or Historical Site Visit and Evaluation (50 points) Due by May 7th) Sometime during the semester, but no later than May 1st, students are required to visit a museum or historical site in the Baltimore-Washington area. Your assignment is to write a brief evaluation (no more than 250 words) about the site's presentation. The museum or historical site you choose should have some relevance to your research topic. In other words, it should be on a time period or topic related to your research question. Post your evaluation to your assigned subgroup discussion board (the topic subgroup) under the thread: "Museum-Historical Site Visit."
  • Out-of-class Events Students may earn up to 50 extra credit points by attending and evaluating approved out-of-class events. You may earn up to 25 points per event. All evaluations should be submitted to my email account lindenme@umbc.edu. All extra credit evaluations are due within one week of the approved event.