Fall 2010

Huston-Tillotson University

HIST 4338 Historical Methods

Instructor:

Name: Alaine S. Hutson

Office:  J-M 202

Phone: 512-505-3117

Email: ashutson@htu.edu

Conference Hours: MWF 10-11am, MW 3:30-4pm and TTH 3-3:30pm

Meeting Time/Day:

MWF 2:00-2:50 pm

Evans 206

Required Textbook:

James Davidson and Mark Lytle, After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection. 6th Edition.

Norman Wilson, History in Crisis?: Recent Directions in Historiography. 2^nd Edition

Judith Moyer "Step by Step Guide to Oral History" http://dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/oralHistory.html

And “How to read 18^th Century British-American writing” http://dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/writing.html

Other materials:

A eRacer/my.HTU  account and an HTU email account are required. You are to check your eRacer/my.HTU account every class period for the first two weeks while Dr. Hutson is away. Once Dr. Hutson is in class on Week 3 you can check eRacer and your HTU email at least once a week. I will post the assignments and readings for the next week by 2pm on Fridays on eRacer.

Course Content: Historiography is a class designed to teach students to understand the theoretical and methodological schools and strategies of writing history.

Course Goal(s): Writing history is an act of interpretation over the years. We will learn what factors influenced the historians of the past and present and what tools they utilized in an effort to find verifiable evidence that shines light on the past.

HT Core Competencies

Ÿ  Analysis/Problem-solving/Critical Thinking: 

Ÿ  Effective Communication: 

Ÿ  Efficient Use of Technology: 

Ÿ  Ethical Reasoning and Behavior: 

Course Requirements: This course requires that you keep up with the schedule of readings on this syllabus and complete all exams and 5 papers assigned.

Method of Instruction: Class lectures and note taking; readings from required textbooks and supplementary sources; writing papers based on those readings; examinations - multiple choice and short answer; and class discussion of course materials.

Participation: Class participation will improve your understanding of the material and will count as 10% of your final grade and includes assignments. Students may ask questions after class and during office hours, but are encouraged to ask questions during discussions in class so that other students can benefit.

Attendance: Attendance of lectures and discussions is strongly advised.  Attendance will be kept at every class meeting. More than 3 absences will affect your participation grade.  Lectures will include material not covered in the readings and students will be tested on some material only covered in lectures.  Lectures may be recorded, but good note taking is important.  Short supplemental readings may also be placed on my website.  It is the responsibility of the student to drop the class if they so desire.  Not attending class does NOT constitute withdrawal.  If you stop attending class and do not withdraw from class, you will receive an "F" as a final grade.

Lateness: Coming late to class and leaving early is a distraction to other students and to the instructor. If you are having difficulties getting to class on time or need to leave early, see the instructor.

Late assignments: Late assignments will receive no credit; less than five per semester in the proper sequence will result in the dropping of a letter grade.

Policy on Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty includes any form of cheating, plagiarism, falsification of records, collusion, or giving false information to any College official. See the College Bulletin for definition of terms, penalties, and procedures for appealing dishonesty. Instructors have the option to recommend a grade of ‘F’ for the course if dishonesty is proven.

Evaluation Methods/Exams/Grading: Your main textbook After the Fact has a website http://psi.mcgraw-hill.com/current/psi.php?editionId=3 which will be crucial to the class. Each assigned chapter has an online component complete with primary sources (documents, maps and pictures of artifacts) relevant to the chapter. You are to select four topics (1 for class sections I and III and 2 for section II) of your choice and use the material from the website to form your paper and turn the papers into me via eRacer by 5 pm one day before the topic will be discussed in class. Each assignment should be at least one page, 12 point font, double-spaced. You will be asked in class to discuss your paper. You will all write a 5^th paper based on an oral history interview conducted during the Thanksgiving break. You will also be required to find an appropriate outside grant or scholarship and apply for it and to find an academic article on a “grand” historical theory and present it during the scheduled final exam time.

In addition you will have two exams (1^st exam - October 1^st - is 20% of final grade, 2^nd - November 11^th - is 25% of final grade).

Topic Papers 5 % x 5 = 25% ; Grant application 10%; Final presentation 10%; Two Exams 1^st 20% + 2^nd 25 %; and Class Participation and assignments 10% = 100%

Total percentage (100-90) A; (89-80) B; (79-70) C; (69-60) D; (59-0) F.

Incomplete Grades: Incomplete grades are allowed when a student is earning a passing grade and experiences a bona fide emergency which prevents the student from completing the semester’s work in a course. In accordance with the University’s policy, incomplete grades must be completed and the “I” removed from the student’s transcript by the end of the following semester.