HIST 300-02, The Historian's Craft: Methods and Approaches in the Study of History, Fall 2009

Abstract

This course represents your official introduction to the history major. As such, it focuses on the basics of historical analysis, including research skills, examination and evaluation of primary sources, historical argumentation, good writing and proper citation, use of historical memory, and public presentation skills. Throughout the semester, students will be involved in the process of researching, writing, and presenting an original work of historical scholarship. Each term, History 300 uses primary materials from a different event or era to focus student research and each semester students present their research at a “conference.” Our section will focus on 20th C Memphis history. Primary material needed for research is housed either in the Special Collections department of the McWherter Library, University of Memphis, or in the Memphis Room of the Memphis Public Library on Poplar Ave. Let the instructor know if you do not have transportation so that she can help you focus on materials more readily available. We learn to write well by reading good writers and analyzing how they conducted their research and made convincing arguments. Thus while the final goal in this course is an original research paper, you also will do considerable reading on other topics. This is probably your first seminar course. A seminar means is that everyone shares in the responsibility of making the class vital and lively. This class represents your history “family” for the next 15 weeks. My assessment of your accomplishments in this course will depend on how you facilitate the learning of others as well as yourself.