HIST 485-01, Senior Seminar, Fall 2012

Abstract

The college requires that all majors have a “capstone” course to bring together theory, skills, and content of the major into one final assessment. In many departments, the Senior Seminar experience is centered on an original research paper. In history, you have already had that experience (and perhaps still are doing so) in other 400-level seminars. So our Senior Seminar is designed to (1) hone your critical and analytical skills about how and why a wide range of historians have designed their research and constructed their written works in the way that they have; (2) enhance your ability to cogently discuss the merits of a work and articulately disagree with others in the seminar, including the instructor; (3) improve your essay writing, both its construction and its clarity; (4) test your ability to lead the seminar discussion; (5) develop a philosophy of history; (6) enjoy being part of a smart and savvy cohort.