COLLOQUIUM IN U.S. HISTORY

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Course Description: History 650 is designed as a survey of recent scholarly literature on selected historical topics in the Civil War and Reconstruction Era. Through reading, class discussion, and preparation of reviews and a longer essay, students are expected to enhance their knowledge of the historiography of the period and to sharpen their skills in evaluating those works. The goal of the course is to prepare students for intensive research in the mid-nineteenth-century United States history.

Nature and Amount of Student Responsibilities: The success of this course depends upon the completion of the reading assignments and participation in colloquium discussion by the students. If a student falls behind in his/her readings she/he will soon find it difficult to follow the subject matter of the discussion or join in it. Students should feel free to ask questions about unclear material at any time during the class. Students also should feel free to talk to the instructor about any course-related problems especially in cases when a student believes that his/her assignment grades do not accurately reflect her/his performance in the course.

There will be five types of graded assignments for students in this course:

1) Leading a Weekly Discussion. Each member of the course is expected to assume responsibility for facilitating the colloquium discussion of one assigned book. The first part of this assignment is for the student to provide copies of a 5-6 typed page handout for each member of the colloquium. This handout should include such elements as a brief summary of the book's contents, analysis of the author's methodological approach, and an overall appraisal of the book's contribution to historical knowledge. The second part of the assignment is for the student to initiate the class's discussion of the book. Typically, this will require the student to present a 10-15 minute oral appraisal of the principal strengths and weaknesses of the book, then to respond to comments and questions from other members of the colloquium concerning both his/her written and oral reports, and, finally, to pose questions designed to elicit the opinion of the other students regarding the book. (This assignment will count 15% toward the final course grade.)

2) Preparing a Biographical Sketch of an Author. Each member of the course is expected to prepare a written biographical sketch of the author of one week's assigned reading. This assignment will require the student to provide copies of a 2-3 typed page handout for each member of the colloquium. This handout should include information on the birth place, family background, education, academic career and honors, and the critical reception of other works by the author. The student will make an approximately 5 minute oral presentation of his/her findings to the colloquium and then answer questions from other members of the colloquium. (This assignment will count 10% toward the final course grade.)

3) Prepare a Summary of a Book's Critical Reception. Each member of the course is expected to prepare a written summary and analysis of the critical reception of one week's assigned reading. This assignment will require the student to provide copies of a 4-5 typed page handout for each member of the colloquium. This handout should summarize and also analyze the reviews and other forms of critical reception that the book received. The student will make an approximately 10 minute oral presentation of his/her findings to the colloquium and then answer questions from other members of the colloquium. (This assignment will count 10% toward the final course grade.)

4) Preparing Book Reviews. Each student will be responsible for preparing a written review of two books on reading lists prepared by the instructor. These reviews should be 5-6 typed pages. The object of this assignment is to prepare a concise written assessment of the thesis, specific findings, organization, and documentation of the book. It should be remembered that the desired goal of the review is an evaluation, a critique, of the book, not a mere summary of its contents nor an outline of its major points. These reviews also should contain brief accounts of the author=s background and the book=s critical reception. Reviews are due on the day that the classes discusses the book. (This assignment will count 30% toward the final course grade; that is each review will count as 15%.)

5) Preparing an Historiographical Essay. Each student will prepare a review essay of approximately twelve typed pages. The essay should discuss at least four books, including a minimum of one of the book's assigned for this course. The purpose of the assignment is to provide the students with the opportunity to develop and exercise skills in historiographical analysis and to synthesize their own thinking regarding historical themes that interest them. Students are encouraged to use this assignment to familiar themselves with the historical literature on topics that they might someday research. In a relatively brief essay of this nature, the student should be highly selective in choosing the criteria for comparison of these works, e.g. originality and clarity of thesis, significance of author biases, skill at exploiting primary and secondary sources, suitability of methodology, strength of author's argument and evidence, etc. This assignment is due on the final meeting of the class on December 11th. (This assignment will count 35% toward the final course grade.)

In determining final course grades, elements such as effort, interest, improvement, attendance, and participation in class discussion will be weighed by the instructor in addition to the five assignments described above. Failure to turn in a written assignment by the announced deadline, without prior permission from the instructor, will automatically result in a penalty in grading.

Nature and Amount of Instructor's Responsibilities: The instructor's goal is keep atmosphere of the colloquium informal in order to encourage general participation and a full variety of viewpoints. The instructor will make himself available during office hours to offer students additional advice on preparing for examinations. Students are encouraged to take advantage of such assistance. Grading is a necessary evil of the present academic system but the instructor has an obligation to explain the reason for giving a grade to a student and to suggest possible ways for improving performance on later examinations.

The instructor also will offer assistance to the students assigned to lead the weekly discussion in the colloquium. This assistance will include "pre-planning" with the discussion leaders about the best ways to facilitate the discussion of each particular book. Because members of the colloquium possess different levels of experience in discussion leading, all members should work to make the "novice" feel as comfortable as the "veteran" when in the spotlight.

Course Schedule: The following is a prospective schedule of class topics and reading assignments:

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Weekly Assignments