Proseminar
Religion & Politics in Modern America

Course Description:

In addition to addressing the specific topic, the course will emphasize questions of what history is, why we write history, and who historians are. After examining the theme of religion and politics in four pivotal moments in American history, students will develop, research, and write their own project. In addition, as part of being historians, students will exchange work with classmates as part of a peer-review process.

The sustained research project produced by each student will demonstrate his or her ability:

to select an historical topic, identify its significance, and make a plan of research for that topic;

to identify and locate primary (first-hand) sources concerning the topic you have chosen;

to identify significant secondary literature regarding that topic, and trace the historiography of that topic;

to present a thesis, based on research in both secondary and primary literature and sources;

to defend that thesis and make a clear and cogent argument in its defense.

to constructively assist a colleague in improving their work

Required Books:

These can be purchased at the bookstore in Cavanaugh or at Folletts..

Randall Balmer, Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: a journey into the evangelical subculture in America, exp. paperback (New York: Oxford, 1993).

Paul E. Johnson and Sean Wilentz, The Kingdom of Matthias: a story of sex and salvation in 19^th-century America (New York: Oxford, 1994).

Katharine Du Pre Lumpkin, The Making of a Southerner (University of Georgia Press, 1992).

The following have also been ordered by Cavanaugh and Folletts.

Edwin Scott Gaustad, A Religious History of America, new revised edition (New York: Harper Collins, 1990)

Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6^th edition (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996)

I also recommend having access to a Bible or appropriate sacred text.

I will post a list on ONCOURSE of books on Reserve in the Library.

I will assemble web sites as I find them, but one place to start is the Listserv for American Religious History at:

http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~amrel/

Class Participation (35% of final grade)

Completion of reading by the assigned date, attendance at class meetings, oral presentation of one=s work, and participation in class discussions. By definition a seminar requires a give and take that can happen only when people are there and participate. Please note that participation means not just speaking. It means being prepared and contributing thoughtful ideas or opinions.

Annotated Research Prospectus (5%)

This is a 2 to 3 page outline, plus annotated bibliography of the proposed research paper and contains the following:

While the majority of your grade will be based on your written work, active, constructive class participation is essential to a successful class. Attendance will be taken and unexcused absences will affect the participation grade accordingly.

As you may know, you are entitled to an e-mail account through IUPUI. I realize that many of you prefer to use another provider for e-mail and web work. The University encourages you to set up your IUPUI account to forward information to your other accounts. It means that you can easily access information from the University. It also assists me if I need to send out a general class announcement, although these will normally be on ONCOURSE. If you need help setting up the account or forwarding mail, contact:

http://iupui-accts.iupui.edu/students/student.html

FYI: There is a University web page that will let you know if the campus is closed for snow:

http://www.iupui.edu/it/registrar/adverseweather.html

The syllabus for this course will be on ONCOURSE. I will post additions, corrections, handouts, and other supplemental materials there as well announce them in class. It is the responsibility of the student to stay on top of changes.

I cannot stress too heavily the usefulness of planning ahead, saving work on your computer OFTEN, making backups, and printing out your paper early.

Books, handouts, and other reading material should be brought to class the day/s they are being discussed.