5:45-8:25
p.m. Wed.
Cavanaugh 215
The Nature of History
This course is an
introductory exploration of the study and meaning of history (including the
diverse fields of historical study), what historians do, how history affects
our society and culture, and the applications and relevance of history for the
present. Although the course is
designed primarily for those in the museum studies program, it will introduce
all students to the methods of and problems associated with “doing history,” the
philosophy of history, the different interpretations of the past, and the
uses—and misuses—of history in American society. Through your participation in this course and its assortment of
readings, discussions, and exercises, I hope that you will begin to look at
history differently and come to appreciate it as a useful discipline and a
worthwhile profession. I have two
principal goals for this class: (1) to demonstrate that history is not
the memorization and recitation of names, dates, and important events—as it has
been taught erroneously in our schools—but, rather the interpretation and
explanation of the past, which may change over time; and (2) that the study of
history is not meaningless, but that it is relevant and useful to our present
and future understanding of who we are as people, societies, and cultures.
Texts
James W. Davison
& Mark H. Lytle, After the Fact: The
Art of Historical Detection
Mark T. Gilderhus, History and
Historians: A Historiographical Introduction
Warren Leon and Roy
Rosenzweig, eds, History Museums in the United
States
*Other readings are posted on ERROL.
Office Location: My office is located in Cavanaugh 327. I invite and encourage you to take advantage of my office
hours and to visit me throughout the semester.
When I am not in the office, you may leave messages on my door, with the
staff in the NCPH office (Cavanaugh 327), or on voice or e-mail.
Office Hours
Wednesday 4:30-5:30
p.m. and immediately after class; also by appointment.
Telephone (317)
274-2718
E-mail dvanders@iupui.edu
Course Requirements and Expectations: This class will
examine a variety of topics and issues associated with the study and practice
of history. I recommend strongly that
you complete the assigned readings prior to each class in order to help you
understand the lectures and participate in class discussions. While I enjoy lecturing, I would prefer that
this class be more of an ongoing dialogue about the issues at hand. Therefore, I encourage you to ask questions,
offer opinions, and contribute items that you have read or heard about. In other words, this class is also what you
make of it.
Grades: Course grades will
be based upon the following:
1. Written exercises 50 %
2. Midterm exam 20
%
3. Final exam 25 %
4.
Class participation 5 %
Grading
is on a straight scale--90 & above, A; 80-89, B; etc., with +/- being 3
points above/below the grade cutoff.
Written Assignments: Throughout the semester, each student
will complete several written assignments (approx. 5-6) that expose them to the
different questions, research methods, and approaches associated with the study
of history. I will distribute
assignments separately with specific instructions and deadlines.
I encourage you to
submit assignments by the designated due date.
Those submitted after that date are subject to a 5% (one-half grade) reduction for each week, or portion thereof,
late.
Work must be
submitted in a neat, legible form. When
using computers, please be sure to save and backup your work AND retain a hard
copy of your work for your files. I am
not responsible for lost work due to computer or printer failure.
Exams: The midterm and
final exams will consist of essays that focus on the readings, lectures, and
class discussions. They must be taken
on the assigned day. Make-up exams will
be given only if arrangements are made at least five (5) days in advance
of the regularly designated time; allowances will be made for extreme
emergencies.
Attendance: I expect you to
attend class regularly--because you enjoy the subject, are enthused by the
study of history, or maybe because you think I'm a great professor! If you miss class, it is your responsibility
to secure notes and/or assignments from someone. I should note that your attendance and participation (or lack
thereof) in class may indeed affect borderline grades at the end of the
semester.
**If, during the
semester, you find yourself having difficulties with the class or facing
personal problems that may affect your work and participation in the class,
please see me. I would prefer to work
with you or encourage you to drop the class rather than issue a failing grade
for your non-participation and non-attendance.
Ethics: As an institution
of higher education, the University maintains strict guidelines for proper
academic behavior. Cheating,
plagiarism, and other forms of intellectual dishonesty will not be tolerated
and will be handled in the manner prescribed by Indiana University (IUPUI Campus Bulletin, 2000-2002,
pp.36-37), and may result in a failing grade for the work and/or the
course. Use of other student’s work
under your name, copying from other sources and passing the work as one’s own,
and using uncited materials from electronic sources (i.e. Internet) are some examples
of intellectual dishonesty.
Cheating is
dishonesty of any kind with respect to examinations, course assignments,
alteration of records, or illegal possession of examinations. It is the responsibility of the student not
only to abstain from cheating, but, in addition, to avoid the appearance of
cheating and to guard against making it possible for others to cheat.
[IU
Bulletin, 1998-2000, p. 20]
Plagiarism is the
offering of the work of someone else as one's own. Honesty requires that any ideas of materials taken from another
source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged. The language or ideas taken from another may
range from isolated formulas, sentences or paragraphs to entire articles copied
from books, periodicals, speeches, or the writings of other students. . . . Any
student who fails to give credit for ideas or materials taken from another
source is guilty of plagiarism.
[IU Bulletin, 1998-2000, p. 20]
-------------------------
Use of Oncourse and ERROL: Oncourse is an electronic means of extending the classroom to the Web
environment. It allows you access to
class items placed online from any place that has web access and to connect to
a variety of tools and course materials.
I have not used Oncourse in past classes, however, as I slowly become
familiar with it, I intend to add materials, such as the syllabus and
assignments. I will alert you to any
changes to our course site, or you can simply access it through the Oncourse
site.
Oncourse instructions: Log on to http://oncourse.iu.edu , then click on IUPUI and log in with your
username and password. As a registered
student, you will be able to proceed to the History H217 site. Since more faculty members are utilizing
this tool in their classes, I encourage you to become familiar with Oncourse by
taking the introductory tour of the site.
If you are not linked to the web at home, you may access the files
through computers in the University Library or other locations on campus.
ERROL is an electronic course
reserve system through the University Library.
There are additional readings for the class posted at this site.
ERROL instructions: Log on to www.ulib.iupui.edu,
then click on the ERROL, then click on Electronic Course Reserves. Go down the list and click on HIST and then click on login to HIST H217. When prompted, your username is HISTH217; your password is H217.
You now have access to the other articles for class.
Proposed Schedule of Classes: This is a proposed outline of topics that we will address in
class along with the required readings.
I intend to remain somewhat flexible with the schedule in order to
devote appropriate time to the treatment of the different subjects. To stay ahead, I recommend that you follow
the schedule of readings. If we spend
more time on a subject, I will make appropriate adjustments in the
schedule. If you have particular issues
that you would like discussed in class, please let me know and I will see if we
can fit them into our schedule. Also, when appropriate, I hope to post some
articles to Oncourse and/or distribute them in class.
August 22 Introduction
-
review syllabus and course expectations.
What is History and
Why Study It? -- general perceptions and understandings of what history is and the
value of studying it.
August 29 The Philosophy and Meaning of History: Developing an Historical Consciousness; Approaches to Studying History
Readings: History and Historians,
Chs. 1-5
September 5 “Doing History": Sources
Readings: After
the Fact, Prologue & Ch. 1
“Doing History”:
Evidence and Research Methods
Readings: After the Fact, Ch. 3; History and Historians, Ch. 6
September 12 Historiography
and the Writing of History
Readings: After the Fact, Ch. 4
Emergence of the Historical Profession
Readings: History and Historians, Ch. 7
INTRODUCTION TO
FIELDS OF HISTORICAL STUDY
September
19 “Remaking
American History”: New Fields of Historical Study
Readings: After the Fact, Ch. 2; Degler, “Remaking
American History”
Readings: After the Fact, Chs. 5, 6 ; Stearns,
“Towards a Wider Vision.”
October 3 Museums: Origins and Purposes
Readings: History Museums,
Chs. 1-2, 4; Schlereth, “Causing Conflict, Doing Violence”
October 10 Museums: Living History and Historic Sites
Readings: History Museums, Chs. 3, 5, 6; Hurt,
“Agricultural Museums;” Anderson, “Living History: Simulating Everyday Life”
October
17 Museums: Interpreting the New History
Readings: History
Museums, Chs. 8-11
October
24 Museums: Material Culture
Readings: After the Fact, Ch. 8; History Museums, Ch. 12
October 31 Public History
Readings:
Schulz, “Becoming a Public Historian”
November
7 Oral
History and Historic Preservation
Readings: After the Fact,
Ch. 7; Howe, “Historian in Historic Preservation;” Diaz, “Oral Historians:
Community Oral History”
HISTORY IN
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CULTURE
November 14 The Abuse and Misuse of History
Readings:
After the Fact, Chs. 12, 15; History Museums, Ch. 7;
Linenthal, “Anatomy of a Controversy”
November
21 No Class - Thanksgiving Break
November 28 The
Abuse and Misuse of History: Who Owns History?
Readings: After the Fact, Ch. 14; Lipstadt,
“Canaries in the Mine: Holocaust Denial;” Graham, “Who Owns American History?”
December
5 Closing
Discussions and Conversations
December 12 Final
Exam
*Please note that ALL assignments must be
submitted to me by the end of the last week of classes prior to the final
exam.