1
Fall, 2009 Gary Land
HIST490 RESEARCH SEMINAR
MW 2:00-3:15
NH122F
Credit Hours: / 3Office: / 122A Nethery Hall
Telephone: / Office (269) 471-3511
Home (269) 461-6613
E-mail / ; ; Facebook
Office Hours: / 9:30-10:20 a.m. M W F
3:30-5:00 p.m. T Th
and by appointment
Catalogue Description: / Introduction to historical research methodology, including both bibliographical searches and critical evaluation of sources. Requires the writing of a research paper using primary sources.
Course Objectives: / You should be able to demonstrate the following:
1. Ability to use data bases and other tools to find primary and secondary sources.
2. Skill in evaluating both primary and secondary sources and using evidence to solve an historical problem or issue.
3. Ability to synthesize research findings and present them in an appropriately written paper.
4. Effectiveness in communicating orally your findings to an interdisciplinary audience.
Required Texts: / Rosemarie Menager-Beeley and Lyn Paulos, Quick Coach Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism, 3rd ed.(Stamford, CT: Wadsworth, 2009).
Martha Howell & Walter Prevenier, From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods (Ithaca, NY: CornellUniversity Press, 2001).
Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style, 2nd ed. (New York, NY: Merriam-Webster, 2002).
Kate L. Turabian, et. al., A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th ed. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2007).
Recommended Text: / Jenny L. Presnell, The Information-Literate Historian: A Guide to Research for History Students (New York, NY: OxfordUniversity Press, 2007)
Course Requirements: / 1. Reading Assignments: Students are expected to read assignments according to the schedule printed below.
2. Quizzes: There will be a five-to-ten point quiz over each reading assignment
as indicated on the course schedule. NO MAKEUPQUIZZES WILL BE GIVEN. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class; students who arrive late will NOT receive extra time to complete the quiz.
3. Each student is expected to have a weekly 15 minute conference with the teacher beginning Sept. 12 and ending November 25. A maximum of 15 points will be given for each conference; score will be based on student preparation for the meeting and on-time attendance.
4. Paper "stages" must be completed as indicated on the "Stages" rubric. Expectations for each "stage" are indicated on the rubric. A time log must be included with each "stage." For this course, honors students are encouraged to write a bibliographical essay related to their honors project rather than a research paper based on primary sources. The teacher will work individually with such honors students to adapt the "stages" rubric to their specific needs. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
5. The final draft of the research paper must be completed as indicated on the schedule. See attached "Final Draft" rubric for expectations. The teacher will work with honors students writing a bibliographical essay to adapt the "Final Draft" rubric to their specific needs.
6. An oral presentation of the student's research must be presented to the department faculty and history and political science research seminar students. The date and time of the presentations will be determined early in the semester; effort will be made to accommodate student schedules. Expectations for the presentations will be outlined in a rubric to be given to students by the beginning of November.
Grading: / Course Components:
Quizzes and conferences 15%
Oral Presentation 15%
Paper
"Stages" 35%
Final Draft 35%
Grading Scale:
A 96-100%, A- 91-95%, B+ 86-90%, B 81-85%, B- 76-80%, C+ 71-75%, C 66-70%, C- 61-65%, D 50-60%
Assignments: / As indicated above, missed quizzes may not be made up and late "stages" of the paper will not be accepted. 20% will be deducted from the score given to the final draft of the paper for each day that it is late. Although students may turn in an electronic version of their drafts and final paper if necessary to meet a deadline, they must turn in a hard copy to the teacher within 12 hours of the deadline. The history department will not print out copies of student papers. No incompletes will be given except in the case of an extended illness.
Extra Credit: / Completing the course requirements with distinction will keep you occupied, for you should expect to spend about two hours in preparation for each class. I do not give extra-credit assignments.
Academic Honesty: / Please read the section on academic honesty in the Andrews University Bulletin (2009-2010, p. 30). Any violations of this policy, including such actions as using textbooks during quizzes or examinations, will result in a grade of 0 for the individual assignment and a report filed with the office of the academic vice president.
Student E-Mail: / Should I need to send a message to individual students or the entire class, I will be using your Andrews University e-mail address. If you do not use this as your primary address, it is your responsibility to set up your AU account to forward messages to your primary address so that you will receive my messages. You are responsible for any unread or missed messages.
Class Attendance: / An attendance record will be taken each day. Students will lose class participation points if they are absent on a day that they are randomly chosen for questioning. As indicated in the Andrews University Bulletin (2006-07 edition, p. 28) absences beyond 20% (4 class periods, taking into account that the class will not be meeting certain days) will result in an F. Also, students are expected to stay in the classroom once attendance has been taken and the class has begun. Students leaving the classroom after this point will be marked absent and their quiz for that day will receive 0 points.
Disability Accommodations: / If you qualify for accommodations under the American Disabilities Act, please see the instructor as soon as possible for referral and assistance in arranging such accommodations.
Schedule:
Date: Topic: Assignment:
Aug. 24 / Introduction26 / Beginning Research / Howell/Prevenier, 1-16; Turabian, 2-23; Merriam-Webster, 1-24
31 / The Working Bibliography: Primary and Secondary Sources / Howell/Prevenier, 17-27; Turabian, 24-35; Merriam-Webster, 24-53; TOPIC DUE
Sept. 2 / Sources / Howell/Prevenier, 27-42; Merriam-Webster, 54-85
7 / NO CLASS: LABOR DAY
9 / General Rules of Historical Evidence / Howell/Prevenier, 42-68 WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES
14 / Note-Taking / Turabian, 36-47; Merriam-Webster, 116-32
16 / Internal and External Criticism / Howell/Prevenier, 69-87; Merriam-Webster,133-58
21 / New Interpretive Approaches / Howell/Prevenier, 88-118RESEARCH NOTES 1 DUE: Primary Sources
23 / The Nature of Historical Knowledge / Howell/Prevenier, 119-50; Merriam-Webster, 292-311
28 / NO CLASS
30 / RESEARCH NOTES 2 DUE: Primary Sources
Oct. 5 / Making an Argument / Turabian, 48-61
7 / Preparing the First Draft / Turabian, 62-70; RESEARCH NOTES 3 DUE: Secondary Sources
12 / NO CLASS: FALL RECESS
14 / Documentation / Turabian, 71-81
19 / Quantitative Evidence / Turabian, 82-97
21 / Plagiarism / Menager-Beely, Paulus
26 / NO CLASS / ROUGH DRAFT 1 DUE
28 / Revising / Turabian, 98-108
Nov. 2 / Good Writing / Turabian, 109-21; ROUGH DRAFT 2 DUE
4 / Oral Presentation / Turabian, 122-30
9 / Discussion / ROUGH DRAFT 3 DUE
11 / NO CLASS / Work on Complete rough draft
13 (Friday) / Great Lakes History Conference / ATTENDANCE REQUIRED; FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED
16 / Discussion of Presentations and Final Draft / COMPLETE ROUGH DRAFT DUE
18 / NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK
23 / NO CLASS / Work on presentation and final draft.
25 / NO CLASS / Work on presentation and final draft
30 / NO CLASS / Work on presentation and final draft
Dec. 2 / NO CLASS / Work on presentation and final draft
9 / 3:00 P.M. FINAL DRAFT DUE
HIST490 RESEARCH SEMINAR
RESEARCH PAPER STAGES
Assignment Stage Excellent Average Poor Score
Choice of topic; framing ofresearch question
50 pts. / ▫Topic is specific and focused
▫Question is clear and can be answered in a single sentence / ▫Topic broad and unfocused
▫Question is vague and cannot be answered in a single sentence / ▫No topic chosen
▫No research question
Working Bibliography:
Secondary Books
Secondary Articles
Primary Sources
Websites
50 pts. / ▫Includes all possiblesecondary sources
▫Includes all possible locally available
primary sources
▫Lists all relevant databases and print
indexes used
▫Extensive list of searchterms used
▫Bibliography format
follows Turabian
▫5-6 hours / ▫Includes some possiblesecondary sources
▫Includes some possible locally available primary sources
▫Lists some relevant databases and print
indexes used
▫Limited list of search terms used
▫Bibliography inconsistently follows Turabian
▫3-4 hours / ▫Includes few possible secondary sources
▫Includes few possible locally available primary sources
▫Lists few relevant databases and print indexes used
▫Lists few search terms used
▫Bibliography does not follow Turabian
▫▫1-2 hours
Research Notes 1: Primary Sources
50 pts. / ▫50+ Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. for each note identified
▫Notes provide substantive information
▫5-6 hours / ▫35-49 Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. not identified for each note
▫Notes not always substantive
▫3-4 hours / ▫0-34 Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. for each note frequently not identified
▫Notes seldom substantive
▫1-2 hours
Research Notes 2: Primary Sources
50 pts. / ▫50+ Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. for each note identified
▫Notes provide substantive information
▫7-9 hours / ▫35-49 Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. not identified for each note
▫Notes not always substantive
▫4-6 hours / ▫0-34 Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. for each note frequently not identified
▫Notes seldom substantive
▫1-3 hours
Research Notes 3: Secondary Sources
50 pts. / ▫50+ Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. for each note identified
▫Notes provide substantive information
▫7-9 hours / ▫35-49 Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. not identified for each note
▫Notes not always substantive
▫4-6 hours / ▫0-34 Notes
▫Source, page #, etc. for each note frequently not identified
▫Notes seldom substantive
▫1-3 hours
Outline of Paper and Complete Bibliography to Date
50 pts. / ▫1-2 page outline
▫Outline written in sentences, showing both organization of paper and argument
▫Bibliography complete to date and follows Turabian
▫5-6 hours / ▫Outline less than 1 page
▫Outline not written in sentences; shows topical organization but not argument
▫Bibliography incomplete and does not consistently follow Turabian
▫3-4 hours / ▫Very brief or no outline
▫Outline not written in sentences; shows undeveloped topics
▫Bibliography very brief; does not follow Turabian
▫1-2 hours
Rough Draft 1
50 pts. / ▫First 5-7 pages of rough draft
▫Introduction sets out issue to be examined
▫Part I well-developed
▫Sentences and paragraphs generally well- constructed
▫Few misspelled words
▫Proper documentation/
follows Turabian
▫5-6 hours / ▫First 3-5 pages of rough draft
▫Introduction does not clearly set out issue to be examined
▫Part 1 not well-developed
▫Sentences and paragraphs frequently poorly constructed
▫Several misspelled words
▫Inadequate documentation/
does not always follow Turabian
3-4 hours / ▫First 1-2 pages
▫No or inadequate introduction
▫No Part 1
▫Few well-constructed sentences and paragraphs
▫Many misspelled words
▫Little or no documentation/does not follow Turabian
▫1-2 hours
Rough Draft 2
50 pts. / ▫Next 5-7 pages of rough draft
▫Part I completed and Part II well-developed
▫Sentences and paragraphs generally well- constructed
▫Few misspelled words
▫Proper documentation/
follows Turabian
▫5-6 hours / ▫Next 3-5 pages of rough draft
▫Parts 1 and 2 not well-developed
▫Sentences and paragraphs frequently poorly constructed
▫Several misspelled words
▫Inadequate documentation/does not always follow Turabian
▫3-4 hours / ▫Next 1-2 pages
▫No or inadequate Parts 1 and 2
▫Few well-constructed sentences and paragraphs
▫Many misspelled words
▫Little or no documentation/does not follow Turabian
▫1-2 hours
Rough Draft 3
50 pts. / ▫Next 5-7 pages of rough draft
▫Part 2 completed and Part 3 well-developed
▫Sentences and paragraphs generally well- constructed
▫Few misspelled words
▫Proper documentation/
follows Turabian
▫5-6 hours / ▫Next 3-5 pages of rough draft
▫Parts 2 and 3 not well-developed
▫Sentences and paragraphs frequently poorly constructed
▫Several misspelled words
▫Inadequate documentation/does not always follow Turabian
▫3-4 hours / ▫Next 1-2 pages
▫No or inadequate Parts 2 and 3
▫Few well-constructed sentences and paragraphs
▫Many misspelled words
▫Little or no documentation/does not follow Turabian
▫1-2 hours
Complete Rough Draft
50 pts. / ▫Parts of paper well-linked
▫Unifying thesis developed/conclusion well-developed
▫Incorporates all suggested revisions of earlier drafts
▫Proper documentation/follows Turabian
▫5-6 hours / ▫Parts of paper not always well-linked
▫Unifying thesis developed/conclusion not fully developed
▫Incorporates some suggested revisions of earlier drafts
▫Documentation sometimes inadequate/does not always follow Turabian
▫3-4 hours / ▫Parts of paper not linked
▫No unifying thesis/ conclusion
▫Incorporates few suggested revisions of earlier drafts
▫Documentation frequently inadequate/does not follow Turabian
▫1-2 hours
HIST490 Research Seminar
Research Paper
Final Draft Scoring Guide Rubric
ResearchPaper Rubric / Exceptional
(5 pts.) / Proficient
(4 pts.) / Satisfactory
(3 pts.) / Emerging
(2 pts.) / Unsatisfactory
(1 pt.)
Writing (20%; 20 points) / All words spelled correctly. No grammatical errors. All sentences properly constructed. All paragraphs have topical sentences. All sentences, paragraphs, & sections flow smoothly. / Most words spelled correctly. Few grammatical errors. Most sentences properly constructed. Most paragraphs have topical sentences. Most sentences, paragraphs, & sections flow smoothly. / Some words spelled correctly. occasional grammatical errors. Some sentences properly constructed. Some sentences have topical sentences. Some sentences, paragraphs, & sections flow smoothly. / Several words misspelled. Several grammatical errors. Several sentences incomplete. Several sentences without topical sentences. Several sentences, paragraphs, & sections do not flow smoothly. / Many words misspelled. Many grammatical errors. Many sentences incomplete. Many sentences without topical sentences. Many sentences, paragraphs, & sections do not flow smoothly.
Organization
(20%; 20 points) / Paper has a clear introduction. Paper has 5-6 distinctive parts flowing logically. Paper has clear strong conclusion. / Paper has a good introduction. Paper has 4-5 distinctive parts. Paper has a good conclusion. / Paper has mediocre introduction. Paper has 3-4 fairly clear parts. Paper has mediocre conclusion. / Paper has weak introduction. Paper has 2-3 parts not clearly connected. Paper has weak conclusion. / Paper has no introduction. Paper has no discernible sections. Paper has no discernible conclusion.
Research
(20%; 20 points) / Paper uses all major secondary books. Paper uses all major secondary articles. Paper uses all relevant primary sources. Paper uses all critical websites. / Paper uses most major books. Paper uses most major articles. Paper uses most primary sources. Paper uses most critically evaluated websites. / Paper uses many major books. Paper uses many major articles. Paper uses many primary sources. Paper uses many critically evaluated websites. / Paper uses some major books. Paper uses some major articles. Paper uses some primary sources. Paper uses some critically evaluated websites. / Paper uses few major books. Paper uses few major articles. Paper uses few primary sources. Paper uses websites uncritically.
Analysis
(20%; 20 points) / Paper has clear central thesis. Paper has 3-4 clear subtheses. Paper supports arguments with extensive evidence. Paper addresses all major inter-pretations. Paper clearly places thesis within a historio-graphic context. / Paper has a good central thesis. Paper has 3-4 good subtheses. Paper supports arguments with good evidence. Paper addresses most major interpreta-tions. Paper mostly places thesis within historio-graphic context. / Paper has a mediocre thesis. Paper has 3-4 mediocre subtheses. Paper supports arguments with mediocre evidence. Paper addresses many major interpretations. Paper occasionally places thesis within historiographic context. / Paper has a weak thesis. Paper has 3-4 weak subtheses. Paper supports arguments with weak evidence. Paper addresses some major interpretations. Paper rarely places thesis within historiographic context. / Paper has no central thesis. Paper has no subtheses. Paper has no evidence to support its arguments. Paper addresses no alternative interpretations. Paper never places thesis within historio-graphic contexts.
Form
(20%; 20 points) / All footnotes & endnotes follow Turabian. All bibliographic entries follow Turabian. Title page correctly follows AU style sheet. / Most endnotes & footnotes follow Turabian. Most bibliographic entries follow Turabian. Title page mostly follows AU style sheet. / Some footnotes & endnotes follow Turabian. Some bibliographic entries follow Turabian. Title page occasionally follows AU style sheet. / Several footnotes & endnotes follow Turabian. Several bibliographic entries follow Turabian. Title page seldom follows AU style sheet. / Few footnotes & endnotes follow Turabian. Few bibliographic entries follow Turabian. Title page never follows AU style sheet.
HIST490/PLSC498 Research Seminar Name: ______
ORAL RESEARCH PRESENTATION RUBRIC
Area / Exceptional5 pts / Proficient
4 pts / Satisfactory
3pts / Emerging
2 pts / Unsatisfactory
1 pt / Weight
Appearance / Neat Professional / Unkempt Professional / Neat Casual / Unkempt Casual / Slovenly or Inappropriate / 15%
Presentation: Clarity
Eye Contact
Time
Response to Questions / Very Clear
Very Frequent
Fulfills Time
Very Clear / Clear
Frequent
Off by 2 minutes more or less
Clear / Occasionally Unclear
Occasional
Off by 4 minutes more or less
Occasionally Unclear / Often Unclear
Infrequent
Off by 6 minutes more or less
Often unclear / Consistently Unclear
Never
Off by 8 minutes more or less
Consistently Unclear / 35%
Presentation Content:
Research Question
Significance
Primary/Secondary sources
Thesis
Major Findings / Very Clear
Very Clear
Very Clearly Identified
Very Clear
3-4 Findings Very Clearly Identified / Clear
Clear
Clearly Identified
Clear
3-4 Findings Clearly Identified / Unclear
Unclear
Not Clearly Identified
Unclear
Less than 3 Findings or Not Clearly Identified / Confusing
Confusing
Confusingly Identified
Confusing
Less than 2 Findings and/or Confusing / Not Stated
Not Stated
Not Identified
Not Identified
Not Identified / 35%
Supporting Materials:
Outline
Bibliography / Very Informative, Well Organized, and Clear
Very Well Organized; Consistently Follows Turabian / Informative, Well Organized, Clear
Well Organized, Usually Follows Turabian / Not Very Informative, Lacks Clarity and Organization
Poor Organization, Often Departs From Turabian / Not Informative, Confusing and Disorganized
Disorganized,
Seldom Follows Turabian / Not Provided
Not Provided / 15%