SPRING 2005 SYLLABUS
IS 281. Historical Methodology of Information Studies
Dr. Mary Niles Maack
INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
1. To become familiar with historical methodology as a mode of disciplined, scholarly inquiry that draws on both the humanities and social sciences.
2. To gain an understanding of major issues and themes in contemporary historiography as they relate to the history of print culture and to the history of archives, libraries, documentation, information science, and the information professions.
3. To develop a critical appreciation of the potential and the limitations of primary source material relating to the history of print culture and to the history of archives, libraries, and the information professions.
4. To gain experience in the rigorous, critical evaluation of historical writing.
ASSIGNMENTS (points)* / Due DateCritical Review
Review of two secondary sources (150 points) / April 26
TERM PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS
Scope & questions (s/u to be emailed)** / April 12
Proposal (150 points) / April 19
Conceptual /contextual essay (200 points) / May 17
Paper presentation (100 points) / May 31, June 7 & 14
Final paper (400 points) / June 14
* unexcused late papers will be graded down by 10%
**no other assignments are to be emailed except by special arrangements
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PRESENTATION OF PAPERS & TERM PROJECTS:
All papers MUST be:
* Typed and proofed,
* PAGINATED and
* Stapled ( with a title page but no cover).
*FINAL PAPER should be placed in a brown envelope with a clasp
Stylistic requirements:
* Choose a style manual and use the SAME style throughout.
* Double-space text, single space indented quotes.
* Make appropriate use of first and second level subheadings.
* Use references embedded in the text
* include the bibliography of materials cited at the end
* FINAL PAPER should include a statement on sources and a chronology.
CONTACT INFORMATIONProfessor Mary Niles Maack 232 GSE&IS Building
Office hours: Tuesdays 3:30 – 5:00; Thursday 11:00 -- 12:30 p.m.
UCLA home office (310) 475-7962 EMAIL: mnmaack@ucla .edu
WEBSITE (note sample papers linked to IS 281)
______ASSIGNMENTS______
CRITICAL REVIEWS OF TWO SECONDARY SOURCES
DUE: Week 4-- (3 to 4 pages, 150 points)
Each book should in some way relate to the history of archives, libraries, books, reading, publishing, information science or the development of the information professions. The works you select may be either biographical or historical studies, or a work on historiography.
You are encouraged to review works that will provide you with relevant background for your final term project. Your review should be 750 – 1000 words and should address the points outlined below. If you decide to do a historiography (Term Project Option 2A or 2B)_ your review should not be of one of the books you intend to analyze for your final paper.
Points to Consider in the Analysis of Historical Writing1. Framing / theoretical and/or disciplinary perspective
2. Contextualization
3. Empirical Evidence / Documentation/ Examples given
4. Balance
5. Significance and appropriateness of conclusions
6. Presentation, Organization and Writing Style
TERM PROJECTS
For your term project you may either prepare a
RESEARCH PAPER(OPTION 1—see pages 3 to 6) or a
HISTORIOGRAPHIC ESSAY(OPTION 2—see pages 7 to ).
In either case, it is important to plan your time carefully so that the project can be completed by the end of the quarter. It is therefore essential to make certain early in the term that you have access to adequate source materials.
If certain items you need are only available through interlibrary loan (ILL), you may be able to receive them if you make your request by the second or third week of class. However, you must not base your proposal on the hope of getting material critical to your paper though ILL.
You may investigate any topic related to the history of archives, libraries, books, reading, publishing, documentation, information science or you may focus on the history of the information professions. In making your selection be sure that :
1. Adequate documentation, including primary source material , is available at times when you can do your research.Be sure that you will have permission to use relevant collections.
2. There is enough material to merit a 15 - 20 page paper, but not so much as to be overwhelming. If the relevant archival collections are large but have good finding aids, you can work with a narrow topic.
Although you will be expected to use primary source materials, you must use appropriate secondary sources to situate your topic in its social, cultural and political context -- both locally and nationally.
OPTION 1-A. RESEARCH PAPER You should select a topic, an institution or an individual about which you can prepare a brief, focused research paper. You must take care to limit your choice to a well defined topic that can be researched and written up within a seven week time frame. For example, rather than attempting to write a biographical paper on Lawrence Clark Powell, you should focus on one aspect of his work—as founder of the UCLA library school, OR as head of the UCLA library, OR as a key player in the book arts world of Southern California.
OPTION 1-B. RESEARCH PROPOSAL You may select a topic, an institution or an individual about which there is substantial amount of primary source material information available locally. Option 1-B can be used for a topic that is too ambitious to be adequately researched and written up in 7 weeks. Your first step will be to provide background on the topic (following the guidelines below for the contextual essay). You should then present a justification for your proposed research, highlighting the significance of the topic, and explaining the need for study by showing how the research you propose will contribute to the existing scholarship in this area. In addition, you must examine the primary sources available locally and discuss them in some detail, as well as indicating how you propose to carry out research on this topic.
Option 1-B is recommended for those first year students who are interested in taking an independent study next year to do further research on the topic, with the possibility of developing it into a publishable paper or a Master’s Thesis. The proposal is expected to incorporate considerable background material, and a literature review; it should also 15 to 20 pages in length.
Assignment 1: SCOPE STATEMENT--(300-500 words—ungraded due Week 2)
(You should turn this paper in during class and also email it to ;
PASTE THE TEXT INTO YOUR EMAIL MESSAGE
--do NOT send it as an attachment)
1. Scope Statement
1a. Provide brief background on the topic or individual you have chosen and explain why that topic or individual is significant.
1b. Indicate the chronological limits of your paper.
1c. Suggest ways you might narrow or expand the topic if needed.
2. Sources (1 to 2 paragraphs)
Briefly discuss the nature and extent of primary source materials you intend to use. By this point, you should have briefly examined any collection(s) of documents you hope to use, and have verified that these materials will be ACCESSIBLE TO YOU at times when you are free to use the collection.
Assignment 2: TERM PROJECT PROPOSAL ( due Week 3)
OPTION 1-A or 1-B (5—7 pages, 150 points)
1. Scope Statement (500–750 words)
1a. Provide brief background on the topic or individual you have chosen and explain why that topic or individual is significant (expand on 1a above).
1b. Indicate the chronological limits of your paper and give the reason that for your choice of beginning and ending dates.
1c. Describe geographical or topical focus and/or limitations if relevant to your paper.
1d. Suggest ways you might narrow or expand the topic if needed.
2. Sources
2a. Briefly discuss the nature and extent of primary source materials you intend to
use. For Option 2, the primary sources will be the WRITINGS you have chosen for your historiographical analysis ( This part should be 1 to 2 pages.)
2b. Prepare a bibliography of those published and unpublished PRIMARY source materials that you have located; for archival materials you may list categories rather than individual items (e.g correspondance,1920-1935; annual reports; photographs etc.)
2c. Prepare a second bibliography that includes published SECONDARY sources that you plan to consult; you should include at least 6 to 8 books, dissertations, theses and articles. For Option 2, the secondary sources will be other writings on historiography of the period you are studying, and any background works on your author or topic.
3. Research Questions
3a. Frame 5 or 6 operational questions you intend to investigate. Be specific but flexible.
3b. For each question (or cluster of questions) indicate which of the sources above you expect will provide answers to those questions.
4. Chronology
4a. List a few key dates relevant to your topic.
4b. Include on the list any major events that affected your topic.
Assignment 3: CONTEXTUAL / CONCEPTUAL ESSAY
Week 7 (9—10 page essay, 200 points)
1. INTRODUCTION / CONCEPTUAL PERSPECTIVE : ( 1-2 pages)
1a. Include here information from the SCOPE STATEMENT from your proposal, with any changes, modifications or revisions you have made to the scope or focus of your project.
1b. Write a paragraph or two explaining your PERSPECTIVE in treating this topic—why is it important to you and what are your underlying assumptions. Also discuss how you will SITUATE your paper in relationship to previous work and to the broader context in which the events you are studying took place.
Some possibilities might include: a narrative history of a public library during a particular period, relating its growth to civic development and local history.
a biographical study focusing on certain aspects of an individual’s career and analyzing her/his contribution to the field.
a study of the foundation and development of an organization ( its goals, mission, success, failures) in relationship to the broader social, cultural and political environment.
a study of a library building project examining the social & political dynamics that surrounded the project.
an analysis of positions advertised in regard to changing requirements, expectations.
1c. OPTIONAL: IF you intend to use a particular THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK, model, or methodology drawn from the social sciences or humanities indicate this as well.
Some possibilities might include:
a leadership model,
an analysis of gender issues in regard to an individual’s life, to job advertisements etc.
a theoretical framework from the social sciences (such as diffusion theory)
content analysis for the study of published statements or documents
2. PRESENTATION OF THE CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND 6 to 8 pages
2a. Provide relevant background information on the time period and the geographical setting, highlighting those larger events that had a particular impact on your subject.
2b. Discuss how your subject fits into the larger history of events that were occurring in the field (libraries, information science, archives, print culture) .
3. SCHOLARLY APPARATUS
3a. Include a complete bibliography of all sources cited. For direct quotations and statistics ALWAYS give the source and date–either by using footnotes/ endnotes or parenthetical references in the text. You should also cite your source if you are paraphrasing an authors ideas or statements.
3b. Include a revised or expanded chronology.
Assignment 4: CLASSPRESENTATION OF YOUR PAPER
Week 9, 10 OR 11
1. Prepare a presentation that discusses your research questions, the research process, the nature of the sources that you used, and your key findings.
2. You may use Powerpoint or transparencies if you wish but this is not required.. Time your presentation to be sure that you can cover your major points in 15 minutes
Assignment 5: FINAL PAPER Week 11
PARTS OF THE FINAL PAPER FOR BOTH OPTIONS BELOW
1. Introduction -- include your scope statement and summarize your key research questions
2. Body of the paper, with appropriate headings and subheadings; this will include the conceptual/contextual essay as well as the presentation and analysis of materials that you have drawn from primary sources.
3. Brief conclusion. You may analyze trends, and offer generalizations. However, be sure that your conclusions have been adequately documented in the paper
4. An appendix that includes a statement on sources, noting weakness, strengths, and areas where documentation may be lacking or fragmentary. This statement may be part of your introduction or it may be included as an appendix.
5. A chronology of important dates as an appendix.
6. A complete bibliography of all sources cited (except for individual letters.)
TERM PROJECT (OPTION 2): HISTORIOGRAPHICAL ESSAYIf you do a HISTORIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY (either Option 2-A or Option 2-B), you will work with published materials. Your object is to focus on HOW historians and/or biographers document, present and analyze the topics on which they write. You should also discuss the perspective or theoretical stance that is found in a given body of historical research.
OPTION 2-A. You should select a topic, an institution or an individual about whom a substantial body of historical and/or biographical literature exists. Your first step will be the preparation of a chronological bibliography with very brief annotations. From this list, select a few monographs for critical examination, as well as eight or ten significant, scholarly articles. Your essay should analyze methodological and interpretive issues, concluding with an assessment of the current state of historical knowledge concerning this topic or biographee. Strengths, weakness and gaps in the literature should be considered when dealing with a topic such as academic library history (e.g. what institutions have been written about, which periods have been little studies).
Possible choices of topics for a paper might include:
An analysis of biographical studies on one individual:
Andrew Carnegie, Antonio Panizzii. William Morris (selective); Eric Gill as a printer; Librarians of Congress—include two or three (Ainsworth Rand Spofford & Herbert Putnam, Archibald MacLeish--see list in syllabus)
An analysis of historical studies on a topic :
The Library of Congress (1800-1900; since 1900); the British Museum Library; the National Archives; Histories of major public libraries; the American Library Association; Historical writings on nformation science; Education for librarianship. (see list in syllabus)
OPTION 2-B. You may choose to write an analytical intellectual biography of a well established historian specializing in library or book history. You should first prepare a chronological bio-bibliography that includes very brief annotations. Your essay should include a critical analysis of all monographs and a least a dozen selected articles authored by that individual. In addition to discussing the methodologies used and the changing topics, issues and themes examined by this scholar, you should also assess that individual’s overall contribution to the field.
Library historians you might select include: John Cole, Phyllis Dain, Donald G. Davis, Christine Jenkins, Edward Holley, Michael Harris, David Kaser, Pamela Spence Richards, Jesse Shera, Margaret (Steig) Dalton, Wayne Wiegand (see list in syllabus)
For the field of book history, some possible choices include: Roger Chartier, Robert Darnton, Elizabeth Eisenstein, Henri-Jean Martin.
(see list in syllabus)
Assignment 1: SCOPE STATEMENT--(300-500 words—ungraded due Week 2)
(You should turn this paper in during class and also email it to ;
PASTE THE TEXT INTO YOUR EMAIL MESSAGE--do NOT send it as an attachment)
1. Scope Statement
1a. Provide brief background on the topic or individual you have chosen and explain why that topic or individual is significant.
1b. Indicate the time frame for your paper.
1c. Suggest ways you might narrow or expand the topic if needed.
2. Sources (1 to 2 paragraphs)
Briefly discuss the nature and extent of primary source materials you intend to use.
Because a historiographic study is similar to literary criticism, your primary sources will be the writings of the individuals whose work your intend to analyse. If you choose a prolific author, such as Robert Darnton, or a person like William Morris about whom a great deal has been written, your challenge will be to select key works for your analysis or more sharply focus the topic (e.g. William Morris as a printer).
Assignment 2: TERM PROJECT PROPOSAL ( due Week 3, 150 points, 5—7 pages)
1. Scope Statement (500–750 words)
1a. Provide brief background on the topic or individual you have chosen and explain why that topic or individual is significant (expand on 1a above).
1b. Indicate the limits of your paper and give the reason for your choice of works for your historiographical analysis as well time frame for the works included.
1c. Describe geographical or topical focus and/or limitations if relevant
1d. Suggest ways you might narrow or expand the topic if needed.
2. Sources
2a. Briefly discuss the nature and extent of the WRITINGS you have chosen for your historiographical analysis ( This part should be 1 to 2 pages.) If your approach is topical (e.g. the history of California libraries)
2b. Prepare a bibliography of those published PRIMARY source materials that you have located;. If you will be analyzing selected writings of a given historian, your should include a comprehensive bio-bibliography arranged chronologically to show where the works you will focus on fit within that author’s larger body of work.
2c. Prepare a second bibliography that includes published SECONDARY sources that you plan to consult; you should include at least 6 to 8 books, dissertations, theses and articles. For Option 2, the secondary sources will be other writings on historiography of the period you are studying, and any background works on your author or topic.
3. Research Questions
Frame 5 or 6 operational questions you intend to investigate. Be specific but flexible. EXAMPLES:
What writer’s influenced x based on the works s/he cites?
How did x’s choice of topics or theoretical orientation change over time?
How has the history of the American public library been influenced by trends in social history since the 1960s.
4. Chronology
List a few key dates relevant to your topic or author.