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UCSB Hist 217BC, Spring-Fall 2007
Research Seminar in Public History
Th. 9-11:50, HSSB 4044
marcuse.faculty.history.ucsb.edu/classes/217

Prof. Marcuse (homepage)
HSSB 4221, 893-2635
marcuse@history.ucsb.edu
Office hours: Mon 12:30-1:30; Thu 12-1pm

Research Seminar in Public History
Course Syllabus
(pdf print version; updated syllabus for 217C)

Introduction (jump down to schedule of meetings)

This two-quarter graduate research seminar provides graduate students an opportunity to conduct primary and secondary research on a topic in 19 th or 20 th century German history, ultimately producing an article-length paper on that topic. Emphasis is on techniques of researching, writing, editing and presentation. A research seminar paper should be conceived so that it can become a published article or a chapter in a Ph.D. thesis.

Recommended Books (back to top)

Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History (Boston: Bedford, 5th ed. 2006), $16. Short and sweet--if you don't have time for long guides, this is the one for you.

  • Kate Turabian, Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb, and Joseph Williams, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Seventh Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (Chicago: Univ. of Chicago, 2007), 436 pages, $17. The "Chicago Manual" for historians.
  • Jacques Barzun and Henry Graff, The Modern Researcher (Harcourt, Brace, 5th ed. 1985; 6th 2003), $25. For questions of research procedure, methodology and organization.
  • Wayne Booth, Joseph Williams, Gregory Colomb, The Craft of Research (Chicago: Univ. Chicago, 1995, 2003), 336 pages, $10.
  • William Strunk, E.B. White and Maira Kalman, The Elements of Style, Illustrated Edition (Penguin, 2005), 176 pages, $25/17
  • Joseph Williams, Style: Toward Clarity and Grace (Univ. of Chicago, 1990), $10. Beyond "Strunk & White;" writing clearly and "elegantly."

Schedule of Weekly Meetings (back to top)

1.

5 Apr.

Introduction: topics, questions & sources, preliminary searching

2.

12 Apr.

Descriptive list of potential topics (1-3) & sources due; library databases [Ellison 2626]

3.

19 Apr.

Library resources (rm 1414c, library); start bibliographic work

4.

26 Apr.

Preliminary bibliography due; selection of sample articles

5.

3 May

Draft prospectus and preliminary bibliography due; citation/note-taking software (eres)

6.

10 May

Discussion of sample articles; group discussion of problems

7.

17 May

Individual consultations

8.

24 May

Revised prospectus with bibliographic essay due: exchange for peer critique

9.

31 May

Final prospectuses with bibliographic essay/annotated bibliography

10.

7 June

Oral presentations

 

 

[see updated syllabus for 217c]

1.

27 Sept.

Administrative meeting; progress reports

2.

4 Oct.

Outline and thesis paper due, suggest & select articles

3.

11 Oct.

Discussion of sample articles

4.

18 Oct.

1st installment due (10pp)

5.

25 Oct.

More sample articles (?); individual consultations (re: 1st installment)

6.

1 Nov.

2nd installment due (+10pp); Williams chaps. 1-5

7.

8 Nov.

3rd installment due (+10pp); Williams chaps. 6-10

8.

15 Nov.

exchange for peer critiques

9.

29 Nov.

oral presentations; Barzun 14,15

10.

6 Dec.

oral presentations

 

10 Dec.

(Monday) final draft due

students: Abraham, Joe, Julia, Laurence, Paul, Stacy, Tara
syllabus prepared for web by H. Marcuse on April 25, 2007, updated: 9/18/08
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