UCSB Hist 33D, Fall 2003
The Holocaust: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
T-Th 11:00-12:15, HSSB 1174; T 6:30-8:50, Buch 1920
http://marcuse.faculty.history.ucsb.edu/classes/33d

Prof. Marcuse
HSSB 4221, 893-2635
marcuse@history.ucsb.edu
Office hours: Tues. 1-2, Wed. 1-2

Hist 33D: Journal & Final Project Handout

(pdf print version)

  1. For the writing assignment in this course you are required to keep a journal on a regular basis throughout the course. You will write about two entries per week (total of 8), with each entry averaging about 450 words in length. That is about 3/4 page, single-spaced, in 12 point font.
  2. Each entry will be based on your thoughts about newspaper or magazine articles you read during that week, or readings, lectures and films for this course. Occasionally, web sites, books for another course, conversations or personal experiences may be appropriate.
    You should relate the issues you discuss to the course topic.
    For articles you should include a clipping, copy, or printout. There should be a rough balance of entries on articles and on course materials.
    For the entries on the course material, feel free to exercise criticism, ask questions, and raise important issues, especially if you are uncomfortable doing so in class. You will be graded on how insightful your discussion or how convincing your argument is, not on whether you agree with me.
    Tip: Jot ideas down during lecture or whenever, and develop them later.
  3. In a large bluebook, use the first right-hand page to keep a handwritten running table of contents with the entry number (1-8), the source and date, and a short descriptive title. Example:
    1. LA Times, Sept. 1, 2003, "White House Likens Iraq to Postwar Germany to Retain Support"
    2. LA Times, Sept. 8, 2003, "The Race Factor: Thousands of African Americans will donate …"
    3. Oct. 4, 2003, Maus and the "Gray Zone" Grid [from lecture]
  4. In the rest of the bluebook, glue, tape or staple the article (or photocopy) on the left hand page, and attach your typed entry facing it on the right hand page. Write the entry number in the upper right hand corner. (You do not need to photocopy course materials.)
    Please single space to fit each journal entry on one page. Each entry should begin with the date and a short headline indicating the source and topic of your entry.
  5. In each entry you should first briefly summarize the relevant information in the article (or whatever), for about ¼ of the entry. The main portion should be your thoughts and analysis of the article, relating it to the course topic.
    You should not write vague opinions or make unsubstantiated claims.
    Rather, you should explain your opinion, giving clear reasons and pertinent evidence.
    (If you are unclear on this, see the professor's example on the course web site.)
  6. Journals will be collected several times over the course of the quarter, at the beginning of class.
    Collection dates will be announced in advance. I expect about 2 entries per week.
  7. The journals will be graded as follows: each entry can receive up to 4 points for a total of 32.
    The grading scale will be check-minus, check, check +, or +. No entry: 0 points. Late entry: -1 point per day.

FINAL PROJECTS: Proposal and Web Page (back to top; back to 33d homepage)

  1. Finding a topic. A good way to find a topic is to look though the textbook, the course reader, and the course web site for ideas. When you find something you would like to know more about, check for bibliographical references. If you have trouble finding a topic, or literature on a topic, please come to talk to me—sooner rather than later!
  2. Proposal Format. The purpose of the proposal is to find a suitable topic of interest.
    It should have three main elements:
    1. a descriptive title that indicates the main theme you are interested in.
    2. a short description and explanation of your topic, including an explicit list of a few questions that you hope the book will address.
    3. full reference or bibliographic information on three or four web sites and books that you think may be relevant, including URL, site author/hosting institution, or library call number.
  3. Forming groups. I encourage you to talk among yourselves and find other students with similar topics. I will facilitate the formation of groups in class.
  4. Proposal grading. The proposal will be marked check minus, check, or check +. A check minus must be resubmitted until the professor approves the project.

Project Draft

  1. By the end of week 6 each group should submit a preliminary version of ALL parts of their final project. Each project should include most of the following:
    a) introductory text for homepage: narrative introduction, thesis statement(s), and description of content of rest of site;
    b) annotated bibliography;
    c) annotated linkography;
    d) in-depth reviews of some books and web sites;
    e) collection of thumbnail images, with captions, including sources (URLs or books);
    f) "authors" page with information about project members and narrative about research process;

Final Version

  1. Individual contributions. It should be clear who made or contributed to each part of the project. Sign a page you alone created, initial your linkography and bibliography annotations, sign "written by x and edited by y" for collaborative texts. Half of the grade will be based on your contribution, half on the overall quality.
  2. Content/Grading. When I grade, I look for five things.
    First
    , a thesis statement tells me the purpose of the project, what it is trying to elucidate, argue or explain.
    Second
    , I look for an argument supporting that thesis.
    Third
    , I look for concrete evidence—specific cases or examples—used to support the elements of the argument.
    Texts and annotations with any two of these three is a "C;" all three elements earn a "B."
    Fourth, I look counterevidence or comparisons—whether you assess the material relative to other works. If the first three elements are also present, this brings a contribution into the "A" range.
    Finally, I look to see whether the texts are carefully written and proofread, and have clear organization or perhaps even stylistic grace. This can lift a project up to a "+" or, with numerous typos and errors, drop it down to a "."
  3. Due dates. Proposals Oct. 14 (beginning of week 4); drafts Oct. 30 (end of wk 6); final Nov. 20 (wk 9).
    Late submissions will be penalized one point per day, beginning at 11am.
  4. Web publication. The final projects should also be submitted by e-mail or on disk. They can be in word-processor format or in html. I will work with each group to publish the projects on the web.
  5. Presentations. I would like each group to present their work to the class. We will have time during the final class meetings (including evening sessions) to do this
  6. Plagiarism—presenting someone else's work as your own, or deliberately failing to credit or attribute the work of others on whom you draw (including materials found on the web)—is a serious academic offense, punishable by dismissal from the university. It hurts the one who commits it most of all, by cheating them out of an education. Offenses will be reported to the appropriate university authorities for disciplinary action.

page prepared for the web by H. Marcuse on Sept. 23, 2003.
back to top, Hist 33d homepage, Prof. Marcuse's homepage