This course will introduce you to the various methods used by historians to uncover historical data. By the same token," history" is quite different from "fact" and we will explore the difference between the two.
Course Objectives: Students will be required to:
1.) Assess the methods utilized in history from antiquity to the modern age.
2.) Evaluate various written works to determine "point of view" of various historical eras.
3.) Assess the validity of the written primary and secondary source in determining an accurate retelling of a historical period
4.) Judge the importance of media in the development of historical memory
5.) Review web-based documents and assess their value for historical study
Texts:
Davidson, James West and Mark Hamilton Lytle.
After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection. 5th ed.
NY: McGraw Hill, 2005.
Rutherfurd, Edward.
London. NY: Fawcett Crest, 1997
Academic Requirements
CLASS REQUIREMENTS: 60% of your grade
1.) Reaction Papers
See following descriptions for details on individual paper assignments By following several of the chapters in After the Fact, we will test the various methods used by historians to recreate past events. You will be responsible for reporting orally on two of your short papers, but you will need to complete five in all. I will distribute a sign-up sheet. Indicate your top five choices. For example, sign "John Smith- #1 choice", "John Smith- #2 choice," etc. I will try to accommodate you to the best of my ability. You will still be required to read all the chapters and pose questions to the presenters. Therefore, you will have a total of five short reaction papers. You will need to submit the five papers on the last day of class: May 7, 2008.
2.) Oral Presentation
For each oral presentation, you may work with others in the class, or you may complete your project individually. Either way, we will have a few of you discussing each topic. I will also ask all in class to comment on the respective chapter in Davidson, Lytle. Therefore, each of you will be required to read the chapter before coming to class.
3.) In-Class Assignments
Throughout the semester, there will be various impromptu in-class assignments on the nature of historical inquiry and methodology. You must be present to receive credit, however. I may ask you to respond to a film, television program, or documentary that we watch in class. I may also ask you to prepare for an in-class debate, etc.
ABSENCES/TARDINESS, ETC.
A significant amount of class time will be spent in discussion and analysis of source material. You will be required to participate both individually and as part of a team. Therefore, your presence will not only enhance your individual learning but will also impact the overall group performance. As such, I will deal with attendance in the following manner:
I will take attendance on class days. Any absence above three (3) will be dealt with as follows:
a.) Five points will be deducted from your final average for each additional absence. For example, a final grade of "95" will become a "90" for three absences, an "85" for four absences, etc. In the event of a serious scheduling conflict requiring you to miss more three or more classes, you will need to contact the Office of Student Affairs, who will notify your individual professors of your absence.
b.) On the same note, I am very vigilant about keeping track of tardiness, private conversations, etc. Repeated interruptions detract from the overall flow of the classroom. Consequently, I will require you to be on time, turn off your cell phones, and otherwise refrain from disruptive behavior.
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON PLAGIARISM
"Roger Williams University exists to foster the mature pursuit of learning, which is premised upon the exercise of honest care in representing data, findings and the sources of ideas used in an academic exercise. The University expects students to observe these principles of academic integrity in order to ensure the excellence of their education and the value of their diploma."
Roger Williams University Student Handbook
I adhere to the university's policy regarding plagiarism and academic integrity. Proof of plagiarism will result in a failure for the assignment, notification to the dean, and a possible failure for the course.
GRADING AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
- Reaction Papers (5 in all) 30% of total grade
- Oral Presentations (2 in all)15% of total grade
- In-Class Assignments/Participation 15% of total grade
________________________________________________
- Total 60%
The rest of your grade will be determined by your lab work.
List of Reaction Papers
Reaction Paper #1: (based on "after the fact: prologue: Silas Deane")
"Scandal, murder, and mayhem"
Direction: Choose a topic below and respond to the following:
-1.) April 12, 1922- Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is acquitted of manslaughter
-2.) September 24, 1919- Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker conspire to fix game between
Cleveland and Detroit to earn profit from gambling
-3.) September 19,1919- White Sox players conspire to throw the world series
-4.) Nan Britton publishes memoir of her affair with president warren g. harding
-5.) March 3, 1932- kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby
-6.) September 4, 1932- Jean Harlow's husband commits suicide
-7.) November, 1942- teenage girls accuse Errol Flynn of having raped them
-8.) June 23, 1943- Joan Berry files paternity suit against Charlie Chaplin
-9.) January 14, 1947- unsolved murder of Elizabeth Ann Short- the "Black Dahlia"
-10.) August 31, 1948- actor Robert Mitchum is arrested for possession of marijuana
-11.) April 4, 1958- daughter of Actress Lana Turner kills Johnny Stompanato,
Turner's lover
-12.) July 18, 1969- Mary Jo Kopechne drowns when Senator Edward M. Kennedy
drives off a bridge at Chappaquiddick Island
-13.) 1976- former Beatle George Harrison loses plagiarism suit
-14.) September 23, 1987- Senator Joseph Biden drops out of presidential race
after revelations of plagiarism and exaggeration of academic background
-15.) January 18, 2002- historian Doris Kearns Goodwin accused of plagiarism
-16.) January 4, 2002- historian Stephen Ambrose accused of plagiarism
-17.) March 2005- baseball player Mark Mcguire is noncommittal about steroid
when probed by Congressmen at a hearing
-19.) October 6, 2005- members of the Minnesota Vikings are accused of having a sex
party aboard a boat
-20.) January 9, 2006- former House Majority Leader Tom Delay resigns from Congress
-21.) July 28, 2006- Actor Mel Gibson reportedly makes anti-semitic remarks when
arrested for drunk driving
-22.) May 2007- Chinese Government finds two companies guilty of knowingly
exporting tainted pet food
-23.) June 4, 2007- Louisiana Congressman William J. Jefferson is indicted for
corruption
-24.) July 11, 2007- Florida Republican Politician Bob Allen is arrested for solicitation
of prostitution
Choose one of the topics above and consider the following:
-Was/were the participant(s) convicted for the alleged "crime"?
-What were the circumstances surrounding the event?
-How did the Press handle the event?
-How did the person/people respond to allegations?
-How did the defendant plead (if apropos)? What arguments were used in his/her
defense? Were the arguments valid?
-Did a trial ensue or was the case settled out of court?
-What was the verdict?
-What action(s) did the participant(s) take? For example, if the baseball players
were convicted of conspiring to throw the World Series, were they ousted from
the Major Leagues? Were they imprisoned?
-Do you believe that the person/people had a fair hearing? Explain your response.
From what proof do you base your argument?
-Extenuating circumstances/conclusions
-Bibliography
This entry should be typed, double spaced and entered into your Reaction Paper Binder. Some of you will be reporting on this Reaction Paper. Include your preparation for your oral presentation here.
Reaction Paper #2 (Based on After the Fact, Chapter 3: "Declaring Independence")
In- Class Assignment on Primary Source Documents
Description: Historians often confront incomplete information, and must then solve
the puzzle by engaging in further research. Indicate what information
was discovered from reading the document.
Historical Document
1.)Choose a document from a period in history. When was the document
written? Some examples are listed here:
a.Franklin Delano Roosevelt asks Congress for a Declaration of War
against Japan
b.State Constitution of Virginia or any other state
c.Political Platform of the Major Parties during Election Year: Example:
Democratic Platform of 1920
2.)How and why was the text "created"? (See pages 50-54 in Davidson
and Lytle)
3.)Does the author reveal any information about the period? What is the purpose
of writing the document?
4.)Now, as a prospective historian, you must interpret the contents of the
document. (pp. 54- 62- Davidson and Lytle) How is the document organized?
What are its major points?
5.)Do the authors harbor any hidden or obvious biases?
6.)How reliable is this source, in your estimation? Clarify your statement.
7.)Final comments
Reaction Paper #3: (Based on After the Fact, Chapter 5, "Jackson's Frontier—and Turner's)
Historical Interpretation:
-The Circulation Desk in the Roger Williams University Library will have on its
reserve shelf under Mulligan/Swanson three books:
oInterpretations of American History: Patterns and Perspectives- Volume
II (3rd edition)
oInterpretations of American History: Patterns and Perspectives-
Volumes I and II (7th edition)
oAmerican Historians: A Selection
-Choose any chapter and discuss the following:
oWho is your historian and what is his/her subject?
oWhen does he/she write?
oFind out some information on your historian. What significant
biographical information is listed that might help explain his/her
interpretation. (Consider Turner's comment: "Each age writes the
history of the past anew with reference to the conditions uppermost in its
own time." (After the Fact, p. 115)
oWhat is the difficulty with this "presentism"?
oGive a brief synopsis on your historian's interpretation. Do you have any
difficulty with his/her argument(s)? Discuss your criticism.
oOverall conclusions.
Reaction Paper #4- (Based upon "After the Fact," Chapter 7, "The Madness of John Brown.")
"The Madness of King George"
-Based upon historical evidence, do you consider King George III "mad"
or suffering from metabolic illness?
-What sources led you to your conclusion?
-What were the political considerations of the time?
-How many "bouts" did George suffer?
-Which of these episodes is considered the most controversial and why?
-How "credible" is psychohistory in explaining a historical event, or in
determining the character of a historical figure like King George III?
-Did the film help you to draw any conclusions?
FOR THE NEXT THREE ENTRIES, FIND A FEW NEWSPAPER ARTICLES FROM THE PERIOD: (1880- 1920s) YOUR NEWSPAPER ARTICLE(S) MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EVENT IN QUESTION, DISCUSSION OF AN IMMIGRANT GROUP OR PERSON, MUCKRAKING, OR SOME FORM OF INDUSTRY.
-What does the photograph reveal to you about the event in question?
-When was the photograph taken?
-Who is portrayed in the photo? What are the circumstances?
-What does the photograph tell you about the period? How do you know?
Reaction Paper #5- Visual Evidence (Based upon "After the Fact," Chapter 9, "The Mirror with a Memory.")
-The Photograph and Historical Memory
oThe Immigrant
Reaction Paper #6- (Based upon "After the Fact," Chapter 10, "USDA Government Inspected.")
-Progressivism and Industry- "The Jungle"
-"The Muckrakers"
-What did local newspapers have to say about industry, the immigrant,
poverty, etc.
-Discuss any inherent biases that appear in the article
-Does the article favor business, the immigrant, the poor, etc?
Reaction Paper #7- (Based upon "After the Fact," Chapter 11, "Sacco and Vanzetti."
-How did the newspapers portray the case?
-How valuable is this information in studying the trial?
-What part did ethnocentrism play in this case? What about anti-
Catholicism? Explain your response.
-What is the difference between law and history?
-Why was the 1920s the "High Tide of Nativism?"
-Include your article
Reaction Paper "8 (BASED UPON CHAPTER 14, “FROM ROSIE TO LUCY”)
-View a 1950s television program. Many of these are discussed in the Davidson, Lytle chapter. What does the program reveal about “woman’s place” in society?
-Did women’s roles change during the 1950s? Explain.
-What role does the woman assume? How does she dress? How does she
spend her day?
-What role does the man assume?
-What is the plot of the half-hour/hour show?
-Significant information not mentioned above
-Your conclusions
-How important is television viewing to the popular culture of the period?
(Some examples of program that were quite successful during this periodJ)
-1950-1951- I Love Lucy
-1952-1953- Our Miss Brooks
-1953-1954- Life of Riley, Make Room for Daddy
-1954-1955- Father Knows Best
-1957-1958- Bachelor Father, Leave it to Beaver
-1958-1959- Ann Sothern Show, Donna Reed Show
-1959-1960- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Dennis the Menace
-1960-1961- The Andy Griffith Show, My Three Sons
Reaction Paper #9 “BREAKING INTO WATERGATE”
NIXON ON TRIAL- CLASS ASSIGNMENT
HOW CULPABLE WAS RICHARD NIXON?
-What were the events leading to the Watergate break-in?
-What role did Nixon play in the Watergate break-in?
-Who were some of the accomplices? What role(s) did they play?
-What sources did you use to support your argument?
-Are these sources credible? How do you know?
Journal Entry #10, (Based upon Chapter 16, “Where Trouble Comes.”)
-War in Film
-Choose a film and discuss the importance of it as a source
-When was the film made?
-Is the time period significant to the making of this film? Explain your
response. For example, the chapter in Davidson, Lytle discusses the
1968 film, The Green Berets. Since 1968 is a pivotal period, the date
holds great significance.
-Is the director trying to recreate events accurately or is he/she instead
furthering “myth” in history? How do you know? In The Green Berets,
John Wayne wants to perpetuate a “myth,” according to Davidson and Lytle.
-Are the characters an accurate reflection of the time period?
I will look for all of these in your reaction papers:
Writing is Clear and Concise_____
-Thesis statement is clearly stated
-Paragraphs flow logically and in an organized manner
-Correct grammar is used (sentence and paragraph structure is correct, verb/subject agreement, etc.)
Argument is supported by Substantive Evidence_____
Professional Bibliography is included_____
-Footnotes included
-At least eight sources are used from each category
-Proper footnoting techniques are employed
Consult A Student’s Guide to History for clarification of these points.
ALL MUST INCLUDE THIS ENTRY IN THEIR REACTION PAPERS:
Archival Research: Report on your findings:
1.)Name, location, and hours of operation of the archival institution:
a.Name
b.Location
c.Hours of Operation
d.Date of your visit
e.Explain restrictions
2.)Give some examples of the holdings in this institution?
3.)Describe a few of the artifacts:
a.Artifact #1
b.Artifact #2
4.)Discuss another primary source from a collection. Name of Collection:
5.)Name of archivist:
6.)Signature of archivist:
7.)Does the institution have a website? What are the prominent features of the website? Is the
Assess the methods utilized in history from antiquity to the modern age.