Introduction
to Historical Thinking
Dr. Bob Miller
30HIST201-001
7142 One Edwards
Fall 2000
work: 556-9128
Thursday,
6:30-9:10
home: 573-1446
53 McMicken
Hall
Millerre@uc.edu
Purpose of the Course:
This course
will look beyond simple facts and figures.
By talking with a variety of historians, students will have an
opportunity to learn how history is conceptualized, organized, researched, and
written by academic scholars. Students
will also learn how to interpret different sources of historical evidence
(written accounts, films, oral history, etc.).
Introduction to Historical Thinking is designed for students wishing to learn more about the study of history and how scholars practice their craft. It is highly recommended for any CECE student wishing to take upper division (300 and 400 level) lecture courses in history. This course is also required for anyone wishing to fulfill requirements for the CECE History Focus for the LASS program.
For five of
the weeks during this quarter, you will have an opportunity to interact with
guest lecturers. All of these
people are CECE history professors. They
will present a wide range of interesting topics.
Texts:
Gary B. Nash, et.al., History On Trial: Culture
Wars and the Teaching of the Past, 2d ed. (New York, 2000)
It is very
likely that the UC Bookstore ordered the wrong edition of this book.
If that is the case I would prefer that you return your books and
purchase the paperback edition online. In
some cases, if you are willing to pay extra, you can have your book the next
day. Check out the following links:
Course
Packet (will be available at DuBois Bookstore within a few weeks)
Course Work:
Writing Exercises for Prof. Miller (2) 20 pts
In-Class
Writing for Guest Lecturers (5)
50 pts
Final Paper
20
pts
Participation
10
pts
100 total pts
You will
have three opportunities to earn points in short in-class writing exercises.
Also, at the end of each class in which a guest lecturer is present, you
will be asked to do a short writing exercise.
There will also be a capstone paper that will draw together the concepts
presented in class.
Attendance:
Your
attendance in this course is vital and required.
Repeated absences, tardiness, or leaving early will negatively affect
your grade. If you know of
conflicts bring them to my immediate attention.
Schedule of Classes:
Week 1: September 21,
2000
Meet the
Teacher
Week 2: September 28,
2000
The Dynamic
Nature of History
Week 3: October 5, 2000
The Dynamic
Nature of History (cont'd)
Week 4: October 12, 2000
The Dynamic
Nature of History (cont'd)
Week 5: October 19, 2000
Professor Terri Premo:
The Importance of Gender in American
History
Assigned
Readings:
Jane Sherron
DeHart and Linda Kerber, " Introduction: Gender and the New
Women's
History" from Women's America: Refocusing the Past, 5th
ed.
(New
York: Oxford University Press, 2000), pp.3-24.
Week 6: October 26, 2000
Professor Fred Krome:
Studying Religious History
Assigned
Readings:
Norman Cohn,
Noah's Flood: The Genesis Story in Western Thought (New
Haven:
Yale University Press, 1996),
pp.1-21.
Lance J.
Sussman, "Isaac Leeser and the Protestantization of American
Judaism"
in American Jewish Archives Journal (April 1986):2-21.
Week 7: November 2, 2000
Professor Eric Jackson:
Race As a Factor in American History
Assigned
Readings:
Kenneth W.
Goings and Raymond Mohl, "Towards a New African American
Urban
History" in Kenneth W. Goings and Raymond Mohl, eds., The New
African
American Urban History
(Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1996), pp.1-16.
Joe W.
Trotter, "African Americans in the City: 1900-1950" in Goings and Mohl,
eds.,
The New African American Urban History, pp.299-319.
Week 8: November 9, 2000
Professor Howard Todd:
Global Perspectives in History
Assigned
Readings: TBA
Week 9: November 16,
2000
Professor Clinton Terry:
Historical Trends in Technology and
Culture
Assigned
Readings:
Leo Marx,
"What is Technology?" in Merritt Roe Smith and Gregory Clancey,
eds.,
Major Problems in the History of American Technology (Boston:
Houghton
Miffllin Co., 1998), pp.1-25.
John M.
Staudenmaier, "Recent Trends in the History of Technology" in
American
Historical Review 95
(June 1990):715-25.
Week 10: November 23,
2000
Week 11: November 30,
2000