description

This course is designed as an introduction to the practice and writing of history via examination of primary source documents that contain a “mystery.” The course involves learning how to ask questions and knowing by serendipity or logic the right question. Download
HIST 120 Syllabus PDF

Download
HIST 120 Reader PDF
It is also about knowing what is an irrelevant detail—a red herring—and what small detail will carry an inquiry to its main goal. It is about learning to interrogate (and to distrust) evidence and mastering the art of inference. The course is about piecing together the bits and pieces of evidence in an engaging narrative and convincing analysis. And last but not least, the course is about learning how to present findings to an audience, whether large and essentially anonymous. Doing history is much like solving a problem in any other discipline, and it’s a great deal like what a professional does every day. Note: You will probably not improve your Jeopardy won/loss record.

book

The following book is required for the course. It is available in the Campus Bookstore.

blog

You are required to obtain a Plus-level subscription to Typepad, a blog. TypePad is available at: typepad.com. All of your writing assignments and projects will be posted to your Typepad blog. The cost is $8.95 per month or roughly $27.00 for the semester (the cost of a modest textbook). The best thing to do is sign up for a free trial; this will furnish you with two week’s free service. At the end of the semester, you can cancel your subscription. Or, you may discover that you like blogging so much that you retain your TypePad account.

A word about design. Good design helps your blog visitors find what they are looking for and read it once found. Certain design elements contribute to readability and legibility. For your TypePad blog, you can choose any design in Classic, Bold Colors, Cool Colors, Pale Palettes categories except Folio, Beckett, Sunburned, and Porpoise. These are just plain difficult to read, and I do not want to go blind. You should not choose anything from the Special Interest group. When you choose a layout, choose a two or three column layout. Avoid the mixed media layout; they are not appropriate for history.