Course Goals & Expectations

Course Content

This course introduces you to historical research techniques and tools. You will discover the varieties of evidence used by historians and the ways they use and evaluate this evidence. In addition, this course "is designed to help you become a more confident, critical and competent research."

Course Goals

• To develop "historical mindedness"
• To identify, locate and evaluate historical evidence
• To understand history's publication cycle and sources (libraries, databases, web, journals, etc.)
• To conduct historical research using both traditional and electronic tools

Expectations

• Required Material
  For the portfolio project you will need to purchase a binder. Additional expenses will include photocopying and printing of material.

• Readings
  In order to be ready for class discussions, students are expected to read all assignments prior to class. Reading assignments will serve as introductions to the materials presented in class, may be discussed in class, and will be discussed in student blogs.

• Attendance
  Because of the hands-on and cumulative nature of instruction, it will be difficult to make up for missed classes. Consequently, students are expected to attend all sessions and participate in class discussions activities. Notify me, in advance, if you are unable to attend a class or submit a scheduled assignment. If you must miss a class, you are responsible for learning the material covered.

• Behavior
  As in all their conduct at the University of Washington, students are expected to be courteous, respectful, and civil to the entire class. Reading unrelated materials, writing personal letters, reading e-mail, or doing work for other classes, for example, are distracting both to the instructor and to other students and are, therefore, unacceptable behavior. Please turn off all phones during the class time.

• Academic Honesty
  Students are expected to do their own work for all class assignments and to fully participate in any group work.

Grading

This is a 3 credit, graded course. Grades will be calculated on a 200 point scale and assigned upon completion and evaluation of the following. Late assignments may be docked up to 10% per day late.

• Blog Responses - 20 points
• In-Class Exercises - 20 points
• My Hometown Newspaper - 20 points
• Advertisement Analysis - 20 points
• Film Analysis - 20 points
• Mini-Portfolio - 30 points
• Final Portfolio - 70 points