HIST 4930 Mr. Trimble
Senior Thesis Spring 2001
E-mail trimbwf@auburn.edu
Texts: James W. Davidson and Mark H. Lytle, After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection (3rd ed.)
Richard Marius, A Short Guide to Writing about History (3d ed.)
William Strunk and E.B. White, Elements of Style
Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (6th ed.)
HIST 4930 Senior Thesis is the capstone course for undergraduate history majors. Students will demonstrate the research, analytical, oral, and writing skills gained as majors through original, analytical, article-length papers using primary source materials. The papers will be of potentially publishable quality. Oral presentation of the papers will be attended by members of the History faculty at the end of the term. Either HIST 3800 or HIST 405 is a prerequisite of the course.
During the semester the student will be responsible for a series of readings, quizzes, a research proposal, interim drafts of the research paper, complete drafts of the paper, and the completed research paper itself. The research paper will be between 30 and 40 pages long, including notes and bibliography. Students must also be prepared to participate in class discussions and deliver oral presentations of papers.
Grades will be determined by the following formula:
Research Proposal 25 points
Documentation quiz 25 points
Two reading quizzes 50 points
Two interim drafts 50 points
First complete interim draft, research paper 50 points
Second complete interim draft, research paper 50 points
Research paper 200 points
Class participation/oral presentations 50 points
Total 500 points
All assignments must be typed double-spaced unless otherwise specified. If a computer or word processing program is used, note that right justification must be turned off. Type size is to be no larger than 12 cpi. Margins are to be no larger than one inch. You must keep copies of all assignments for yourself in addition to the ones you turn in to me. Plagiarism will result in failure pending the outcome of the academic honesty process. Do not put papers in folders, binders, or plastic covers.
Written assignments must be submitted by noon (1200) on the day they are due. Grades will be reduced by one letter grade for each hour they are late; if the assignment is not submitted by the close of business (1645) that day, no credit will be received.
Research Proposal: This is a short essay approximately two pages double-spaced. It outlines the writing project, with a working title, a thesis statement, a brief outline of the proposed paper, and a preliminary bibliography.
Interim Draft: This is a section of your paper, complete with endnotes. Each interim draft will be five pages long, and each must cover a separate part of the paper. With each successive draft of the research paper (including interim drafts), students must submit previous drafts with my comments. No draft will be accepted, read, or graded without the previous draft. Improvement will be heavily weighed in grading each draft, with considerable attention paid to writing style and clarity of meaning.
Oral Presentation: You will present the paper orally to the class and History faculty on a date to be determined by lot.
Class Participation: Each student is expected to have read the assigned material and must be prepared to discuss it in class. This is not a lecture class; its success and your success depend on active participation.
Final Paper: This will be turned in with a graded second draft of your paper. The final draft of the research paper will be graded according to the following formula:
Originality of idea and conceptualization of the problem or question--20%
Style--30%
Research (breadth of materials and use of primary sources)--20%
Analysis and interpretation--20%
Overall impression--10%
ACAT Exam: All students must take a general competency exam in history. This is not factored into students' grades, but it is a requirement for completion of the course.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes, unless excused by the instructor. Attendance will be taken during each class period. I reserve the right to reduce the grade of any student who has two or more unexcused absences. Note that the class is divided into groups and that the groups do not meet frequently in February and March. This does not mean that the workload is reduced. Research and writing is a time-consuming, laborious process, requiring large amounts of time and self-discipline. If you do not pace yourself during the semester, you will find that you have insufficient time at the end of the term to do a satisfactory job on the paper.
No makeup quizzes will be given. Students missing one or more of the scheduled quizzes will lose the points.
Office hours: Students can consult with me in Thach Hall 307, MWF, 0900-1000. Prior arrangements must be made to meet with me outside these hours.
Wed. Jan. 10. Introduction and course requirements; creation of groups.
Fri. Jan. 12. Discussion and review of HIST 405/3800. Davidson and Lytle, Intro., Prologue, Chaps. 1-3.
Mon. Jan. 15. MLK Holiday; no class.
Wed. Jan. 17. Marius, Introduction, pp. 49-71, 98-105. Topics and research proposals.
Fri. Jan. 19. Documentation, part 1. Bring Turabian to class.
Mon. Jan. 22. Documentation, part 2. Bring Turabian to class. Research Proposals due (25 points).
Wed. Jan. 24. Documentation quiz. (25 points).
Fri. Jan. 26. No class
Mon. Jan. 29. Elements of Style. Bring Strunk and White to class. Marius, pp. 109-35, 146-74.
Wed. Jan. 31. Writing Workshop Group A. Bring rough draft of first interim draft.
Fri. Feb. 2. Writing Workshop Group B. Bring rough draft of first interim draft.
Mon. Feb. 5. Round Table Discussion, Group A. Davidson and Lytle, Chaps. 4, 6, 7. First interim draft due (25 points). First reading quiz (25 points)..
Wed. Feb. 7. Round Table Discussion, Group B. Davidson and Lytle, Chaps. 4, 6, 7. First interim draft due (25 points). First reading quiz (25 points).
Fri. Feb. 9. Individual conferences.
Mon. Feb. 12. Individual conferences.
Wed. Feb. 14. Individual conferences.
Fri. Feb. 16. Individual conferences.
Mon. Feb. 19. Progress reports, Group A. Davidson and Lytle, Chaps. 8, 13, 15. Second interim draft due (25 points). Second reading quiz (25 points).
Wed. Feb. 21. Progress reports, Group B. Davidson and Lytle, Chaps. 8, 13, 15. Second interim draft due (25 points). Second reading quiz (25 points).
Fri. Feb. 23. Individual conferences.
Mon. Feb. 26. Progress reports, Group A.
Wed. Feb. 28. Progress reports, Group B.
Fri. Mar. 2. Individual conferences.
Mon., Mar. 5. Progress reports, entire class.
Wed. Mar. 7. First complete draft due (50 points).
Fri. Mar. 9. Individual conferences.
Mon. Mar. 12. Progress reports, Group A.
Wed. Mar 14. Progress reports, Group B.
Fri. Mar. 16. No class.
Mon. Mar. 19. Progress reports, Group A.
Wed. Mar. 21. Progress reports, Group B.
Fri. Mar. 23. No class.
Mon. Mar. 26-Fri. Mar. 30. Spring Break.
Mon. Apr. 2. Progress reports, Group A. Second complete draft due (50 points).
Wed. Apr. 4. Progress reports, Group A. Second complete draft due (50 points).
Fri. Apr. 6. Presentations.
Mon. Apr. 9. Presentations.
Wed. Apr. 11. Presentations.
Fri. Apr. 13. Presentations.
Mon. Apr. 16. ACAT exams.
Wed. Apr. 18. Presentations.
Fri. Apr. 20. Presentations.
Mon. Apr. 23. Presentations.
Wed. Apr. 25. Presentations.
Fri. Apr. 27. Presentations.
Mon. Apr. 30. Presentations (if necessary).
Wed. May 2. Final papers due (200 points).