Coastal Carolina University
Thomas W. & Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Department of History
HIST 498-01: Senior Seminar
Spring 2019
TTH: 10:50-12:05 / Brittain 243 / 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Christopher Gunn
362Brittain Hall
843-349-6461
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays: 12:05 – 2:05 pm, and by appointment.
Course Description
(3 credits) (Prereq: completion ofHIST 250with a grade of ‘C’ or better)A seminar designed to expose students to varieties of historical interpretation and themethodologies employed by historians. To provide continuity and coherence, professors may elect to focus a significant part of the course on the historiography and methodology of a particular topic in their area of expertise. Students willwrite a minimum of fifteen pages of gradedwork, including a literature review of the scholarship on their chosen topic. They will engage in class discussion of scholarship on a regular basis, and will deliverat least one graded oral presentation or poster session. Any departmental exit exam(s) will be administered in this course.
Nature of the Course
This course has required lectures, readings and videos. Students will be expected to attend lectures, complete the course readings, watch the videos and complete all course assignments.
Course Instructional Objectives
The course has three objectives. The first is to provide an introductory survey of historical research methods. The second is to enable a better understanding of contemporary events through inquiry. And, finally, the third objective is to critically interpret forms of human expression. In order to accomplish these objectives the student will have complete all course assignments (including the scheduled readings).
Student Learning Outcomes
1.To demonstrate an understanding and be aware of the primary themes, trends, and technical aspects of
history.
2.Apply methods of inquiry in the humanities
3.Critically interpret forms of human expression
Course Requirements and Grading
Research Proposal 10%
Secondary Source Worksheets10%
Primary Source Worksheets10%
Annotated Bibliography10%
Revised Research Proposal10%
Oral Presentation10%
Research Papers40%
**Important Dates **
January 25:No Class! See Course Schedule for instructions!
March 6 & 8:Spring Break! No Class!
March 13:No Class! See Course Schedule for instructions!
April 12:Research Proposal & Annotated Bibliography is due!
April 10, 12, 17 & 19Presentations!
May 3:Upload Revisions to Research Proposal to Moodle No Later than 1:00 PM!
Attendance Policy:
Attendance and class participation are critical to this course. Excused absences must satisfy university policy (see for further information), and are typically given for documented cases of an incapacitating illness; official representation of the University (excuses for official representation of the University should be obtained from the official supervising the activity); death of a close relative; and religious holidays: Seven (7) unexcused absences in this class (25% of the total) will result in automatic failure for the course.
Course Communication
All changes, announcements and communication will be done via the course’s Moodle website. The default email account for this system is your student email. Please check the website frequently! Anyone not using their student email will need to make the proper arrangements to have their mail forwarded to the proper account. Direct correspondence, concerns and/or questions should be sent to . When you write, please include your class and section information (number or meeting time), and I will try and answer all messages within 24 hours.*
Classroom Etiquette
In order to create and sustain a positive learning atmosphere and environment in the classroom, I expect the following from each student in the course:
-- To come to class on time, and remain until the session is over.
-- To restrict personal communication during class (talking, texting, tweeting, facebooking, etc.)
-- To show respect and tolerance to your classmates, their comments and their views, at all times.
-- To discuss and debate politely. (i.e., listen when someone is speaking, wait until others are finished, use an ‘inside’ voice, etc.)
Failure to follow these rules may result in dismissal from the classroom, and repeated disruptive behavior will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.
Moodle
A copy of the course syllabus, schedule,study guides, videos, suggested links, and grades will be posted to the course’s Moodle site. As mentioned above, please check this site regularly for changes and announcements. Additionally, a number of course assignments will be submitted through Moodle.
Required Books:
Kissane, Bill. Nations Torn Asunder: The Challenge of Civil War. New York: Oxford University Press, 2016.
Resources:
Grading
Research Proposal (10%)
You will be required to write a brief (500-750 word) historical research proposal on some aspect of civil war or internal conflict in the post-1945 era. Your proposal will place your topic in its historical context and discuss the importance of further research in the field.
Secondary & Primary Source Worksheets (20%)
You will be required to turn in two source ‘worksheets’ that locate and identify the materials necessary to complete your project. Secondary sources will include a combination of at least eight recently published academic books, book chapters or peer-reviewed articles. Primary sources must include at least three digital archives.
Annotated Bibliography (10%)
You will submit a 2-3 page annotated bibliography of the sources you collected for this research project. An example of an annotated bibliography will be provided on Moodle.
Revised Research Proposal (10%)
After collecting your secondary and primary sources, and writing an annotated bibliography, revise your original research proposal to reflect what you have learned, discovered and/or changed.
Oral Presentation (10%)
Each student will give an 8-minute presentation on their research. A digital presentation (powerpoint, prezi, sway, slides, etc.) is encouraged, but not necessary.
Research Paper (40%)
You will write a 10-12 page (2500-3000-word) original research paper on your topic using the primary and secondary sources you identified in your proposal.
Make-Up Assignments:
If you are unable to complete an assignment when it is due and have a documented, legitimate excuse, you must contact me within one week to arrange an extended deadline. Extensions for other reasons will only be granted on a case-by-case basis, and only if arrangements are made with me at least 24 hours PRIOR to the due date.
Grading Scale
A90-100
B+85-89
B80-84
C+75-79
C70-74
D+65-69
D60-64
F≤ 59
Academic Integrity Code
From the Coastal Carolina University Code of Student Conduct Handbook, pp. 3-7.
A. Statement of Community Standards
Coastal Carolina University is an academic community that expects the highest standards of honesty, integrity and personal responsibility. Members of this community are accountable for their actions and are committed to creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
B. Expectations of Community Members
Students:
Understand and abide by the Code of Student Conduct
Take responsibility for personal behavior
Actively oppose every instance of academic dishonesty
C. Honor Pledge
Coastal Carolina University is an academic community that expects the highest standards of honesty, integrity and personal responsibility. As members of this community, we are accountable for our actions and are committed to creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
On my honor, I pledge:
That I will take responsibility for my personal behavior; and
That I will actively oppose every instance of academic dishonesty as defined in the Code of Student Conduct.
From this day forward, my signature on any University document, including tests, papers and other work submitted for a grade, is a confirmation of this honor pledge.
D. Prohibited Conduct
1. Plagiarism, cheating and all other forms of academic dishonesty
a. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i) borrowing words, sentences, ideas, conclusions, examples and/or organization of an assignment without proper acknowledgment from a source (for example, a book, article, electronic documents, or another student’s paper);
(ii) submitting another person’s work in place of his/her own;
(iii) allowing someone else to revise, correct or edit an assignment without explicit permission of the instructor;
(iv) submitting work without proper acknowledgment from commercial firms, websites, fraternity or sorority files or any other outside sources, whether purchased or not;
(v) allowing another person to substitute for them any part of a course for them, including quizzes, tests, and final examinations;
(vi) submitting any written assignments done with the assistance of another without the explicit permission of the instructor;
(vii) submitting work that was originally prepared for another class without the explicit permission of the instructor;
(viii) knowingly aiding another student who is engaged in plagiarism.
b. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i) using unauthorized information, materials or assistance of any kind for an assignment, quiz, test, or final examination;
(ii) knowingly aiding another student who is engaged in cheating.
2. Furnishing false information to any University official, faculty member or University office to obtain academic advantage.
3. Forging, altering or misusing any University document or record to obtain academic advantage.
Instances of cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. Any violations will be reported per university procedures set out in the Coastal Carolina University Code of Student Conduct Handbook (see pp. 4-7), andwill result in failure for the class.
For a complete copy of the Coastal Carolina University Code of Student Conduct see:
Americans with Disabilities Act
Coastal Carolina University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services. This office is located in Indigo House and the phone number is 843-349-2341. Please make an appointment with a staff member in Accessibility and Disability Services so that such accommodations can be considered. To receive academic accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper forms and meet with me to discuss the provisions of those accommodations as soon as possible. Website: Phone number: 843.349.2341
Moodle Support for Students
Check the ITS website for Student Services
Learning Assistance Center
Website:
Phone number: 843.349.6536 for information about services
Writing Center:
A syllabus is a general guide to the course. It is not a contract or agreement. The instructor reserves the right to unilaterally change anything contained in the syllabus, including but not limited to, assignments, tests, or grading.
Senior Seminar
(This schedule is tentative and some changes with advance notice may be made.)
Week 1: Researching & Writing History
January 9: Course introduction
January 11: Primary & secondary sources and where to find them…
Week 2: Civil Wars since 1945
January 16: Wars & Warfare since 1945
-“Civil Wars: How to Stop the Fighting, Sometimes.” The Economist, November 10, 2013.
January 18: Theory
David Armitage on Civil Wars
-Armitage, “Confronting Civil War” & “Worlds of Civil War”
Week 3: Civil War, cont.
January 23: Nations Torn Asunder
Bill Kissane on Nations Torn Asunder
-Kissane, pp. 1-24
January 25:Civil War in History
-Kissane, pp. 25-65
Research Proposals are due!
Week 4: Civil Wars
January 30: Research Topics & Research Tools
Meet at Kimbel Library! Bring Sources Worksheet with you!
February 1: Patterns of Civil War since 1945
-Kissane, pp. 66-107
Secondary Source worksheet is due!
Week 5: Civil Wars & Research
February 6:Secondary Sources
February 8: Causes
-Kissane, pp. 108-139
Primary Source worksheet is due!
Week 6: Civil Wars & Research
February 13: Primary Sources
February 15: Consequences
-Kissane, pp. 140-174
Week7: Civil Wars & Articles
February 20:Bibliographies
Annotated Bibliographies are due!
February 23: Recovery
-Kissane, pp. 175-216
Week 8: Civil Wars & Memoirs
February 27: Civil War & Human Divisiveness
-Kissane, pp. 217-250
March 1: Research & Film
Revised Research Proposals are Due!
Be prepared to introduce & discuss your film!
Week 9: Spring Break!
March 6 & 8:
-No Class! Spring Break!
Week 10: Research Papers
March 13 & 15: Writing!
Class will not meet in the classroom this week. See me individually for scheduled research consultations.
Week 11: Research Papers
March 20 & 22: Writing!
Class will not meet in the classroom this week. See me individually as necessary, and finish your research papers & Oral Presentations!
Week 12: Research Papers
March 27 & 29:Peer Review
Rough Drafts are due on March 27!
Week 13: Novels, Government Documents & Archives
April 3 & 5:Oral Presentations
Week 14: Documentaries, Graphic Novels, Posters & Art
April 10 & 12:Oral Presentations
Week 15: Revisions
April 17 & 19:
Class will not meet in the classroom this week. See me individually for scheduled research paper discussion.
Week 16: Course Conclusion
April 24:Revisions, Discussions & Conclusions
**Revisions are due on moodle by 13:00 on Thursday, May 3, 2019!**
1