Course Syllabus

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HIST 302W: What is History? An Introduction to Historical Methods (Undergraduate Seminar)

Overview

CATEGORY INFORMATION
Credits 3
Prerequisites 4th semester standing
Delivery Web (Canvas, https://psu.instructure.com)
Dates See the Calendar.
Instructor See the Orientation module under the Modules tab.

Description

This course aims to train students in historical writing and source analysis. It offers a general introduction to the nature of, and the status of sources in, historical writing; and it offers a general template in source analysis. In order to train students more deeply in source analysis, the course studies one historical topic in detail: the World War era. Unit 01 is devoted to World War I, Unit 02 to World War II. Each unit analyzes four types of sources in depth: diplomatic sources, personal texts, non-written sources, and press sources. Unit 02 reinforces the skills students have acquired in Unit 01. The course requires a series of short papers and two larger book reviews — one review per unit, with ongoing instructor feedback.

Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Analyze primary sources — their origin, purpose, content, value, and limitations.
  2. Identify and compare historical methods and types of historical synthesis.
  3. Identify and explain the key events, actors, issues, and dynamics of World War I and World War II.
  4. Apply this basic knowledge of historical methods to a set of primary sources with regard to the World War era.
  5. Appraise the following elements of scholarly works: research questions, use of sources, approach, and contribution to our understanding of the World War era.
  6. Engage in "deep reading" (as opposed to skimming).
  7. Produce essays written at a professional standard — in other words, with attributions and in an organized, grammatically correct way.

Organization

This course is made up of 13 lessons. The course begins with an introductory lesson. Subsequent lessons are grouped into two units, which correspond with the two world wars.

For a typical lesson, you will complete the following activities and assignments:

  • Explore online course content.
  • Read a few assigned readings.
  • Produce a short work of source analysis.

A unit begins with assessments in which you demonstrate your basic knowledge and understanding of a world war. The unit ends with a book review in which you assess the methods of a historian of that world war.

Online Learning and Attendance

This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. For each lesson, there is a timeframe to complete all activities and assignments, and you may work at your own pace within that timeframe. However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) You should log into the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, and participate in activities.

Materials

Texts

The following texts are required:

  • *Howard, M. (2007). The First World War: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ISBN: 978-0199205592]
  • Weinberg, G. L. (2014). World War II: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ISBN: 978-0199688777]

The following text is optional:

  • Arnold, J. H. (2000). History: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ISBN: 978-0192853523]

*E-Book Option: An online version of one or more of your texts is available at no cost as a Penn State Libraries E-Book, which is indicated by an asterisk (*). You can access the E-Book through the Library Resources tab in the course navigation menu. Some E-Books will only be available online, while others will be available to download in full or in part. You may choose to use the E-Book as an alternative to purchasing a physical copy of the text. For questions or issues, you can contact the University Libraries Reserve Help (UL-RESERVESHELP@LISTS.PSU.EDU).

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.

Course Reserves

There are electronic resources on reserve for this course that can be accessed through the Penn State Libraries. To access your Course Reserves, please use the Library Resources tab in the course navigation menu. For any questions you may have about viewing or printing your Course Reserves, refer to the View and Print Electronic Course Reserves page at https://libraries.psu.edu/services/course-reserves/using-electronic-reserves/view-and-print-electronic-course-reserves.

Getting Started with Tutor.com:

Tutor.com

Tutor.com is a 24/7 tutoring service that provides students with assistance in coursework, test preparation, research, writing, and more for various subjects. The tutors are subject-matter experts, and each student will have personalized one-on-one sessions with them. Students can schedule their own tutoring appointments to engage in interactive sessions that include a whiteboard and chat feature. The service can be utilized on any device that has Internet access. Students are encouraged to use the service throughout the semester.
You can access this service by selecting Tutor.com from your course navigation menu. Here you can select your subject, enter a question, and begin your tutoring session.
Reminder: Please keep in mind that you can use the free Tutor.com services to assist you in preparing for your assignments and understanding key concepts. You may NOT use this service during graded assignments, quizzes, or exams. Students AND instructors have access to transcripts from tutoring sessions.
Canvas: 
You will need to provide the students with details on how to use Tutor.com and how to access it. Here is an example of information you can provide to the students:
Getting Started with Tutor.com:
•    Launch Tutor.com by clicking the Tutor.com link in the Course Navigation Menu.
•    Select the topic you are studying from the drop-down menu.
•    From the subject drop-down menu, select your course.
•    Ask your tutor a question in the text box. If you're working with a document, such as a rough draft of a writing assignment, you can upload the file here as well.
•    Once you have made these selections, click Get a Tutor, and a tutor will be assigned to you within two minutes.
•    You will then enter a virtual classroom with your tutor. Here, the interactive whiteboard and chat feature will be available. You will be able to talk with your tutor and use the tools. File sharing will be available for you and your tutor to review a document at the same time.
•    After your session, please fill out the post-session survey to offer feedback on your experience.
•    For a more detailed overview of Tutor.com, please view the How It Works video or read the "How It Works" guide. If you have any questions or need additional help logging in, please contact studentsupport@tutor.com.

Grading

Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below.

Scale

LETTER
GRADE		 MINIMUM
PERCENT		 MINIMUM
POINTS
A 94 376
A- 90 360
B+ 87 348
B 84 336
B- 80 320
C+ 77 308
C 70 280
D 60 240
F 0 0

Due Dates

All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10622.

As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make up missed assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. Students with an excused absence (e.g. hospitalization, jury duty, family emergency, or military service) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g. upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

Note on To Do List: Some assignments may not appear in the To Do list under the Home tab. Use the Calendar or Syllabus to ensure that you are fully aware of assignment due dates.

Assignments

Basic information about each assignment group is provided below. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.

You can expect meaningful feedback on assignments within 7 days of their due date.

Paper Format

For all papers, you must use APA-style in-text citations in all applicable locations. When using someone's exact words, quote and cite. When using someone's ideas, cite. In both cases, provide references. These guidelines apply to the use of any readings and resources, including the textbooks and lectures. A References page or section is required; a cover page is not.

Note on Turnitin (War Dynamics Papers and Final Book Reviews): Turnitin is integrated into Canvas, so you should submit your work in Canvas, NOT the Turnitin website. Please be aware that Turnitin will produce an originality report. See the Academic Integrity section for information about the potential consequences of plagiarism and other violations of academic integrity.

ASSIGNMENT
GROUP		 POINTS
L01 Creative Paper 10
Exams 50
War Dynamics Papers 40
Source Analysis Papers 100
Book Reviews 200
Total 400

L01 Creative Paper

Value: 10 PTS

For this paper, you will identify a historical anecdote in a source and "unwrap" it in a creative way. In other words, you will write a brief "true story."

Write a short paper (2-3 pages, not counting the References page or section; Times New Roman; 12 pt font; double-spaced). Attach and submit a text document to the correct drop box.

Your paper will be graded for completeness and timeliness.

Exams

Value: 2 x 25 PTS, 50 PTS total

Each exam assesses your basic knowledge and understanding of a world war. An exam is made up of 25 multiple-choice questions. The questions are grouped into three sections:

  • Main Events and Actors
  • Issues and Complexity
  • Dynamics
    Note: You will also demonstrate your grasp of the wars' dynamics in the war dynamics papers.

War Dynamics Papers

Value: 2 x 20 PTS, 40 PTS total

This course mainly uses examples and offers activities and assignments centered on the two world wars. That is why two lessons offer overviews of the wars’ main dynamics: Lesson 02 for World War I; Lesson 08 for World War II. Each of these papers corresponds with a world war and represents an opportunity for you to judge that war's dynamics and develop a succinct analysis of your own.

Write a short paper (2-3 pages, not counting the References page or section; Times New Roman; 12 pt font; double-spaced). Attach and submit a text document to the correct drop box.

Your paper will be graded based on the following criteria: content quality, content quantity, and format. For more information, see the rubric in the drop box.

Source Analysis Papers

Value: 4 x 25 PTS, 100 PTS total

Historians’ main skill is working with sources: critically evaluating them to assess their value for historical analysis. Each of the course’s two units corresponds with a world war and offers four lessons in source analysis. We analyze 1) diplomatic sources, 2) personal texts, 3) non-written sources, and 4) press sources. The idea is for you to hone your source-analysis skills through these lessons, so that you can later take them to subjects outside of the World War era and/or types of sources not studied at length in this course — such as literary sources (narrative fiction, poetry, drama) or statistical sources.

There are eight source analysis papers in the course, but you are only required to submit four of them. Each source analysis paper represents an opportunity for you to produce a short work of source analysis on one type of source. By the end of the semester, you will have analyzed all four types of sources. Please make note of the following requirements:

For each unit, select and complete TWO OF THE FOUR source analysis papers. You must complete ALL FOUR TYPES of papers (diplomatic, personal, non-written, and press) by the end of Lesson 12.

For example, you might analyze a diplomatic text and a personal text during Lessons 03-06 of Unit 01; these lessons relate to sources of World War I. In that case, you would be expected to analyze a non-written source and a press source during Lessons 09-12 of Unit 02; these lessons relate to sources of World War II.

To facilitate your completion of a source analysis paper for a lesson, we provide a list of six sources as well as a Source Analysis Template. Select one source and use the template to write a short paper (2-3 pages, not counting the References page or section; Times New Roman; 12 pt font; single-spaced). Attach and submit the text document to the correct drop box.

Your paper will be graded based on the following criteria: content quality, content quantity, and format. For more information, see the rubric in the drop box.

Book Reviews

Value: 2 x 100 PTS, 200 PTS total

A book review is a "deep reading" assignment in which you evaluate a historical synthesis — specifically, a book. You assess up close how a particular historian formulates a research question, analyzes the relevant sources, and generates a book-length historical analysis. Your book review is, in turn, a piece of analysis of its own.

You will complete two book reviews. Each book review spans one of the two units of the course. As you progress through the unit, you will complete several checkpoints that build upon one another and help ensure your success. The assignment is an individual one, not a group one, but you will participate in a discussion at one point in the process, sharing and comparing your book findings with those of classmates. Near the end of the process, you will write a draft version of your book review. After receiving feedback from your instructor, you will revise your draft and produce your final book review.

Each book review is made up of several sub-assignments:

  • Checkpoint 1: Book Selection (5 PTS)
  • Checkpoint 2: Structured Reading (10 PTS)
  • Checkpoint 3: Working Summary (10 PTS)
  • Checkpoint 4: Discussion (10 PTS)
  • Checkpoint 5: Draft (15 PTS)
  • Final Book Review (50 PTS)

For each final book review, write a paper (5-8 pages, not counting the References page or section; Times New Roman; 12 pt font; double-spaced). Be sure to integrate the elements listed on the main assignment page into a coherent narrative with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Do not simply provide a list of answers.

Checkpoints 1-5 will be graded for completeness and timeliness.

Your final book review will be graded based on the following criteria: content quality, content quantity, writing, and format. For more information, see the rubric in the drop box.

Final Exam

None

University Policies

Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.   

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic sanctions, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes (see G-9: Academic Integrity).

Unless your instructor tells you otherwise:

  • Always include an in-text citation that includes the author(s) last name(s) and the year the source was published at the end of any sentence or below any image that includes words, images, or ideas you found in a source, always included quoted text within quotation marks, and always include a reference for any source at the end of your paper (ask your instructor about the format you should use).
  • All of your graded coursework must be created by you without help from anyone in the course or otherwise. If you have questions about this, you should ask your instructor before submitting work for evaluation.
  • All course materials you receive or access are protected by copyright laws. You may use course materials and make copies for your own use, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and/or liable under Federal and State laws.

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Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/form/caps-contact-form to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/. Students enrolled at the World Campus are also encouraged to visit its Mental Health Services page at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/student-services/mental-health-services.

Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.

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Reporting a Bias Incident

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TEACH Act

The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

University Emergency Procedure

In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.

In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at https://www.psu.edu or Penn State News website at https://news.psu.edu.

To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to the PSU Alert website at https://psualert.psu.edu/. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.

Syllabus Subject to Change

The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due