SYLLABUS FOR HI 399

                        Historical Methods and Research

                        MW 11:00-11:50  HC 210

 

Instructor: Thomas Prasch

                Office: HC 311 A

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 12-1:30

                                or by appointment

                  Office telephone: 670-1892

                  E-mail: tom.prasch@washburn.edu

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

 

HI 399 is the capstone course for history majors, devoted above all else to independent research to create the capstone project. The course provides a forum for students to demonstrate their mastery of the basic requirements of the discipline in research, writing, and presentation.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

Each student will independently research a topic of his or her own choosing, working most closely in conjunction with the professor best fitted to supervise the chosen topic. The aim will be the creation of a final product: an independent research paper, presented before the class and colleagues from the history department, that will comprehend both primary and relevant secondary sources for the topic, that will properly cite resources, and that will be a minimum of 20 pages in length. Class meetings, at intervals through the semester rather than three times a week, will be designed to maintain a pace toward the completion of that project. Students will be expected to meet with their supervising professor at least once a week through the semester.

      The final product is the central goal. Thus, 25% of the grade in this course will be for completion of stages along the way to that final product; 25% will be an evaluation of the presentation; 50% will be for the final paper, with that grade being assigned by the supervising professor in consultation with me.

      There are no texts for the course. Students are strongly encouraged, however, to have on hand a guide to writing mechanics (Turabian, Chicago Manual of Style, something of that sort).

      Plagiarism violates the university's code of academic conduct and deeply offends members of the Department of History. It will not be tolerated in this course. Evidence of plagiarism will result in automatic failure and will be reported to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

     And then the university requires all syllabi to include the following information:


 

 

UNIVERSITY ADDITIONS – COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Select Mission of the University:

Washburn University shall prepare qualified individuals for careers, further study and life long learning through excellence in teaching and scholarly work.  Washburn University shall make a special effort to help individuals reach their full academic potential.  Washburn University Board of Regents, 1999

 

Academic Misconduct Policy:

All students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and ethically in their academic work.  Inappropriate and unethical behavior includes (but is not limited to) giving or receiving unauthorized aid on examinations or in the preparation of papers or other assignments, or knowingly misrepresenting the source of academic work.  Washburn University’s Academic Impropriety Policy describes academically unethical behavior in greater detail and explains the actions that may be taken when such behavior occurs.  For guidelines regarding protection of copyright, consult
www.washburn.edu/copyright/students. For a complete copy of the Academic Impropriety Policy, contact the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center Suite 200, or go on-line to:  
www.washburn.edu/admin/vpaa/fachdbk/FHsec7.html#VIII

 

Disability Services:

The Student Services Office is responsible for assisting in arranging accommodations and for identifying resources on campus for persons with disabilities.  Qualified students with disabilities must register with the office to be eligible for services.  The office MUST have appropriate documentation on file in order to provide services.  Accommodations may include in-class note takers, test readers and/or scribes, adaptive computer technology, brailled materials.  Requests for accommodations should be submitted at least two months before services should begin; however, if you need an accommodation this semester, please contact the Student Services Office immediately.

 

Location:  Student Services, Morgan Hall Room 150

Phone:  785-670-1629 or TDD 785-670-1025

E-Mail:  student-services@washburn.edu

 

Students may voluntarily identify themselves to the instructor for a referral to the Student Services Office.

 

Center for Undergraduate Studies and Programs (CUSP):
As a Washburn student, you may experience difficulty with issues such as studying, personal problems, time management, or choice of major, classes, or employment.  The Center for Undergraduate Studies and Programs (Office of Academic Advising , Educational Opportunity Program, and Office of Career Counseling, Testing and Assessment) is available to help students either directly through academic advising, mentoring, career counseling, testing and developing learning strategies or by identifying the appropriate University resource.  If you feel you need someone with whom to discuss an issue confidentially and free of charge, contact CUSP in Morgan 122, 785-670-1299, advising@washburn.edu. 

 

Withdrawal Policy:

During fall and spring semesters, students may withdraw from full semester courses through the second week of class with no recorded grade.  From the third through the eleventh week a “W” is recorded for any dropped course.  Beginning with the start of the twelfth week, there are NO withdrawals, and a grade will be assigned for the course.  For short-term or summer course deadlines, please check the appropriate Semester/Session Course Bulletin Web Site (www.washburn.edu/schedule)

 

Official E-Mail Address:

Your Washburn University e-mail address will be the official address used by the University for relaying important messages regarding academic and financial information and the University will consider this your official notification for important information.  It may also be used by your instructors to provide specific course information.  If you prefer to use an alternate e-mail address to receive official University notices, you can access your MyWashburn e-mail account, choose the "Options" tab, and select "Settings", scroll to the bottom of the screen and enter the e-mail address you would like your Washburn emails forwarded to in the “mail forwarding” area.  Click on save changes.  This will complete the process of forwarding your Washburn e-mail.  It is your responsibility to ensure that your official e-mail box does not exceed your message quota resulting in the inability of e-mail messages to be accepted into your mailbox

 

     Provisional schedule of meetings

 


August 17: Introduction

 

August 24: Identification of topics

Required submission: Topic (title and preliminary thesis statement), name of supervising professor, beginnings of bibliography. Schedule individual conferences with Prasch over the course of the week.

 

August 31: Preliminary bibliography

Required submission: Preliminary bibliography, separated into primary and secondary sources

 

September 7: Labor Day holiday

 

September 14: Less preliminary bibliography

Required submission: Less preliminary bibliography.

 

September 21: Outlining a research paper

Required submission: Outline. Schedule individual conferences with Prasch over the course of the following week.

 

October 5: Starting a research paper

Required submission: First 5 pages, with footnotes.

 

October 19: Checking in

Required submission: progress report. Schedule individual conferences with Prasch over the course of the week.

 

November 2: Rough draft

Required submission: rough draft.

 

November 16: Less rough draft

Required submission: less rough draft. Schedule individual conferences with Prasch over the course of the week.

 

November 30; December 2, 4: Presentations

 

December 4: Final papers due

Required submission (to Prasch & supervising professor): final papers.


           Weekly consultation check

 

(must be signed by supervising professor)

 

Week 1 (August 17-21) ______________________

 

Week 2 (August 24-28) ______________________

 

Week 3 (August 31-September 4) __________________

 

Week 4 (September 8-11) ________________________

 

Week 5 (September 14-18) _____________________

 

Week 6 (September 21-25) ______________________

 

Week 7 (September 28-October 2) _________________

 

Week 8 (October 5-7) ______________________

 

Week 9 (October 12-16) ______________________

 

Week 10 (October 19-23) ______________________

 

Week 11 (October 26-30) ________________________

 

Week 12 (November 2-6) __________________________

 

Week 13 (November 9-13) ________________________

 

Week 14 (November 16-20) _________________________

 

(Thanksgiving week off)

 

Week 15 (November 30-December 4)

 

 

 


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