Seminar: History of the American West (Hist
5630)
Spring Term, 2009
Phil Roberts
Meeting Place: History Lounge
Office: 356 History, 766-5101 or 5311
Course Time: Wed., 6-8:30 p.m.
E-mail:
philr@uwyo.edu
Course Objective: This course will explore the major
issues involving the people, politics, economy, environment and culture in
Western history through reading, researching, writing and class discussions. The
aim of the course will be to prepare students in specific areas of Western
history through substantial reading and research, the specific assignments
tailored to each student’s research goal.
Course Requirements: The essential requirement for this course is
diligent reading and thinking about Western issues and their history. A
major research paper or bibliographic essay will
be required as well as oral contributions to class discussions. As preparation
for writing the paper/essay, students will be expected to read significant
existing published works on the topic. From this reading, students will provide
brief reviews of at least five of the individually assigned works.
Additionally, because the history of the West is ever-changing and contemporary issues are based on earlier events, students are expected to read about Western issues regularly as articles about such issues appear in the national and regional press. Ideally, each student will have a general understanding of the more traditional Western historiography, although readings will be made available to those who wish to either refresh their knowledge of the topic or bring it up to date. The course grade will be based primarily on the oral reviews and on a final paper, the topic to be chosen in consultation with the instructor.
Individually Assigned Readings: These will consist of a selection of
books for each seminar participant and a selection of journal articles. While
an occasional common reading may be assigned from time to time, the class will
be based primarily on discussions derived from individually assigned readings
addressing specific areas of Western history. During the second class meeting,
the discussion schedules for the semester will be distributed, indicating when
each student will be expected to recite on his/her individually assigned
readings.
Five Brief Reviews: Reviews written for this class must resemble the format of an academic book review appearing in a scholarly journal. The review will not be a descriptive summary of the books’ content. You will be presenting an analytical critique of the authors’ theses, themes, sources, and methodology. Each review must be no longer than 500 words. All will be due the first class period after spring break, but it is expected that the book will have been read by the assigned date for oral recitation.
Other Assignments: Occasionally, assignments may be made of specialized monographs, articles from journals, and primary source materials, some perhaps requiring access to collections in the American Heritage Center. In respect to the research component of the class, students should expect to spend time outside class at the AHC.
Because an important component of the course will concern writing for scholarly
historical publication, students are expected to be conversant with the contents
of recent issues of the following five history journals:
Western Historical Quarterly, Pacific Northwest
Quarterly, Pacific Historian, Annals of
Wyoming, Montana: Magazine of Western History,
and to be familiar generally with all state/regional history journals relating
to the West, accessible in Coe Library’s serials collection.
Final Paper: Each student will complete a formal essay/research paper
which may take one of several forms. It may be a chapter of a longer study such
as a thesis, dissertation or book. It may be a self-contained article about a
particular issue in the history of the West or biography of an individual. It
may be a bibliographic essay based on the specifically assigned books read
during the semester. Whatever the form, the product should be the result of
careful reading of existing works on the topic as well as sound, careful,
original research. Presentations based on "rough drafts"
will be scheduled during each of the last classes of the semester. (This will
include bibliographic essays although the form of the presentation likely will
be distinct from the research-oriented papers). The second half of the semester
will be mostly devoted to discussion and critique of the major paper. This
process will be done constructively. Given that each of us has different goals
for the project (as a thesis chapter, an article for possible publication,
etc.), the style and length may differ from student to student.
Each presenter will also serve as a commentator during the final weeks. The
commentator will lead the [constructive] discussion about the paper. He/she will
be responsible for checking footnote citations and bibliography. All students
will be expected to have read and critiqued each presenter's paper before the
night of his/her presentation. Each will provide the presenter with constructive
suggestions which may take the form of a brief written report or legible
suggestions written on the draft. In either case, they must be returned to the
presenter on the evening of his presentation.
Each presenter will be responsible for seeing that every student in the class
receives a copy of the draft NO LATER THAN the Monday before the
presentation is to be made. In an attempt to be “paper-less” this semester, it
would be ideal to send the paper, as an attachment, to the class e-mail list. If
you prefer another method, you are responsible for making enough copies for all
members of the class. Unfortunately, you cannot make copies in the history
department. (Don't even ask).
Following (constructive) class critiques of drafts, most students will have time
to prepare the final, formal document. The category of the topic will determine
when you will present. The final product, due no later than finals week (May 1),
should conform to a recognized style, preferably Chicago Manual of Style or a
recognized alternative. Deadlines are important; therefore, no late papers will
be accepted.
Students should check my website periodically for updates on individual
assignments. It is:
http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/ROBERTSHISTORY/
and click on the “Seminar” title.
Grading: Five brief analytical reviews: 25 percent
Final paper: 60 percent
Class participation/commentary: 15 percent.
Outline of Topics, Meetings and Assignments (subject to minor
change)
Jan. 14: Introduction
Jan. 21: Western History: An Introduction to the Recent
Historiography
Jan. 28: Researching Western History: An Overview of Primary-Source
Collections.
Assignment of Readings.
Feb. 4: Writing Western History.
1. Michael E. McGerr, "Is There a 20th Century West?" in Cronon, Miles, Gitlin, Under an Open Sky: Rethinking America's Western Past (New York: W. W. Norton, 1992) 239-256.
2. Gerald D. Nash, “The Global Context of the New Western Historian,” in Gene M. Gressley, ed., Old West/New West. (Worland: High Plains, 1994), 149-162.
3. William Cronon, “Revisiting the Vanishing Frontier: The Legacy of Frederick Jackson Turner,” Western Historical Quarterly 18 (April 1987), 157-176.
4. Richard Etulain, Writing Western History: Essays on Major Western Historians. (Reno: University of Nevada Press, 2002).
5. John H. Wunder, "What's Old about the New Western History: Race and Gender, Part 1," Pacific Northwest Quarterly 85 (April 1994), 50-58.
6. John Phillip Reid, "Introduction: The Layers of Western Legal History," in Gordon M. Bakken, Law in the Western United States. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2000), 3-42.
Feb. 11: Publishing in the Field of Western History: Books, Journal
Articles, Digital Publishing
1. "Interchange: The Promise of Digital History," Journal of American
History, Sept. 2008, pp. 452-491..
Feb. 18: Brief overview of Western historians as public intellectuals
Beginning of specific recitations/reviews. Your paper proposal is
due tonight. (One-page statement of what your paper will involve, including
preliminary list of secondary works you intend to cite).
Feb. 25: Recitations/reviews #2
Mar. 4: Recitations/reviews #3
Mar. 11: Recitations/reviews #4
Outline of research paper/bibliographic essay due tonight.
(Outline should include preliminary listing of relevant primary source
materials, if relevant).
Mar. 18: No class. Mid-term break.
Mar. 25: Recitations/reviews #5
All book reviews due tonight.
April 1: How to Present at Conferences: A Short Course on Conference
Presentations.
April 8: Guest lecturer. Details TBA
April 15: Presentations, Group 1. Presenters will see that Phil receives
the paper through e-mail attachment and each student in the class receives
either the article by e-mail attachment or paper copy by Monday, April 13. Phil
will serve as a second "commentator" for every paper.
April 22: Presentations, Group 2. Presenters will see that Phil
receives the paper through e-mail attachment and each student in the class
receives either the article by e-mail attachment or paper copy by Monday, April
20.
April 29: Presentations, Group 3. Presenters will see that Phil receives
the paper through e-mail attachment and each student in the class receives
either the article by e-mail attachment or paper copy by Monday, April 27.
Final paper due tonight.