Conference: History of Wyoming/
American West (Hist 5605)
Syllabus, Spring 2004
Phil Roberts History Lounge
Office: 356 History, 766-5101 or 5311 Thurs., 7-9:30 p.m.
Home: 745-8205 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..
Course Requirements: The course grade will be based on drafts, bibliographies, a final paper, class participation, and commentary on another paper. The final product will be an intensive primary–source research essay suitable for publication in a history journal or as a chapter or significant part of a longer project such as a book or thesis. The essential requirement for this course is diligent reading and thinking about Western issues and their history. 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 and in professional and scholarly journals. Also required is an understanding of regional geography, either through map study or by other means. Grades will be based on completion of a research paper/essay, a review of a colleague’s work and oral contributions to class discussions.
Course Procedures: The class will use an e-mail list, to be compiled during the initial class, as well as the professor’s mailbox in the main history office to exchange notes, bibliographies, and papers. When discussion of the student’s rough draft comes due, he/she will print out copies of the draft or make the paper available by electronic means so that it may be read by all members of the class.
Formal Paper: Each student will complete a formal essay/research paper which may take one of several forms, the topic for which will be chosen in consultation with the instructor. 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. 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. Consistent with how scholarly journals deal with submissions in the field, students will be subject to peer review, not from outside experts, but from the other students in the class. This process will be done constructively. Each student will be expected to read all the papers in the class and prepare a commentary on the essay of one other student. 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 serve as a "commentator" during the “rough draft” phase and again for the final product. The commentator will lead the [constructive] discussion about the book. 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.
Each presenter will be responsible for seeing that each student in the class receives a copy of the draft on the Monday before the presentation is to be made. Each student will be responsible for making enough copies for all members of the class. Unfortunately, students may not make copies in the history department. (Don't even ask). Therefore, plan on using the student union copy center, Kinko's, etc. If students wish to utilize electronic means, ask the professor for procedures. Following (constructive) class critiques of drafts, students will have substantial time to prepare the final, formal document.. The category of the topic will determine when each student will present. The final product, due no later than the last day of the semester (May 10), 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.
Required Materials:
1. Access to five history journals: Western Historical Quarterly, Pacific Northwest Quarterly, Western Legal History, Annals of Wyoming, Montana: Magazine of Western History, along with familiarity with all state/regional history journals relating to the West, accessible in Coe Library’s serials collection.
2. Access to and familiarity with secondary materials relating to the student’s project.
3. Familiarity with contents of significant archival collections relevant to one’s project.
4. Access to primary archival materials.
Grades:
Outline/Bibliography/Final Paper:
75%
Course
Participation, Presentation of Research, Peer Reviewing:
25%
Outline of Topics, Meetings and
Assignments
Jan. 22: Introduction
Jan. 29: Western History: An Introduction to the Historiography.
Feb. 12: Discussion of Project Subjects #2-4.
Feb. 19: Discussion of Project Subjects #5-7.
Feb. 26: Discussion of Project Subjects # 8-10.
March 4: Discussion of Project Subjects #11-12 (if needed)
TERM PAPER BIBLIOGRAPHIES ARE DUE TONIGHT.
March 11: No class. Research night.
March 18: SPRING BREAK. NO CLASS MEETING.
March 25: Discussion of outlines (all).
TERM PAPER OUTLINES ARE DUE TONIGHT.
April 1: Guest speaker. Details to be announced.
April 8: Presentation of Rough Drafts #1-3
April 15: Presentation of Rough Drafts #4-6
April 22: Presentation of Rough Drafts #7-9
April 29: Presentation of Rough Drafts #10-12 (if needed)
May 6: Research presentations--#1-6 (Oral reports arranged and organized in the form of a paper presented to a history conference—maximum length for each presentation: 20 minutes).
May 13: Research presentations--#7-12. (Oral reports arranged and organized in the form of a paper presented to a history conference—maximum length for each presentation: 20 minutes).
THE FINAL PAPER IS DUE TONIGHT. This is the last day of the semester. Late papers will not be accepted.