In this seminar graduate students will have the opportunity to undertake a research project of their own making and compose an original historical essay based on their findings.  The class will devote many meetings to the students' work.  At the same time, the course will place this work into a larger scholarly and professional context.  It will consider such general topics as the history of historical research and writing in the United States, the basic elements of research design in the discipline of history, the ethics of historical research and writing, the research tools and resources available to American historians (especially those in social and cultural history), professional periodicals and publishing options in American history, and the varieties of historical writing.

In short, the goals of the course are

1) to teach the theory, methods, and techniques of research and writing in an American history (especially American social and cultural history)

2) to convey an understanding of what it means to be a practicing professional historian.
 

Common Reading

Course Requirements and Grade Weighting

Course Schedule

Reference Works