Hist 496C (Jolly) Senior Thesis

History 496C W/Senior Thesis: Europe Spring 2004

Thursdays 3:00-5:30 p.m. Sakamaki A411

Dr. Karen Jolly
University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of History
office: Sakamaki A408 or Sakamaki A203
Office hours: Mondays 1:30-3 p.m., Thursdays 9-11 a.m., or by appointment
voice: 956-7673 or 956-7687 email: kjolly@hawaii.edu
Dr. Jolly's mainpage

The objective of this class is to give you an opportunity to develop your historical skills in research and writing. Several premises are at work in the design of this course:

You are a senior history major interested in Europe. Over the course of your education, you have developed a good understanding of how history works as a profession and some of its major issues. Now you are going to be the historian, working independently on your own project.
Writing is a process, even for professionals. Therefore, we will work through the process of building a research paper in stages, giving feedback along the way. No matter how skilled you are, walking through each step of the writing process is always beneficial.

Learning is collaborative, so we will work together to improve our research and writing skills. You will not only learn from your colleagues' suggestions to you, but also from your efforts to assist others.

Recommended Texts:

Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History
Diana Hacker, A Pocket Style Manual

The Paper:

20-40 pages typed, double-spaced.
Bibliography and footnotes required; appendixes, diagrams, charts, maps, illustrations, pictures, etc optional.
Content: any period of European history, but focused on a particular issue, person or event; must be an analytical treatment (arguments not description).
Grading will be based on:
1. clear thesis and argumentation, indicated in the introduction and in the organization of the paper
2. adept use of evidence, especially primary sources
3. vigorous, readable prose style free of grammar and syntax errors
The process outlined in the schedule requires you to find a consultant: a faculty member or graduate student in History or another appropriate department who can advise you on your topic. Once you have a topic and some names, I will contact the person to request their assistance and make sure they are available. You will then be responsible for contacting them as you develop your paper.

Grading:

The Final Paper is 80% of your grade.
The other 20% is based on participation in the class sessions (10%) and on turning in the assignments (10%).
Please notice that complete failure in either one of these two areas will drop your course grade down one whole grade from whatever the paper receives (ie from an A to a B); and failure to participate in both areas will drop the grade two whole grades (ie from an A to a C).

Schedule:

Week 1 (1/15) Topic Selection Process
Week 2 (1/22) Library Skills (Hamilton Library) Topic List due
- Voyager
- UHM Library History resources
Week 3 (1/29) Topic Focus due
Week 4 (2/5) Working Bibliography due
Week 5 (2/12) Consultant List due
Week 6 (2/19) Annotated Bibliography due
Week 7 (2/26) Consultant Contact Report due
Week 8 (3/4) Thesis and Outline due
Week 9 (3/11) Writing Workshop
Week 10 (3/18) First Draft due
Spring Break 3/22-26
Week 12 (4/1) Critique Session
Week 13 (4/8) Critique Session
Week 14 (4/15) Second Draft due to Consultant
Week 15 (4/22) Critique Session
Week 16 (4/29) Critique Session
Finals Week Thursday (5/13, 4 p.m.) Final Paper Due

History 496C Topic Selection Guidelines

Pick a topic area (time/place) that you enjoy, and in which you have some background.
- What have been some of your favorite history classes? Why? Look over your class notes to see if there are any notable issues or problems that could be the subject of a research project.
- Have you written any history papers of which you are especially proud? Reread them to see if they could be expanded into a research project.
- Think of some of your favorite books in history, either texts or novels. What interests you about them? Skim through them, looking for issues, problems, or bibliographic suggestions.
- If you could spend six months in a European country, where would you go and why?
- If you could travel back in time, when would you go and why?
Pick an issue, problem, or question that is open to differing interpretations.
- Is there a person in your chosen area whom you find intriguing, or about whom you want to investigate some issue? (for example, "Anselm of Bec, Saint or Politician?")
- Is there an event or series of events that sources or texts present in very different, even conflicting, ways? (for example, the Crusades)
- Is there a current issue that you find compelling? (for example, status of women)
- Can you think of a historical mystery that you would like to investigate? (for example, "Was there a King Arthur?")
Pick something doable.
- Are there primary sources available in our library, in languages you can read? Make sure your research subject utilizes primary sources.
- Do we have adequate, up-to-date secondary sources? Run a preliminary topic check at the library.
- Do we have someone on the faculty who could answer questions for you? Try telling that person your interests and ask for suggestions.
- Is the question something that you could do in a regular semester? Figure on an average of nine hours per week to work on the subject, and divide the time up according to the list of assignments due in the syllabus.

Writing Assistance

Chicago Manual of Style guide for bibliography and footnotes.
What is an Annotated Bibliography? and Annotated Bibliographies
Information Processing Skills will show you how to find books, articles, and Internet resources.
Writing Research Essays in North American Academic Institutions gives an excellent overview of what a research paper should, and should not, do.
Grading Rubric for College Papers will tell you the criteria that guides my grading approach.
Plagiarism explains what it is and how to avoid it.
I have some writing strategies on the web that may be useful to you:
- Matrix: Organize and conceptualize material
- Mindmap: Generate ideas, develop thesis
- Outline: Construct your paper
The Writing Workshop in Kuykendall 402 provides consultation in the writing process. Call 956-7619 to make an appointment.
The Manoa Writing Program home page has information on the goals of the Writing Intensive designation as well as links to advice on writing.
Paradigm is a useful page for writing process.

kjolly@hawaii.edu updated 1/5/03