Academic Program for HIST 710

This page outlines the assignments and expectations for HIST 710 Grassroots History. The aim in the end is a research paper of professional, publishable quality. Everything else in the program is designed to produce that paper or to promote scholarly community in the seminar. The table below outlines assignments in linear fashion. The process of scholarly research and writing is never so simple, but the table allows you to chart your progress toward completion of the program.

#	Task	Specs	Submission
1	Introduce yourself!	A paragraph bio, for the benefits of your colleagues in the seminar	Post to the Pastime (as soon as you are registered and I have subscribed you to the blog)
2	Prospectus	A paragraph, headed by a working title, telling us what you are going to research, what your main sources will be, and what your tentative thesis is (preceded by private email consultation with Prof. Isern, working all this out)	Message to the Pastime
3	Book review	500-word commentary on a secondary work that provides background for your research (work selected in email consultation with Prof. Isern)	Message to the Pastime
4	Preliminary bibliography	Secondary and primary works you expect to use in your research (preceded by private email consultation with Prof. Isern), sources cited in format of Chicago Manual of Style	Message to the Pastime
5	Outline	Working outline that will guide latter stages of research and (with revisions) be the framework for writing	Message to the Pastime
6	Introduction	Draft, concluding with thesis statement	Message to the Pastime
7	Conclusion	Draft, beginning with transition from body	Message to the Pastime
6	Draft paper	The best draft you can produce, to specifications	Word doc attached to an e-mail message to Prof. Isern, who will respond by e-mail and pdf attachment
7	Final draft paper	The final production, incorporating revisions and editing	Word doc attached to an e-mail message to Prof. Isern, who will post the paper at the website (ini the Pastime Annex) as a pdf file
8	Final assessment	Provide feedback on the operation of the seminar, responding to assessment questions	Private e-mail to Prof. Isern
Throughout: stay engaged, reading the contributions of others, offering comments, critiques, encouragement, and suggestions via the blog

How Is All This Evaluated?

In other words, what is the basis for a grade? The final grade is based 1/2 on the quality of the final paper and 1/2 on the participation and preparation leading up to it.

In general, the standard for an "A" paper is that the work be of publishable quality—be, in my estimation, of quality acceptable for publication in a regional journal (such as a state historical journal). Here are the characteristics of such a work.

1. Treatment of a subject of scholarly and general significance

2. Strong base of research in good primary sources

3. Grounding in secondary sources for the sake of historical background and historiographic context

4. Introduction that captures reader interest and states a definite thesis

5. Body that displays logical organization and coherent transitions, so the reader can follow the story and argument readily

6. Conclusion that states findings, assesses their significance, and evaluates sources

7. Sound rhetoric and style in adherence to the Chicago Manual of Style

8. Competent handling of annotation

Here, too, are expectations for participation and preparation.

1. Submission of draft materials, as listed in table above, in good order

2. Engagement with colleagues and with the transactions of the seminar via the weblog

It should be clear from all written above that I am concerned with both process and product. Until the final draft, everything you do is process. I will provide feedback and suggestions throughout, and you also will receive the comments of all our colleagues in the seminar. We're in this together.

HIST 710