Tygiel
History 790

HISTORIOGRAPHICAL ESSAYS

Conal Furay and Michael J. Salevouris define "historiography" as "the study of the way history has been and is written--the history of historical writing... When you study 'historiography' you do not study the events of the past directly, but the changing interpretations of those events in the works of individual historians." (The Methods and Skills of History: A Practical Guide by (Harlan-Davidson, 1988), p. 223.)

Thus, a historiographical essay is one which summarizes and analyzes the arguments and interpretations of writers on a given topic. In some instances, a historiographical essay will simply review the materials; in others it might utilize these materials to critique existing studies or form a new interpretation; in still others it might provide a clarion call for new research. In any case, a historiographical essay, like any other writing, must have a central theme and a direction in which it is headed.

The following is a list of suggested topics for your first paper. If you wish to write on another topic, please clear it with me. These essays should cover as broad a cross-section of the readings as possible including both the 1920s and 1930s.  You may use non-assigned readings, but you are not required to do so.

Suggested Topics

1.  The impact of in-migration on California during the 1920s and 1930s.

2.  Communications

3. The role of ethnicity

4.  Business and Economics

5.  Popular Culture

6.  The impact of the Great Depression

7.  The role of women

8.  The New Deal/Federal Government in California