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HISTORY 790 |
Professor Jules Tygiel |
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Wednesdays, 7:00-9:45 |
Science 224, x81119 |
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Office Hours: TUTH 3-4,W 6-7 & by appt. |
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This course is a research seminar on the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. All students are required to write a 20-25 page research paper based on primary and secondary sources on some aspect of United States history during that era. Since the most readily available sources for research deal with California, the assigned readings relate primarily to events within the state between the two World Wars. However, these readings are designed to be suggestive rather than definitive. You may chose a topic on any aspect of the 1920s and 1930s that appeals to you.
During the early weeks of the course we will read and discuss several overviews and examples of recent research monographs on the 1920s and 1930s, paying attention to research methodology, organization, and writing. The middle section of the course will be devoted to research. Students will meet individually with the instructor and present progress reports to the class. During the final weeks of the class students will present first drafts of their research to the seminar. All students will be required to read these drafts and critique them. |
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TEXTS: |
William Deverell and Tom Sitton, eds. Metropolis in the Making |
| Lynn Dumenil, The Modern Temper | |
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Robert McElvaine, The Great Depression |
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Kevin Starr, Endangered Dreams |
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E-MAIL:
All students are required to
have e-mail accounts. If you
do not yet have an e-mail account you may acquire one from the university.
It is imperative that
class members complete the assigned readings prior to each class session
and arrive in class prepared to discuss them.
All students must post discussion questions
on the course Blackboard site by 12 p.m. on the day before the class.
Students should check the questions submitted by other students prior to
the class each day. This is a course requirement, not an option.
See the handout
Asking
Questions for guidelines. |
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ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING: There are several essential components to this seminar. They include both written assignments and class participation. Final grades will be determined based upon the student’s total participation in the course. Written Assignments 1) Research Paper Proposal (Due March 15) 2) Historiographical Essay on the 1920s and 1930s (8-10 pages, due March 22) 3) Bibliography (Due, April 12) 4) First Draft of Research Paper (April 26-May 17) 5) Research Paper (Due May 24) Class Participation All students must: 1) contribute weekly e-mail questions based on the course readings; 2) present preliminary progress reports to the class; 3) present their papers to the class on schedule; 4) read and comment on other students papers.
The final grade will be based on the following criteria: a) Class Participation (25%)--CLASS PARTICIPATION IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF ANY SEMINAR. All students are required to do the weekly class readings, come prepared to discuss them and submit weekly e-mail questions. Students must also read the preliminary drafts of other student papers and be prepared to discuss them. b) Historiographical Essay, Bibliography (25%) c) Research Paper (50%)--At the end of the semester each student will complete a 20-25 page research paper. Papers must be based on primary research. You must complete the preliminary assignments en route to your final paper in timely fashion. Failure to complete the paper proposal, bibliography, or to be prepared for the class presentation of the first draft of your paper will impact your final grade. |
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RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS AND CRITIQUES You will be expected to present your paper to the class in draft form during one of the four final weeks of class. At that time your paper should be as close to completion as possible. Your paper must be posted as an attachment to Blackboard no later than noon on the Monday prior to presentation. It will then be posted to the course web page where other students may read it.
All students are required to read and critique these research papers for the Wednesday night class. One student will be assigned as the primary critic to lead the discussion. The critique should include an assessment of the author’s thesis, methodology, writing, and conclusions. |
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February 1 |
Introduction Research: Selecting a Topic
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February 8 |
Lynn Dumenil, The Modern Temper
(Meet at
The
Labor Archives
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February 15 |
Robert McElvaine, The Great Depression Research: Creating a bibliography, Historiography
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February 22 |
William Deverell and Tom Sitton, eds. Metropolis in the Making Research: Conducting Research, Organizing Your Notes
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March 1 |
Kevin Starr, Endangered Dreams Research: Writing your papers
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March 8 |
NO CLASS: SCHEDULE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS
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March 15 |
Readings: SFSU Historians on Depression
Robert Cherny, "Prelude to the Popular Front: The Communist Party in
California, 1931-1935." American Communist History 1 (2002): 5-37. Research Proposal Due |
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March 22 |
Progress Reports Historiographical Essay Due
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March 29 |
NO CLASS: SCHEDULE
INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS Bibliography Due
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April 5 |
No Class: Spring Break
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April 12 |
NO CLASS: SCHEDULE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS
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April 19 |
Progress Reports |
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April 26 |
Paper Presentations |
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May 3 |
Paper Presentations
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May 10 |
Paper Presentations
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May 17 |
Paper Presentations
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May 24 |
Research Paper Due |