Paper Assignment

History 567
Graduate Student Paper Assignment

Choose a topic related to the course that is broad enough to make a significant addition to your program of study as a graduate student. Then complete these two tasks:

Part 1: Identify and locate at least 15 books and articles on your topic (and more if it seems necessary to do it justice). List your items with complete bibligraphic citations.
Part 2: Read each of the books and articles on your citations list , and write a paragraph or so of text in which you summarize the sources, coverage, thesis, and significance of the work (this is called an "annotation"). Then write a 10-12 page paper in which you identify the questions historians have asked about the topic you chose, evaluate their answers to these questions, and offer your own assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of historical work on this topic and your reflections on directions for future study in the area.

Deadlines and Due Dates:

First Week of Class: Make an appointment to see me in my office so that I can give you some suggestions about getting started on the graduate student writing assignment.

Wednesday, Feb 6th: The preliminary list of the books and articles you have selected is due in class. At the top of your list, put a paragraph-long description of the topic you've selected, then provide full bibliographic citations (author, title, place and date of publication) for each of the titles you've chosen. I'll get back to you with comments and suggestions, from which you should cull a final list, and then get started reading.

Wednesday, March 19: Both other parts of this assignment--the annotations for each citation on your list AND the final essay--are due in my office, 335 McKenzie, by 5:00 p.m.