Email: Or by appt. Call 255-4076
Dept Webpage: http://www.uccs.edu/~history/
Course Objective: The objective of this course is to help you research and write a senior thesis of approximately 25 pages based on primary and secondary sources. Through the semester, you will become familiar with the process of historical research and the process of writing, editing and organizing your research into a coherent thesis argument. Although this is largely a class based on independent research and writing, we will be embarking on this journey as a group. You will be required to serve as a writing partner for another student in the class. Attendance is thus mandatory.
Research Topic: You may choose nearly any topic within the following areas of study, (time period limited to 1820-1970): Latin American History (which includes Mexico, and all the countries of Central and South America), History of U.S.-Latin American Relations, U.S. Southwest History, the histories of different ethnic groups/ immigrant groups in the U.S., race/race relations in the U.S., U.S.-Mexican border issues, Latino/Chicano History, and Immigration History. In choosing your topics you should consider both what interests you as well as what kind of primary sources are available.
Grade Evaluation: Your final class grade will be based 80% on your final written thesis and 20% on your class participation–including attendance, work with your writing partner, discussion, fulfillment of other course assignments. "Incompletes" will only be given in the case of a medical emergency.
A Note on Academic Honesty: Presenting someone else’s ideas or writing ( from a book, from the Internet, or from a friend) as your own constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism is cheating ( yourself as well as your classmates) and will not be tolerated. You should be ready to hand in a disk with a copy of your paper, if requested to do so. Anti-plagiarism software can then scan the Internet, if necessary. It is the policy of the Dean of the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences to suspend any student who has committed plagiarism. Moreover, if caught cheating or plagiarizing in this class you will fail the course.
Required Texts:- Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 3rd ed.
- Sue Ann Marasco and Pamela Cowen, Internet Research Handbook (available online)
- Optional Text: Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations.
Aug 30 Course introduction, what are primary sources?, library resources
HWK: Decide on topic area; library search for primary sources
Read: A Pocket Guide to Writing in History by Rampolla, p. 1-42
Sept 6 Looking for secondary sources, partner work, discuss Rampolla
HWK: Narrow topic; generate primary and secondary source bibliography
Complete primary source analysis assignment (to be distributed in class).
Sept 13 Present results of preliminary search for primary and secondary sources.
DUE: Paragraph on Research Topic and Preliminary Bibliography
HWK: Gather and Read primary and secondary sources
Sept 20 Discuss writing outlines and developing thesis arguments
HWK: What is your research question (RQ)?
What is your answer to that RQ?–That answer is your THESIS statement!!!
What evidence do you have to support your thesis statement= your argument?
How will you divide and then present that argument and evidence?
Write outline based on that information.
Sept 25 Wed DUE: Outline of research paper including your research question and thesis statement. Submit one copy to writing partner and one copy to professor’s office.
Sept 27 Discuss thesis statements and outlines with writing partners
Oct 4 No Class. Trouble shooting conferences with professor as needed. Please contact me via phone or email if you would like to meet.
HWK: Start to draft paper.
Read: A Pocket Guide to Writing in History by Rampolla, p. 43-97.
Oct 11 No Class. Trouble shooting conferences with professor as needed. Please contact me via phone or email if you would like to meet.
HWK: Continue work on draft of paper
Oct 16 Wed DUE: First Draft. Turn one copy in to professor’s office and give another copy to your writing partner
Oct 18 Discuss drafts with writing partner. General comment on drafts.
HWK: Revise draft
Oct 25 Pick up individual drafts from professor’s office. No class.
HWK: Revise draft. Incorporate comments. Visit writing center.
Nov 1 Discuss editing, stylistics, organization, proper footnotes/bibliography
HWK: Revise draft
Nov 8 Trouble shooting, Individual Conferences with professor
HWK: Revise draft
Nov 13 Wed DUE: Turn in SECOND DRAFT to professor and to writing partner
Nov 15 Discuss second draft with writing partner
HWK: Revise second draft
Nov 22 Pick up second draft, discuss organization and final revisions
Nov 29 No Class–Thanksgiving holiday
Dec 6 In class presentations of research
Dec 13 Final Senior Thesis DUE!! No class. Turn in to Professor’s office.
Congrats! You’ve completed Senior Thesis. Have a great break.