SENIOR SEMINAR IN HISTORY (HI 410)
FALL 2005
Dr. G. Dameron
Library 306; Office Hours: Monday, 2-4; Wednesday, 4-5, and by appointment
Office phone: x2318
E-mail: gdameron (on campus); gdameron@smcvt.edu (off campus)
Website: http://academics.smcvt.edu/gdameron
Seminar Meeting: Wednesday, 5-8:50 pm
PURPOSES AND GOALS
The principal goals of the seminar are the following: 1) to produce a senior thesis related to an historical problem chosen by the student, 2) to complete the capstone course for the major, 3) to meet the requirement for History majors of a second writing intensive course, 4) to enhance and develop the oral presentation of research results to an audience of peers, 5) to provide a collaborative environment in which students can assist other students to write the best theses possible, and 6) to offer a valuable experience in high-level research and writing to those students who intend to pursue graduate degrees in History.
The principal requirement of each student is the completion of the senior thesis. Twenty per cent (20%) of the final grade depends on attendance in the seminar, completion of the assignments listed below, and maintaining regular appointments with the supervising professor. The supervising professor will determine the final grade. The thesis will be at least forty (40) pages in length, excluding notes, bibliography, and other supporting material (appendices, illustrations, tables, etc.). The thesis is due Wednesday, December 7. Late submissions will be penalized according to the criteria of the supervising professor.
Criteria for evaluation of the thesis will focus on the following: 1) the degree of clarity and appropriateness of the historical problem being explored, 2) the level of critical appraisal of the primary sources used to address the problem, 3) degree of familiarity with the relevant secondary sources, 4) the plausibility of the thesis being argued, and 5) the quality of the organization and clarity of the presentation of the research. Students should consider this course to be the capstone course of their undergraduate career as History majors and the most important course this semester.
Students will choose an historical problem as a focus for their thesis in collaboration with an advisor from the History Department. The student will work closely with the advisor and will not pursue a topic that an advisor has not approved. The Department encourages students to consider expanding upon a previously written research paper completed for an upper level History course (seminar). Students will be meeting with their thesis supervisors on a regular basis and will meet periodically as a History 410 seminar on Wednesday evenings at 5.
The Department awards the Pfeifer Prize to the student for the best thesis written during the academic year. However, depending on the quality of the theses written, the Department may choose not to make the award every year.
Students with documented learning disabilities should feel free to discuss any special needs regarding the completion of seminar requirements with their advisors and/or with the seminar instructor.
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. According to the Academic Integrity Policy statement of the college, plagiarism is the presentation of “another person’s ideas as your own, by directly quoting or indirectly paraphrasing, without properly citing the original source. This includes inadvertent failure to properly acknowledge sources.” The penalties for plagiarism can range from receiving a failing grade for the plagiarized assignment to receiving a failing grade. In some cases plagiarism can result in suspension or expulsion from the college. If a student is in doubt whether a source should or should not be cited, (s)he should play it safe and cite the source. For information on plagiarism, please consult Rampolla, Pocket Guide to Writing in History.
Mary Lynn Rampolla, Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 4th edition (Boston: St. Martin’s, 2003)
COURSE SCHEDULE
Film and discussion: “A Midwife’s Tale” August 31
Student presentation of topic to seminar
Introduction to library resources for research in History (staff) September 7
(one copy to seminar instructor, one to supervisor) September 14
for written comments November 9
**First draft of thesis due** (submit to thesis advisor) November 16
**COMPLETED THESIS DUE** December 7