Spring semester 1995
Key Hall 1118
Wednesday 2:00-4:00
Prof. David B. Sicilia
Office: Key Hall 2101J
Hours: M, W 11-12 and by appointment
Tel: 405-7778
E-mail: DS190@umail.umd.edu
This proseminar for advanced undergraduate history majors is designed to helpeach student produce a high-quality historical essay based on primary researchwithin the general topic of modern U.S. economic history. The course will facilitatethis work by introducing students to the historiography of the field throughreadings and discussions; and by guiding students through the stages of researchpaper conceptualization, primary and secondary research, writing, and revision.
Within our general topic -- the evolution of the U.S. political economy in the lastcentury -- subject areas appropriate for research papers include: business, economics,labor, public policy, government-business relations, global competition, researchand development, infrastructure building, industrial policy, and the rise ofconsumerism. Students will be encouraged to undertake topics based on recordshoused at Archives II (the newly-opened federal facility near campus), which wewill visit early in the term.
Assignments:
Students are expected to attended every class meeting and to participate actively inclass discussions, including critical analysis of classmates' work. The followingassignments must be completed in order to receive credit for the course:
1. Read, analyze, and discuss in class the following books:
Richard Marius, A Short Guide to Writing About History (any edition).
Alfred D. Chandler, Jr., The Visible Hand (1977).
Louis Galambos and Joseph Pratt, Rise of the Corporate Commonwealth (1988).
Joseph Finkelstein, The American Economy (1992).
2. Within the first two weeks of the semester, meet with the instructor to discusspossible research paper topics; and meet again throughout the course as needed.
3. On February 1, turn in a bibliography of approximately fifteen books related toyour tentative paper topic.
4. On February 15 or 22 (assignments to be made in class), give a fifteen-minutepresentation of your research topic and field questions about it from the class forfive to ten minutes.
5. On April 5, 12, or 19 (assignments to be made in class), respond to a ten-minuteoral critique of your first draft by a specially designated member of the class, and to asubsequent twenty-minute critique by the class as a whole. Each presenter isresponsible for distributing copies of his or her paper to each member of the classone week prior to this session.
6. On May 10, turn in a fully revised research paper approximately twenty-five pageslong complete with source citations and a bibliography. Papers should be typed orword-processed. Text should be double-spaced with one-inch margins all around. Include one cover title page. Number all pages except the title page (but note thatthe assignment page count pertains only to text pages, not to exhibits, endnotes, andother supporting material.) Please staple papers; do not use folders.
Grade composition:
Class participation and discussion10 percent
Preliminary bibliography5 percent
Presentation of proposed topic5 percent
First draft and Q & A session10 percent
Critique of peer's first draft10 percent
Revised research paper60 percent
Schedule:
Reading assignments are italicized. Within each volume, be sure to distinguishedamong chapters, "parts," and "books."
Jan. 18:Course introduction
Feb. 22:Presentations: Proposed topics (part 2)
March 1:Discussion: American capitalism in crisis: the 1930s
April 12:Critique of first drafts (part 2)
April 19:Critique of first drafts (part 3)
April 26:Discussion: Special topics in U.S. economic history
May 10:Final drafts due by noon (no class)