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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "HM 460"
COURSE NAME: "Research and Writing in the Humanities"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2019
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Luca De Caprariis
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
W 8:30-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: Senior Standing or Permission of the student's Advisor and Department
OFFICE HOURS:
W: 11:30-12:15, T, Th 4:15-5:30
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides practical preparation for designing and carrying out a significant thesis-length research project and a brief, but sophisticated introduction to key methodologies and theoretical approaches used in humanities disciplines. Students will be guided through the processes of setting up a problem to investigate; determining what kind of sources, how many, and which sources are appropriate to use; evaluating and analyzing those sources; reviewing academic literature in the Humanities on their topics; developing a clear and well-researched thesis proposal; and formulating and writing convincing arguments.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course provides the necessary skills to perform original research according to academic standards in the humanities. Focus will be on research questions, analysis of primary and secondary sources, methodologies, literature review, bibliographical research.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
In successfully completing this course you should learn how to prepare for and carry out a significant research project, building on well-supported, well-researched, well-organized argument.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| class participation | participation in class discussion and presentation of a research project | 20% |
| criitical review of literature | you will review the most important scholarship on the topic that you will develop in your thesis | 30% |
| first and final draft of a chapter of the thesis project | you will submit a draft and a final version of a chapter of your thesis project | 20% and 30% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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September
4 Introduction
11 Finding using and assessing sources: oral tradition, Literature, novel, poetry. Ian Vansina, Oral Tradition as History, pp. 3-32 ; Oswin Murray, "Herodotus and Oral History" in The Historian Craft in the Age of Herodotus, N. Luraghi ed.; Ewen L. Bowie, "Ancestor of Historiography in Early Greek Elegiac and Iambic Poetry?" in The Historian Craft in the Age of Herodotus, N. Luraghi ed.; Thomas Mann, Disorder and Early Sorrow; Thomas Mann, Reflections of a nonpolitical Man (selections), C. Milosz. The Captive Mind.
18 Finding, using and assessing sources: Literature, novels, poetry. Ewen L. Bowie, "Ancestor of Historiography in Early Greek Elegiac and Iambic Poetry?" in The Historian Craft in the Age of Herodotus, N. Luraghi ed.; Thomas Mann, Disorder and Early Sorrow; Thomas Mann, Reflections of a nonpolitical Man (selections), C. Milosz. The Captive Mind
Finding, using and assessing sources: art, architecture, intellectual life, Huizinga, The Autumn of the Middle Ages (selections); Fascist Visions: Art and Architecture in Fascist Italy, M.Affron, M. Antlif eds.(selections)
25 Finding, using and assessing sources: art, architecture, intellectual life, Huizinga, The Autumn of the Middle Ages (selections); Fascist Visions: Art and Architecture in Fascist Italy, M.Affron, M. Antlif eds.(selections)
Analyzing, assessing "periodization," interpreting, distorting. I. Santo Mazzarino, The End of the Ancient World (selections), The Donation of Constantine, Henry Pirenne, Mohammad and Charlemagne, Federico Chabod, "The Renaissance, "The "Hossbach Memorandum" and Nazi foreign policy; David Irving and Bradley Smith handouts, Lipstadt, Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory.
October
2 Library, Archives. Meeting in the Library
9 Analyzing, assessing "periodization," interpreting, distorting. II. Santo Mazzarino, The End of the Ancient World, The Donation of Constantine, Henry Pirenne, Mohammad and Charlemagne, Federico Chabod, "The Renaissance, "The "Hossbach Memorandum" and Nazi foreign policy; David Irving and Bradley Smith handouts, Lipstadt, Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory.
16 Methodology/ theory presentation
23 Methodology/ theory presentation
30 Working on your chapter: Individual tutoring
November
6 Working on your chapter: Individual tutoring
13 Working on your chapter: Individual tutoring
20 Chapter Presentation and Peer commentaries
27 Chapter Presentation and Peer Commentaries
December
4 Chapter Presentation and Peer Commentaries
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