HISTORY 5010

THE EARLY AMERICAN COLONIES

SPRING 2007 – DR. SCHMITT

OBJECTIVES
  • Sample a variety of topics in the history of the earliest English colonies.
  • Closely examine some aspects of the early colonial period.
  • Conduct an individual research project in the earliest English colonies.
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    REQUIRED READING

                James Horn, Land as God Made It: Jamestown and the Birth of America

                Edmund S. Morgan, The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop

                Russell Shorto, The Island at the Center of the World

    ADVISEMENT

                Office: 204 Rogers-Stout Phone: 439-6698 e-mail: Schmittd@etsu.edu

                Office Hours: 9:15-12:30 MWF, and by appointment

     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

    Class Participation (25%)

    Each week there will be a general discussion of the topic listed for the week. Each class member will be expected to participate.

    Book Reviews (25%)

    Five book reviews of 4-5 typed pages will be due during the semester. Spelling and grammar should be perfect. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. The due dates and specific assignments will be announced in class.

    Research Project (50%)

    An individual project equivalent to a 20 page research paper will by due by Apr 27. Topics must be approved in advance by the instructor. The SCHEDULE:

    February 5 – Present topic to class; outline your approach

    March 12 – Preliminary bibliographies due

    April 23 – Give formal presentation to class

    April 27 – Final written copy due to instructor

     

     

     

    HISTORY 5010

    THE EARLY AMERICAN COLONIES

    SPRING 2007

    I. Introduction

            1. Monday, January 15 – Martin Luther King Holiday (No Class)

            2. Monday, January 22- Introduction and Resources for Research

    II. Roanoke and Jamestown

            3. Monday, January 29 – Discuss Horn, Land as God Made It

            4. Monday, February 5 – Present Topic to Class, Finish Discussion of Horn

            5. Monday, February 12 – First Book Review Due

            6. Monday, February 19 – First Primary Documents Report Due

    III. Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay

    7. Monday, February 26 – Discuss Morgan, The Puritan Dilemma

              8. Monday, March 5 – SPRING BREAK (NO CLASS)

              9. Monday, March 12 – Preliminary Bibliographies Due

            10. Monday, March 19 – Second Book Review Due

            11. Monday, March 26 – Second Primary Documents Report Due

    IV. New Netherlands and New York

             12. Monday, April 2 – Discuss Shorto, The Island at the Center of the World

             13. Monday, April 9 – Third Book Review Due

    14. Monday, April 16 –

    V. Class Presentations

    15. Monday, April 23 – Present Research to Class

              16. Monday, April 30 (Exam Night)

     

     

     

    HISTORY 5010

    THE EARLY AMERICAN COLONIES

    BOOK REVIEW ASSIGNMENTS

     

    I. Reviews of Secondary Histories

    Each student must write a 4-5 page scholarly review of a book chosen from the list of suggested readings under each of the three major categories. The book review is due at the beginning of the class period on the assigned date and the student should be prepared to discuss the book during that class period. Suggestions for writing a scholarly review may be found on the webpage or by following the format of a reputable scholarly journal such as the William and Mary Quarterly. The due dates are as follows:

    February 12 – Roanoke and Jamestown

    March 19 – Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay

    April 9 – New Netherlands and New York

     

    II. Reviews of Primary Materials

    Each student must also prepare a review of a book length primary document or a collection of shorter documents from each of the first two categories. This review must also include some analysis of the importance of the document both in its original context and as an historical document for modern historians. The review will be due at the beginning of the class period on the assigned date and the student should be prepared to discuss the primary material during the class period. The due dates are as follows:

    February 19 – Roanoke and Jamestown

    March 26 – Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay

     

     

    CHOOSING A RESEARCH TOPIC

     

     

    Questions you should ask yourself when thinking about a topic for a research paper:

  • Is the topic interesting and/or challenging? Can I work on it for several weeks without getting bored?

  • Will the research further my knowledge and understanding of history? Will I learn something while doing the paper?

  • Is the topic broad enough to be flexible? Will I have some direction to go if I run into dead ends?

  • Is the topic narrow enough to be manageable? Is it something that can be done in one semester?

  • Are there adequate resources available? Are the sources of sufficient variety? Can I get access to them?

  • Can I handle all the techniques that will be required to master the topic? Will I need to know a foreign language? Does it require statistical methods?

  • Is the topic "presentable" to others? Can the results of the research be shared with others in a meaningful way?

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