HIS485/6 Senior Project/Senior Project in Pedagogy

Instructor: Dr. Gary Kroll

Office: Champlain Valley Hall 323
Phone #: 564-2738
Office hours: MW 10-11, T 11-12 or by appointment
E-mail: gary.kroll@plattsburgh.edu

* The best way to reach me is through email, not by phone. But please note I generally dont check
email over the weekend.


Welcome to your senior project experience. We are working this semester on bringing your
history project to fruition. You have an idea, you have a proposal, and our task is to assist
you in researching, writing and presenting it either as a conference paper (HIS 485) or a
teachers' guide (HIS 486). This class is not intended as a course of study in any particular
aspect of history but is intended, rather, to be a framework within which you can complete
your project with maximum success. It is assumed that you are prepared for the heavy
workload that this process requires. You are solely responsible for the time spent on doing
the research and writing this paper. We as a group will help you with feedback,
encouragement, a structured schedule, and finally peer-review. You will be ready for your
presentation to the assembled department and students.

Course Objectives Following this course, you will have:

1) Successfully researched a significant topic in primary and secondary sources;
2) Placed your research in its appropriate historical and historiographical context;
3) Compiled your research, interpretations and arguments into an appropriate scholarly
vehicle - either a conference paper or a teachers' guide;
4) Aided your classmates in the completion of their projects through seminar, peer review
and other forms of feedback;
5) Presented your research orally to the public at the Fall "History Department Senior
Project Presentation Day."

But there is more My personal goal for you is that you experience a sense of growth and
satisfaction in work. I want you to deepen your commitment to historical thinking, scholarly
knowledge and the life of the mind. I want you to feel more confident in your abilities, not less.
And I want you to see this as an investment of your time and effort that was well worth
making. Stress comes when we feel like things are beyond our control. This should not be a
stressful experience, because you have chosen this major, chosen this topic, and mastered
skills that will enable you to succeed. If you plan your semester according to the schedule
here, this should not be a stressful experience.


Course Policies
1


Attendance: You must come to every scheduled meeting. Anything more than 1 absence
(without a legitimate excuse), and you will be penalized by one full grade point per
absence.
Late Assignments: Every assignment must be turned in on time
Communication: Please enable, check, and use CAMPUS email. Please respond promptly
and professionally to all my efforts to contact you.
Required Statement on Academic Honesty: It is expected that all students enrolled in this
class support the letter and the spirit of the Academic Honesty Policy as stated in the
college catalog (If you cheat on this, your senior project, you will have sullied
everything you have worked so hard to achieve in your career at Plattsburgh.
Plagiarism and other serious forms of Academic Dishonesty will result in failure of the
course and recommended dismissal from the History program.)

Course Readings There are no assigned common readings for this course. However, it is
highly recommended that you have your copy of Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to
writing History available at all times. It is the departmental recommended guide for students.
The required departmental citation style is CMS, a.k.a. "Chicago Style."

Grading



Schedule



August 27: Research Questions

Introductions to the syllabus and to each other
Summer reading assignment
Research Question Discussion: Formulating the Right Question

Seminar Assignments: You must meet with your content mentor this week, revise and finalize
your research question/s, and be ready to report to your colleagues at our next class meeting

1
These policies apply uniformly to all students, but please note I reserve the right to modify them at my
discretion, based on circumstances.
Redefining Projects (including mentor visit)
Abstracts (5) (oral report)
Other class exercises
Outline/Preliminary Thesis
First Ten Pages
First Draft
Presentation (practice, formal, reflection)
Final Draft
Portfolio Assessment

5%
5%
10%
5%
10%
25%
15%
15%
10%

September 3: Expanding and Prioritizing the Bibliography

Revised research questions due at the beginning of class!
Student reports on meeting with content mentors
Bibliography Discussion: Primary and Secondary Sources

Seminar Assignment: You must locate, print out, and carefully read at least one pertinent
secondary source scholarly article and be ready to report to your colleagues at our next class
meeting.

September 10: Reporting Progress from the Library or Archive

Student reports on scholarly articles
Primary Source Discussion: Analyzing Your Primary Sources

Seminar Assignment: You must locate, print out (if possible) and carefully analyze at least one
primary source and be ready to report to your colleagues at our next class meeting.

September 17: Abstracts and Archives

Student reports on primary sources
Abstracts Discussion: Understanding and Summarizing Your Secondary Sources

Seminar Assignment: You must prepare an oral report of secondary source abstracts and be
ready to present it to your colleagues at our next class meeting.

September 24: Historiography

Secondary Source Abstracts: Oral Reports due in class
Make appointments for individual meeting with Professor Kroll

Seminar Assignment: You must complete your final bibliography and have it ready to hand in
to Professor Kroll at your individual meeting.

October 1: Individual Meetings with Professor Kroll to Discuss Progress (No in-class meeting)

Bibliography due when you meet individually with Professor Kroll


October 8: Slouching Toward Bethlehem

Thesis Statement and Outline Discussion
Make appointments for individual meeting with Professor Kroll

Seminar Assignment: You must complete your introduction, thesis statement and outline and
hand it in to Professor Kroll during the next one-on-one.



October 15:: Individual Meetings with Professor Kroll to Discuss Progress (No in-class meeting)

Seminar Assignment: You must complete your First Ten Pages and print out two copies, due
at our next class meeting.

October 22: How to Peer Review a First Draft

TWO COPIES of First Ten Pages due at the beginning of class!
Peer Review of First Ten Pages

Seminar Assignment: You must prepare a brief progress report and be ready to present it to
your colleagues at our next class meeting.

October 29: Research Reports, Citing and Formatting Conventions

Students report on their writing progress
Citation Discussion: Correct and Complete Citations are Essential

November 5: Individual Meetings with Professor Schaefer to Discuss Progress (No in-class meeting)

Seminar Assignment: You must complete your First Complete Draft and print out two copies,
due at our next class meeting.

November 12: First Complete Draft and Peer Review; Guidance for Presentations

TWO COPIES of First Complete Draft due at the beginning of class
Peer Review of First Complete Draft
Presentation Discussion: Public Speaking, PowerPoint, and Professionalism

November 19: Dress Rehearsal Presentations

All students must be ready to give their Dress Rehearsal Presentation

November 26: Dress Rehearsal Presentations

All students must be ready to give their Dress Rehearsal Presentation

Friday, December 5: Spring 2014 History Department Senior Project Presentation Day

Final Class Meeting TBA (Finals Week)

Final Draft and Bibliography due at the beginning of class
Portfolio Assessment
Presentation Assessment
Course Evaluations

***This course design is based upon one created by Drs. Schaefer, Neuhaus, Carey and other members of the
History Department.