About the Course

This course will introduce students to the theoretical and practical issues confronting public historians today. Readings will address questions of audience and authority in collecting and presenting history; the relationship between history and national, communal, and personal memory; public controversies involving historical interpretations; and the production and dissemination of history in diverse formats and media. These critical, methodological, and theoretical readings will provide the basis for the hands-on section of the course in which students will develop pilot public history projects–a documentary film, museum exhibit, oral history, or website.

Texts

Articles available online.

Assignments and Grading

Successful completion of the course depends, most basically, on regular attendance in class, evidence of preparation and application, active participation in class discussions based on close readings of the required texts, and completion of all exercises and assignments on time. You will submit all your written assignments on this blog.

  1. Introductions (due Sept. 15) – 5%
  2. Wikipedia Entry Edit (due Sept. 29) – 10%
  3. Project Proposal (due Oct. 20) – 15%
  4. Response to Another Student’s Project Proposal (due Oct. 22) – 10%
  5. Project Presentation (sign up beginning week 10) – 20%
  6. Response to Another Student’s Project Presentation (same day as presentation you are responding to) – 10%
  7. Final Project (due 1-2 weeks after your presentation, depending on how early you present) – 30%

Pilot Project

The main assignment for this class is a public history pilot project, to be presented to the class during the last 4 weeks of classes. You will have access to equipment and a computer lab at the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling in LB 1042-1 to help you complete your project. You will also submit 2-paragraph Introductory Statement with your project.

Examples of final projects:

  • Film: at least 5-minutes of video and sound using at least 5 primary sources
  • Oral history: a compilation of at least 3 interviews
  • Exhibit: a floor plan with photographs at least 5 objects, with labels
  • Website: at least 3 pages using at least 5 primary sources
  • Short story: 5-10 pages of narrative based on historical events, with an appendix of at least 5 relevant primary sources
  • Walking tour: a map and photographs of at least 5 objects

Log-In Instructions

To log in:

  1. Click on “Login” link in the menu.
  2. Type in your email username as your blog username and the password you received via email. (Use the email you have stored in MyConcordia. If the first email address doesn’t work, try a username from another email address.)
  3. Click on “Write a Post” and paste or type your assignment.
  4. Mark your assignment with the appropriate assignment category, i.e. “0. Introductions” for the “Introductions” assignment.

Participation

Success in this class depends upon attendance at lecture and workshops and participation in any discussion provoked by the lecture and/or readings in class. There is no need for a participation part of the grade because you will not be able to complete your assignments if you don’t come.

Deadlines

The penalty for late papers and projects will be 5% of the grade per day. No extensions will be granted except in cases of a DOCUMENTED emergency.

Policies and Procedures

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is an affront to me and to your peers. Plagiarism is submitting work that is not your own as if it were yours. This includes copying material, even a few sentences, from published or unpublished sources, from the internet, or from another student without citing the source. It also includes presenting another person’s ideas or paraphrasing the work of another person without citing the source. Plagiarism also includes handing in bought papers, papers obtained from free essay websites, or having another person write your paper for you. Anyone suspected of copying other people’s work without clear acknowledgement, or of any comparable act, will be reported to the Faculty of Arts and Science for plagiarism.

Syllabus: I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus during the year if/as necessary. Please check the online syllabus before every class.

In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University’s control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.

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