HIS 3942: History Practicum
Sections 4969/4978
War and Conflict in Premodern Europe
Fall 2013

Prof. Howard Louthan
025 Flint Hall
273-3381
Louthan@ufl.edu

Rebecca Devlin
Course Grader
radevlin@ufl.edu



Office hours
    Tuesday: 12:00-1:30 pm
    Wednesday: 1:00-2:30 pm

Course Location and Times
    Flint 117
    Tuesday: Period 4 (10:40-11:30 am)
    Thursday: Periods 4-5 (10:40-12:35 pm)


Introduction
What is history?  This seemingly simple question is actually quite complex.  Though for many it may be watching the History Channel or reading a popular account of World War II, the study of the human past is remarkably complicated.  This class is intended to introduce the new major to the professional study of history today.
This course will in certain ways operate on two levels.  Like most history courses, the History Practicum is organized around a central theme.  For this semester our lectures and readings will consider the broad issue of war and conflict in European society from the Middle Ages through the Early Modern period (12th-17th centuries).
At the same time, however, we will work on mastering a set of skills that are essential for success as a historian.  You will learn to identify and evaluate source material.  You will learn how to read primary and secondary sources critically.  You will be exposed to a variety of methodologies that historians use to understand the past.  You will develop a set of research skills that will help you produce a solid research paper.  In sum, this course will give you the tools that will help you get the most of the history major and excel in the other courses and seminars that you will take in the department.    



Class Format
Students will meet twice a week.  Each week there will be a common lecture (Tuesday) all students are required to attend.  In addition there will be a smaller group session (Thursday) devoted to discussion of the week’s readings and workshop themes.


Required Texts and Materials
Materials are available at the UF Bookstore though students may find it easier and cheaper to purchase books thru Amazon.

Jules Benjamin, A Student’s Guide to History, 12th edition (Boston: Bedford, 2013)
    ISBN: 1457621444
Other earlier editions of this book are acceptable.

Allan Greer, The Jesuit Relations: Natives and Missionaries in Seventeenth-Century North America (Boston: Bedford, 2000)
    ISBN: 0312167075

Richard Wunderli, Peasant Fires (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1992)
    ISBN: 0253207517

We will be also using the e-learning/sakai site where course materials for certain sessions will be available as indicated by the syllabus.
https://lss.at.ufl.edu/


Laptop/tablet policy
Laptops/tablets will not be allowed for lectures.   For discussion sessions students are required to bring either a written or electronic version of material that is being discussed to class.  If, however, students use their electronic device for uses other than class purposes, they will be penalized and not allowed to use the device again for the semester in this class.  


Attendance policy
Students are expected to attend class regularly and arrive for lecture or discussion promptly.
A significant penalty will be imposed on students who arrive late for class.
Attendance is mandatory for all precept sessions. Non-approved absences be will be penalized in the following manner.
    ***One absence—no penalty
    ***Two absences—final grade lowered one half mark
    ***Three absences—final grade lowered a full mark
    ***Four absences—final grade lowered two full marks



ACADEMIC HONESTY
Students must conform to UF’s academic honesty policy regarding plagiarism and other forms of cheating. In your assignments, make sure to give proper credit whenever you use words, phrases, ideas, arguments and conclusions drawn from someone else’s work.  Please review the university’s honesty policy at
http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/
All students found to have cheated, plagiarized, or otherwise violated the Honor Code in any assignment for this course will be prosecuted to the full extent of the university honor policy, including judicial action and the sanctions listed in paragraph XI of the Student Conduct Code. For serious violations, you will fail this course.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Please do not hesitate to ask for accommodation for a documented disability. Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc). The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student, who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. Please ask the instructor if you would like any assistance in this process.


CLASS RESOURCES
History is a writing intensive discipline.  Many students struggle in this area.  We will be discussing writing strategies and highlighting basic problems students encounter.  

We will be covering significant material during the weekly lecture.  To help you navigate what can be a complicated world of new names, new places and new ideas, I will be providing a weekly list of terms that will be covered during lecture.  

Key weekly terms

Discussion questions

Writing Tips

Grade Calculation	Grading Scale
Introductory Essay: 5%	A: 100-92.5
Class Partcipation/Quizzes: 20%	A-: 92.4-90
Discussion Assignments: 30%	B+: 89.9-87.5
Test One: 10%	B: 87.4-82.5
Research Project (see below): 20%	B-: 82.4-80
Test Two: 15%	C+: 79.9-77.5
	C: 77.4-72.5
	C-: 72.4-70
	D+: 69.9-67.5
	D: 67.4-62.5
	D-: 62.4-60
	F: Below 60

Research Project (20%)
Students will devote the last weeks of the semester on a research project.  The final project will consist of an annotated bibliography (7 to 15 items) and a historiographical analysis of their topic (4-6 pages).
    Due date: Tuesday, Dec. 10 (Exam week)



Course Schedule

Week One
    Aug. 22: Introduction to the Course

Assignment
Peter Stearns, "Why Study History" (Sakai)
David Brooks, "The Humanist Vocation" (Sakai)
Rachel Maddow, "Master the Argument" (Sakai)


Week Two—What is History
    Aug. 27: History, Memory and Heritage
    Aug. 29: Discussion 1: Library West: Introduction to Smathers Library
Class meets in Library West 211 on Thursday!  The classroom is to the immediate left of the circulation desk.

Assignment
Sam Wineburg, “Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts” (Sakai)
Response Essay


Week Three—Introduction to Historical Sources
    Sept. 3: An Introduction to Violence and Conflict in Premodern Europe
    Sept. 5: Discussion 2

Assignment
Tuesday: Introductory Essay
Thursday: Code of Hammurabi (Sakai)
News Article Assignment


Week Four—Using Primary Sources
    Sept. 10: Witches and Violence in Renaissance Europe
    Sept. 12: Discussion 3
Assignment
Tuesday: Mark Kishlansky, “How to Read a Document” (Sakai)
               Tryal of Witches (London, 1682) (Sakai)
Thursday: Writing Assignment--Reading Primary Sources


Week Five—Using Primary Sources; Leading Discussions
    Sept. 17: Crusades 1 (A Western Perspective)
    Sept. 19: Discussion 4
Assignment
Tuesday: Crusade Documents (Sakai)
     1. Speech of Pope Urban II calling for Crusade (Urban II)    
     2. Bernard of Clairvaux, "In Praise of the New Knighthood" (Bernard)
     3. Fulcher of Chartres, Account of the First Crusade: The Campaigns of Antioch and Jerusalem (Fulcher)
     4. Third Crusade: The Capture of Jerusalem by Saladin (Jerusalem)
     5. Third Crusade: The Battle of Hattin (Hattin)                                                                                                                                                     
Thursday: Leading Discussions
    1. Reading and Discussing Difficult Texts
    2. Discussion Question Assignment
    3. Expect a quiz



Week Six
    Sept. 24: Crusades 2 (An Islamic Perspective)
    Sept. 26: Discussion and Review Session

Assignment
Crusade Documents (Sakai)
Take-home essay



Week Seven: Historical Resources at UF: Oral History and Special Collections
    Oct. 1: An Introduction to Oral History
    Oct. 3: Visit to Special Collections
Assignment
Tuesday: Oral History Assignment
Thursday: Special Collection--The Menendez massacre


Week Eight
    Oct. 8: Test One
    Oct. 10: Discussion 5
Assignment: The Jesuit Relations


Week Nine—Working with the Internet
    Oct. 15: Conflict in the New World II (Visit of Professor Juliana Barr)
    Oct. 17: Discussion 6
Assignment
Using visual sources


PART TWO: INTRODUCTION TO HISTORICAL METHODOLOGY/RESEARCH AND WRITING SKILLS
Week Ten—Research Skills
    Oct. 22: War and Politics
    Oct. 24: Library Session (Library West 211)


Week Eleven—Plagiarism and Documentation
    Oct. 29: The World of the Peasant
    Oct. 31: Discussion 7
Assignment
Richard Wunderli, Peasant Fires


Week Twelve
    Nov. 5: Peasant Wars
    Nov. 7: Discussion 8
Assignment
Peasant War—Assorted Documents (Sakai)
Bibliographic Assignment


Week Thirteen—Reading Secondary Sources
    Nov. 12: Wars of Religion
    Nov. 14: Discussion 9
Assignment
Natalie Zemon Davis, “The Rites of Violence” (Sakai)


Week Fourteen
    Nov. 19: Gender and Violence
    Nov. 21: Writing Workshop


Week Fifteen
    Nov. 26: Economics and Conflict
    Nov. 28: Thanksgiving


Week Sixteen
    Dec. 3:  Test 2