Research Paper - 15-20 pages, worth 40% of your final grade. This assignment
includes several components. You cannot complete the paper without completing
each phase of the assignment:
research
proposal, due at your individual meeting with me on 6 November
15-20
minute presentation at the end of the semester
rough
draft of paper, due in class 27 November
final
draft of paper, due at my office by 5:00 pm, 13 December (early submissions are
welcome)
Participation - worth 30% of your final grade. This measn active, informed, and respectful,
participation in the conversation during class. Regular and punctual attendance
is required. Because this class meets just one time per week, the penalty for
missing classes is heavy: more than one unexcused absence (i.e. illness
confirmed by a doctor's note) will severely effect your grade; more than two
absences will result in a failing grade in the course.
Since
this is a seminar much of the responsibility for directing and sustaining
discussion falls upon you. Here are some guidelines to help clarify what
'participation' means in this context and suggestions to help you prepare for
class on a weekly basis:
Participation
means well informed and thoughtful contributions to class discussion based on
the reading assignments. Your grade will suffer if you do not take the time to
read the assignments and think about them before coming to class. All of the
texts we will read for this class allow for multiple interpretations –
which makes for interesting discussion – but off the cuff commentary that
is not informed by a careful reading of the texts will not be considered a
constructive contribution. I suggest that you take notes on the readings. When
reading a primary source, determine the author, the audience, when and why the
text was written. In the case of secondary sources, be sure to identify the
authoržs argument and the evidence she uses to support it. Ask yourself whether
you find this interpretation of the evidence compelling and convincing.
Finally, formulate an explanation for your view. Also, be sure to bring the
readings to class.
Document analyses - worth 15% of your final grade. Two 2-3 page
papers examinating and analyzing primary sources. The first, on the Visigothic
Code, is due 11 September; and the second, on a document of your choice (from
the Constable book) is due on 2 October. See the weekly schedule for the
assignments.
Book review - worth 15% of your final grade. A review of roughly three pages of
one of the recommended books for the class. The review should be written in the
style of a review that might appear in a scholarly journal – in
preparation for this, you should examine reviews in journals in the field, such
as Medieval Encounters,
Speculum, or American
Historical Review. If you wish to
write on a book that is not on that list, you will need to obtain my permission
in advance. Due 23 October.