Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Environmentalism and Technology
As we saw with Richard White's Organic Machine, many environmental thinkers see the old dichotomy between nature and technology as a false one. Among environmental activists, the emphasis on 'green technology' (see above video) is a case in point.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Ted Nordhaus & Michael Shellenberger on Environmentalism and Religion
& here is a link to the book; & here is a critical piece on Nordhaus & Shellenberger by clean energy advocate Joseph Romm.
Monday, September 22, 2008
PAPER ONE: 1250-1500 words; Due in Class on Monday, October 6th
Write a critical essay on the thesis, argument, and research methodology of any one of the assigned books in this class. Your paper should assess the merit of the thesis, the logic and persuasiveness of the argument, and soundness of the research methodology. Please note that each if these elements is discrete and that it might be possible to agree with the thesis of a given book and find major flaws in its argument or in its research methodology.
HI 200 Syllabus
HI 200
The Historian’s Craft
Boston University. Fall, 2008
R.S. Deese
rsdeese@bu.edu
617-353-2554
Office: rm 502, 226 Bay State Rd.
Office Hours: W,F 2:30-4PM
Tel: 353-8313
HI 200: The Historian’s Craft
“History is bunk,” in the oft-quoted words of Henry Ford, or, as Napoleon put it, it is merely “a fable agreed upon.” Such cynicism about what most people accept to be “history” has a certain facile appeal, but it also begs the question: Is it possible to research and write an account of the past which, instead of being “bunk,” is scrupulously honest, and which, instead of being a “fable agreed upon,” overturns our most comfortable assumptions and challenges us to see not only the past, but also the present and the future in ways that we had not conceived before? If it is possible to create this kind of scholarship in history, should the field be described as a science, an art, or a combination of both?
This course will consider the nature of history itself, and will assess a number of methods for researching, writing, and evaluating original historical scholarship. You will write two five-page historiography papers, and one twelve-page analytical paper interpreting two primary sources and placing them in their historical context. Most important, you will be expected to complete all assigned reading before class and participate in each day’s discussion. In addition to written work, each student will be required to do two oral presentations based on each of your two historiography papers. Your oral presentations, along with your attendance and general participation, will constitute nearly a third of your grade in this course.
Course Goals:
• Master professional standards of research, writing, and documentation
• Learn to view the historian’s profession in its contingent historical context
• Assess a broad array of methods and genres for historical research and writing
Grade Breakdown:
Participation: 30%; Paper 1: 20% ; Paper 2: 20%; FINAL PAPER: 30%
Required Readings
Thomas Frank, The Conquest of Cool. ISBN: 0226260127
Sidney Mintz, Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History ISBN: 0140092331
Richard White, The Organic Machine. ISBN: 0809015838
Jonathan Spence, The Gate of Heavenly Peace. ISBN-13: 978-0140062793
Robert Darnton, The Great Cat Massacre. ISBN: 0394729277
Michael Frayn, Copenhagen. ISBN: 0385720793
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland. ISBN: 0486404293
Robert Evans, In Defense of History. ISBN: 0393319598
Schedule of Readings & Assignments
9/8 Introduction
9/15 Conquest of Cool (Presentations)
9/22 Sweetness & Power (Presentations)
9/29 The Organic Machine (Presentations)
10/6 Paper One due in class. Film (TBA)
10/14 Information Technology Center session
10/20 Environmental History (Presentation)
10/27 The Gate of Heavenly Peace (Presentations)
11/3 Copenhagen (Presentations)
11/10 Paper Two Due in class (Film TBA)
11/17 Mugar Library session
11/24 Herland (Presentations)
12/1 In Defense of History (Presentations)
12/8 FINAL PAPER DUE IN CLASS
Note on Plagiarism
Needless to say, the work you present must be entirely your own and all sources must be diligently credited in your footnotes and bibliography. Any attempt at plagiarism, representing the work of another person as your own, will be result in failure in this course and severe disciplinary action by Boston University. If you should need more information on this subject, consult the website of the History Department.
The Historian’s Craft
Boston University. Fall, 2008
R.S. Deese
rsdeese@bu.edu
617-353-2554
Office: rm 502, 226 Bay State Rd.
Office Hours: W,F 2:30-4PM
Tel: 353-8313
HI 200: The Historian’s Craft
“History is bunk,” in the oft-quoted words of Henry Ford, or, as Napoleon put it, it is merely “a fable agreed upon.” Such cynicism about what most people accept to be “history” has a certain facile appeal, but it also begs the question: Is it possible to research and write an account of the past which, instead of being “bunk,” is scrupulously honest, and which, instead of being a “fable agreed upon,” overturns our most comfortable assumptions and challenges us to see not only the past, but also the present and the future in ways that we had not conceived before? If it is possible to create this kind of scholarship in history, should the field be described as a science, an art, or a combination of both?
This course will consider the nature of history itself, and will assess a number of methods for researching, writing, and evaluating original historical scholarship. You will write two five-page historiography papers, and one twelve-page analytical paper interpreting two primary sources and placing them in their historical context. Most important, you will be expected to complete all assigned reading before class and participate in each day’s discussion. In addition to written work, each student will be required to do two oral presentations based on each of your two historiography papers. Your oral presentations, along with your attendance and general participation, will constitute nearly a third of your grade in this course.
Course Goals:
• Master professional standards of research, writing, and documentation
• Learn to view the historian’s profession in its contingent historical context
• Assess a broad array of methods and genres for historical research and writing
Grade Breakdown:
Participation: 30%; Paper 1: 20% ; Paper 2: 20%; FINAL PAPER: 30%
Required Readings
Thomas Frank, The Conquest of Cool. ISBN: 0226260127
Sidney Mintz, Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History ISBN: 0140092331
Richard White, The Organic Machine. ISBN: 0809015838
Jonathan Spence, The Gate of Heavenly Peace. ISBN-13: 978-0140062793
Robert Darnton, The Great Cat Massacre. ISBN: 0394729277
Michael Frayn, Copenhagen. ISBN: 0385720793
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland. ISBN: 0486404293
Robert Evans, In Defense of History. ISBN: 0393319598
Schedule of Readings & Assignments
9/8 Introduction
9/15 Conquest of Cool (Presentations)
9/22 Sweetness & Power (Presentations)
9/29 The Organic Machine (Presentations)
10/6 Paper One due in class. Film (TBA)
10/14 Information Technology Center session
10/20 Environmental History (Presentation)
10/27 The Gate of Heavenly Peace (Presentations)
11/3 Copenhagen (Presentations)
11/10 Paper Two Due in class (Film TBA)
11/17 Mugar Library session
11/24 Herland (Presentations)
12/1 In Defense of History (Presentations)
12/8 FINAL PAPER DUE IN CLASS
Note on Plagiarism
Needless to say, the work you present must be entirely your own and all sources must be diligently credited in your footnotes and bibliography. Any attempt at plagiarism, representing the work of another person as your own, will be result in failure in this course and severe disciplinary action by Boston University. If you should need more information on this subject, consult the website of the History Department.
HI 200 Syllabus
HI 200
The Historian’s Craft
Boston University. Fall, 2008
R.S. Deese
rsdeese@bu.edu
617-353-2554
Office: rm 502, 226 Bay State Rd.
Office Hours: W,F 2:30-4PM
Tel: 353-8313
HI 200: The Historian’s Craft
“History is bunk,” in the oft-quoted words of Henry Ford, or, as Napoleon put it, it is merely “a fable agreed upon.” Such cynicism about what most people accept to be “history” has a certain facile appeal, but it also begs the question: Is it possible to research and write an account of the past which, instead of being “bunk,” is scrupulously honest, and which, instead of being a “fable agreed upon,” overturns our most comfortable assumptions and challenges us to see not only the past, but also the present and the future in ways that we had not conceived before? If it is possible to create this kind of scholarship in history, should the field be described as a science, an art, or a combination of both?
This course will consider the nature of history itself, and will assess a number of methods for researching, writing, and evaluating original historical scholarship. You will write two five-page historiography papers, and one twelve-page analytical paper interpreting two primary sources and placing them in their historical context. Most important, you will be expected to complete all assigned reading before class and participate in each day’s discussion. In addition to written work, each student will be required to do two oral presentations based on each of your two historiography papers. Your oral presentations, along with your attendance and general participation, will constitute nearly a third of your grade in this course.
Course Goals:
• Master professional standards of research, writing, and documentation
• Learn to view the historian’s profession in its contingent historical context
• Assess a broad array of methods and genres for historical research and writing
Grade Breakdown:
Participation: 30%; Paper 1: 20% ; Paper 2: 20%; FINAL PAPER: 30%
Required Readings
Thomas Frank, The Conquest of Cool. ISBN: 0226260127
Sidney Mintz, Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History ISBN: 0140092331
Richard White, The Organic Machine. ISBN: 0809015838
Jonathan Spence, The Gate of Heavenly Peace. ISBN-13: 978-0140062793
Robert Darnton, The Great Cat Massacre. ISBN: 0394729277
Michael Frayn, Copenhagen. ISBN: 0385720793
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland. ISBN: 0486404293
Robert Evans, In Defense of History. ISBN: 0393319598
Schedule of Readings & Assignments
9/8 Introduction
9/15 Conquest of Cool (Presentations)
9/22 Sweetness & Power (Presentations)
9/29 The Organic Machine (Presentations)
10/6 Paper One due in class. Film (TBA)
10/14 Information Technology Center session
10/20 Environmental History (Presentation)
10/27 The Gate of Heavenly Peace (Presentations)
11/3 Copenhagen (Presentations)
11/10 Paper Two Due in class (Film TBA)
11/17 Mugar Library session
11/24 Herland (Presentations)
12/1 In Defense of History (Presentations)
12/8 FINAL PAPER DUE IN CLASS
Note on Plagiarism
Needless to say, the work you present must be entirely your own and all sources must be diligently credited in your footnotes and bibliography. Any attempt at plagiarism, representing the work of another person as your own, will be result in failure in this course and severe disciplinary action by Boston University. If you should need more information on this subject, consult the website of the History Department.
The Historian’s Craft
Boston University. Fall, 2008
R.S. Deese
rsdeese@bu.edu
617-353-2554
Office: rm 502, 226 Bay State Rd.
Office Hours: W,F 2:30-4PM
Tel: 353-8313
HI 200: The Historian’s Craft
“History is bunk,” in the oft-quoted words of Henry Ford, or, as Napoleon put it, it is merely “a fable agreed upon.” Such cynicism about what most people accept to be “history” has a certain facile appeal, but it also begs the question: Is it possible to research and write an account of the past which, instead of being “bunk,” is scrupulously honest, and which, instead of being a “fable agreed upon,” overturns our most comfortable assumptions and challenges us to see not only the past, but also the present and the future in ways that we had not conceived before? If it is possible to create this kind of scholarship in history, should the field be described as a science, an art, or a combination of both?
This course will consider the nature of history itself, and will assess a number of methods for researching, writing, and evaluating original historical scholarship. You will write two five-page historiography papers, and one twelve-page analytical paper interpreting two primary sources and placing them in their historical context. Most important, you will be expected to complete all assigned reading before class and participate in each day’s discussion. In addition to written work, each student will be required to do two oral presentations based on each of your two historiography papers. Your oral presentations, along with your attendance and general participation, will constitute nearly a third of your grade in this course.
Course Goals:
• Master professional standards of research, writing, and documentation
• Learn to view the historian’s profession in its contingent historical context
• Assess a broad array of methods and genres for historical research and writing
Grade Breakdown:
Participation: 30%; Paper 1: 20% ; Paper 2: 20%; FINAL PAPER: 30%
Required Readings
Thomas Frank, The Conquest of Cool. ISBN: 0226260127
Sidney Mintz, Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History ISBN: 0140092331
Richard White, The Organic Machine. ISBN: 0809015838
Jonathan Spence, The Gate of Heavenly Peace. ISBN-13: 978-0140062793
Robert Darnton, The Great Cat Massacre. ISBN: 0394729277
Michael Frayn, Copenhagen. ISBN: 0385720793
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland. ISBN: 0486404293
Robert Evans, In Defense of History. ISBN: 0393319598
Schedule of Readings & Assignments
9/8 Introduction
9/15 Conquest of Cool (Presentations)
9/22 Sweetness & Power (Presentations)
9/29 The Organic Machine (Presentations)
10/6 Paper One due in class. Film (TBA)
10/14 Information Technology Center session
10/20 Environmental History (Presentation)
10/27 The Gate of Heavenly Peace (Presentations)
11/3 Copenhagen (Presentations)
11/10 Paper Two Due in class (Film TBA)
11/17 Mugar Library session
11/24 Herland (Presentations)
12/1 In Defense of History (Presentations)
12/8 FINAL PAPER DUE IN CLASS
Note on Plagiarism
Needless to say, the work you present must be entirely your own and all sources must be diligently credited in your footnotes and bibliography. Any attempt at plagiarism, representing the work of another person as your own, will be result in failure in this course and severe disciplinary action by Boston University. If you should need more information on this subject, consult the website of the History Department.
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