3 credits
Fall 2025 Lecture
This is the first part of an introductory two-course sequence for new graduate students intended to acquaint them with some important issues regarding the modern professional practice of history. This semester concentrates on historiography, theoretical questions, and methodological debates that today's working historians inevitably encounter. Students read about the practice of historical scholarship and read several important example texts representing different approaches to the discipline over the past 200 years. Students write several short book reviews, position papers, and a mock grant proposal during this semester. The course is required of incoming graduate students in history. It usually will be followed by HIST 61100, Research Practicum.
Learning Outcomes1Become familiar with current trends in historical writing and argumentation.
2Master a certain amount of knowledge about the evolution of the historical profession (historiography) but more importantly the recognition of problems inherent in asking and answering historical questions using documentary evidence and other sources available to scholars.
3Able to formulate a research question and situate it within a context of existing historical scholarship, arguing for its significance to the community of scholars to whom it is addressed.
4Develop critical thinking and communication skills.
5Learn ethical research conduct and the appropriate use of historical investigation will be explored in the course of the seminar.
Restrictions
made by Purdue students.