Historiography Links

Here are a few links that might help you start thinking about your historiography essay. I went over these briefly in class. Make sure to look at the sample essay on Eugene Debs. That paper will give you a pretty good idea on what you will be attempting to do.

Email me with any questions or concerns.


History essays (scrolls down for the historiography section)

How to research a historiography essay

A Sample Historiography Essay—please read!

Another “How to write historiographical essays article"—it may help

Biography Choices

It's about time we nail-down these biography reading choices. So far, I have allowed you to think, ponder, and dawdle concerning your selections. But now I am going to insist! I know most of you have picked at least one biography. By the end of this week (Feb 26), I want to know what two biographies you have chosen. I will post more specific details for each of your assignments. But in the meantime, you all need to start reading. Don't wait until the last minute.

It may seem early, but you have work to do:
1. select two biographies
2. decide which one you will use for a presentation
3. decide which one you will use for historiographical research paper
4. start reading
5. start doing your historiographical research
6. do your presentation

7. watch a biography film during the next 5-6 weeks

So I am expecting an email (or you can post right here on the blog) by this Friday with the names of both of your biographies--even if you have already told me, this is the official decision. Send me the book's title, author, publisher, date of publication, and number of pages. I want to make sure all the books are legitimate. Don't get anything from the kid's section of the library.

Schedule for Feb 16

For next week (February 16) here is what we will be doing in class (email me with any questions):

1. Further discussion of your biography selections. You should have one chosen and should be thinking about your second one.

2.We will talk about historiographies and annotated bibliographies

3. We will talk about biography films and movies.

4. Read the following articles and be ready to discuss them in class. Also, reflect upon/analyze these articles (and the ANB bios) in your Journal. Send that Journal to me before class on Wednesday.

biographers panel discussion (1 hour)

McCullough interview (55 minutes)

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/1975
Evan Thomas interview (25 minutes)

"Christopher Columbus in United States Historiography: Biography as Projection"
Carla Rahn Phillips, William D. Phillips
The History Teacher Vol. 25, No. 2 (Feb., 1992), pp. 119-135
Published by: Society for History Education
http://www.jstor.org/stable/494269
* On this article, when it comes to the screen, you will need to select "check access options" and then find Concordia University, St.Paul. That should get you to our JSTOR library page. It might take a little work, but do it.

"Separations of Soul: Solitude, Biography, History:
Barbara Taylor
American Historical Review, Jun2009, Vol. 114 Issue 3, pp.640-651
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Writing Biography at the Edge of History
Robin Fleming
American Historical Review, Jun2009, Vol. 114 Issue 3, pp.606-614
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Schedule for Feb 9

For next week (February 9) here is what we will be doing in class (email me with any questions):

1. Discussion of your biography selection

2.We will talk about historiographies and annotated bibliographies

3. Look at where biographers get their sources

4. Book Reviews--find some online

5. Read the following articles and be ready to discuss them in class. Also, reflect upon/analyze these articles (and the ANB bios) in your Journal. Send that Journal to me before class on Wednesday.

Chernow on writing (70 minutes, 1999)

Morris (70 minutes)

Schiff interview (15 minutes)

Isaacson interview (15 minutes)


"Original Letters of the Celebrated Mrs. Mary Robinson," Sharon Setzer
Philological Quarterly, Summer2009, Vol. 88 Issue 3, pp.305-335
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"Writing Women's Lives: One Historian's Perspective," Susan Ware
Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Winter2010, Vol. 40 Issue 3, pp.413-435
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"John F. Kennedy as a World Leader: A Perspective on the Literature," Burton Kaufman
Diplomatic History, summer 1993

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Schedule for February 2

For next week (February 2) here is what we will be doing in class (email me with any questions):

1. You will read/view the links below. Not only will you come to class prepared to discuss these articles/podcasts--but you will write about each one in your.....

2. Reading/Research Journal: which you will started last week. In addition, I want to see your Reading/Research Journals before class this week. If you are journaling electronically, send me your Journal by 1:00 on Wednesday (before class). If you are writing, I will collect it during class and take a look.   

3. Read the ANB biography-of-the day each and every day and write comments in your Reading and Research Journal.

4. During class, we will talk about: what makes a good/bad biography; sources; and we will try to all decide who we might want to read about.

5. Bring your laptops and we will even search around for people and book possibilities.


Caro interview (60 minutes)

Chernow interview (25 minutes)

Kearns Goodwin on Lincoln (55 minutes)

http://www.wpr.org/book/110109a.cfm  (the 50 minute podcast from last week--download the mp3 yourself and listen)

Writing From the Source, Pace, Audra
Read; 11/27/2009, Vol. 59 Issue 7, pp.28-31
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A Place in Biography for Oneself, Brown, Kate
American Historical Review; June 2009, Vol. 114 Issue 3, pp.596-605
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Channelling Ike, Rayner, Richard
New Yorker; 4/26/2010, Vol. 86 Issue 10, pp.21-22
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"Remembering Public Life: Writing Policy into Biography," Zarnow, Leandra
Journal of Policy History; Oct2009, Vol. 21 Issue 4, pp.448-454
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Schedule for Jan 26

For next week (26th) here is what we will be doing in class (email me with questions):

1. You will read/ view the links below. Not only will you come to class prepared to discuss these articles/podcasts--but you will write about each one in your.....

2. Reading/Research Journal: which you will start this week. You can use an old fashioned notebook or type it in a Word document. But I will be asking to see what you have each week. I would probably expect about 2+ pages/week. I want serious reflection and real thoughts about what you are reading.

3. Read the ANB biography-of-the day each and every day and write comments in your Reading and Research Journal.

4. Find a scholarly article on some historical figure. Bring the article/link and source to class. Also write about it in your RR Journal. Be ready to discuss it.

5. Then we will have a general discussion in class about: what we expect to learn from biographies; what makes a good biography; and the kinds of people we might want to read about.

Literacy and why reading (books) is important (a few short articles to get us started)
global student comparisons

reading for pleasure

why reading is important

on literacy and reading

why we should read more books

reading stats


biography links to read
Caro on writing biographies (45 minutes)

PRI podcast on the presidency (55 minutes-will be emailed to you)

short article on using bios in the classroom

brief interview w/biographer David McCullough

"Biography as History," by Banner, Lois W.
American Historical Review; June 2009, Vol. 114 Issue 3, pp.579-586
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"Why Biography?" by Kessler-Harris, Alice
American Historical Review; June 2009, Vol. 114 Issue 3, pp.625-630
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Opening Day

I will see all of you tomorrow (Wednesday). Bring your laptop to class. We will do the following chores:

-introductions and class details
-decide on some projects
-go over the syllabus (which isn't actually finished)
-examine a few online databases
-look at a biography site that you will be checking every day
-talk about readings for the upcoming weeks
-discuss this blog

And every time I post on the blog, I will add a picture of a biography (and possibly a link). Today you see Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. It is one of my all-time favorites. Simply a wonderful biography.