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.