HISTORIOGRAPHY RESEARCH PAPER
As we have discussed in class, a historiography paper is a research essay that examines the different ways in which various historians have approached a topic. Unlike a traditional history paper, a historiography paper is not a study of the facts; instead, it is an analysis of the way in which historians have interpreted that subject. A historiography paper should give readers a detailed overview of the major works of scholarship on a topic, and it should summarize, evaluate, and critique the arguments of each of those works. So this is not an essay that just presents the basic facts—it is an essay that explains how your subject has been evaluated by history.
assignment: You will be writing this about a person—or about a major topic/subject in that person’s life. After choosing a person/book, you should start to:
1. Find sources: books and a few articles
2. Read those sources
3. Take copious notes while you read
sources: For example, if you decided to read about Alexander Hamilton, you should compile a list of the significant biographies of Hamilton--that is obvious. But then you might look at books/articles that address some specific topic of Hamilton’s life. You might also look at books/articles about Hamilton’s political friends and foes that might give you insights into his career and life. As you read, take notes and try to look for historical patterns and interpretations. How has this person been judged and evaluated over time?
Make sure that what you read is written by reputable historians. If possible, choose books/articles that take different (and, in some cases, perhaps contrasting) approaches to your topic. While it is useful to examine some books/articles that are older, make sure that you read at least a few that represent the most recent scholarship on your topic.
For this assignment, I expect you to be able to use and cite at least:
-4 legitimate and reputable books (preferably biographies)
-2 scholarly articles
As we have discussed in class, a historiography paper is a research essay that examines the different ways in which various historians have approached a topic. Unlike a traditional history paper, a historiography paper is not a study of the facts; instead, it is an analysis of the way in which historians have interpreted that subject. A historiography paper should give readers a detailed overview of the major works of scholarship on a topic, and it should summarize, evaluate, and critique the arguments of each of those works. So this is not an essay that just presents the basic facts—it is an essay that explains how your subject has been evaluated by history.
assignment: You will be writing this about a person—or about a major topic/subject in that person’s life. After choosing a person/book, you should start to:
1. Find sources: books and a few articles
2. Read those sources
3. Take copious notes while you read
sources: For example, if you decided to read about Alexander Hamilton, you should compile a list of the significant biographies of Hamilton--that is obvious. But then you might look at books/articles that address some specific topic of Hamilton’s life. You might also look at books/articles about Hamilton’s political friends and foes that might give you insights into his career and life. As you read, take notes and try to look for historical patterns and interpretations. How has this person been judged and evaluated over time?
Make sure that what you read is written by reputable historians. If possible, choose books/articles that take different (and, in some cases, perhaps contrasting) approaches to your topic. While it is useful to examine some books/articles that are older, make sure that you read at least a few that represent the most recent scholarship on your topic.
For this assignment, I expect you to be able to use and cite at least:
-4 legitimate and reputable books (preferably biographies)
-2 scholarly articles
argument/thesis: While your paper will probably be a book-by-book comparison of the historiographical approaches to your topic, make sure that your paper is not simply a compilation of mini-book reviews. Your essay needs to make an argument, and it should be organized around a strong, central thesis. Your essay should discuss the ways in which the historical scholarship on your topic has changed over time, and the factors that might account for these changes. You should conclude your paper by summarizing the current state of the field and suggesting possible approaches that future students of your topic may want to take. What research remains to be done in the field? What should the next student of your topic consider in order to differentiate his or her approach from previous research in the field?
You can view your historiography paper as a preliminary essay for a research project. Most master’s theses and doctoral dissertations in history begin with historiographical essays that discuss the works of scholarship that have been produced on a topic and suggest ways in which the graduate student’s own work will build upon those earlier studies and go beyond them. Imagine that you are writing such an essay for a research proposal or graduate thesis. What do you need to tell readers about the state of the field?
Your submission/due dates:
due date: Friday May 6, 2011.
due date: Friday May 6, 2011.
length: 10-12 full pages (double-spaced with standard margins). And I do want a paper copy. Please number and staple the pages of your essay. Do not submit your paper in a plastic binder or folder.
Your bibliography (list and details on all your sources) should be included at the end of the paper. Your bibliography’s format should be based on one of the style manuals. Go to the CSP Library website to see other options.m The link is: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/
