Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2017 - HIST 200 D100

Making History: Introduction to Historical Research (3)

Class Number: 8137

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Learning history by doing history. Introduction to a historical problem, and learning how to build and defend a historical interpretation through the analysis of primary and secondary sources. Small seminar format will allow hands-on experience developing research, writing, and presentation skills applicable to other history courses. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

Eighteenth-century British scholars debated whether the local Ceylonese deity called "Gautam" or "Buddha" was in fact a Greek god, a Norse god, or a symbolic embodiment of an entire society; the consensus held that he was Egyptian.  Why, in any case, were Burmese people travelling to northern India on pilgrimage for a local Sri Lankan god? 

This semester we'll develop as students of history by investigating the successes and failures of the nineteenth-century British historians and archaeologists in India who quested for the historical Buddha.  Students are welcome to pursue research projects on ancient Buddhism, on colonial-period historians of ancient Buddhism, or on today's historians of colonial-period historians of ancient Buddhism.

The first third of the semester will focus on Charles Allen's engaging survey.  The second third will mix short, key readings with short, low-stakes, strategic writing assignments.  In the final third students will use those short writings to construct a significant research paper.

A semi-optional integrated language component will allow students to achieve basic competency in a relevant ancient language, either Pāli or literary Chinese, as the class prefers; no previous knowledge of either is expected.

Grading

  • secondary-source review (800 words max.) 7%
  • primary-source review (800 words max.) 7%
  • annotated bibliography 7%
  • research proposal 7%
  • abstract (150 words max., including thesis statement and description of evidence) 7%
  • final paper (eight pages) 30%
  • two referats (formal presentations on research) 5%
  • seminar participation 25%
  • language-quiz score, to be replaced with the final-paper score if that is higher 5%
  • [bonuses will be awarded for avoiding errors of a previous assignment on a subsequent assignment]

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Charles Allen, The Buddha and the Sahibs (2003) (ISBN 0719554284)

Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Eighth Edition (2013) (ISBN 0226816389 )

other readings will be made available online

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS