Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2017 - HIST 494 D100

Honors Seminar (4)

Class Number: 3982

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Fri, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Admission to the honours program in history.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the honours program, and to the community of SFU historians, in which students will engage in a project as a cohort. Students with credit for HIST 305 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Historians at Work: Professional Practice at SFU 1965-2017

What is the “work” in the life of a professional historian? Were your favorite courses taught here thirty years ago? How is historical practice shaped by, or reflective of, wider social, economic, and political forces? Using historical practice at SFU over the past 51 years as our example, in this seminar we will consider how research, teaching, publishing, administration and public service have been conducted in our home institution. We will encounter published works, grant proposals, course syllabi, newspaper articles, podcasts, social media, digital and physical archives, material culture, and creative works in our survey of the rich assemblage of historians’ output and influence. We will discover how professional life at SFU reflected broader trends in society and in the study of history. Weekly meetings will involve discussion of assigned material, interviews with faculty members, and group work towards a final project and poster on SFU historians at work, past and present. Students will also workshop their honours projects.

Grading

  • Verbal discussions and written responses 60%
  • Research Project 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Williams, Robert C. The Historian's Toolbox : A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History (Routledge 2011)

Other readings and materials to be made available through Canvas

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