Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2024 - HIST 200 D100

Making History: Introduction to Historical Research (3)

Class Number: 3264

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 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:

Terry Fox: The Last Canadian Hero?

This seminar focuses on Terry Fox, a Port Coquitlam resident and SFU student who became known nation-wide in 1980 through his ultra-Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research. Widely celebrated and commemorated in popular culture since his death in 1981, he has received relatively little attention from historians. That’s where you come in!

In this course, you’ll learn about histories of sport, disability, celebrity, masculinity, nationalism, Indigeneity, and commemoration, all of which will help you make sense of Fox’s life, times, and legacy.

At the same time, you’ll learn how to make history: how to ask good questions, find and analyze sources, take notes, construct arguments, and write for specific audiences.

We’ll consider some philosophical questions, too. Why study history? How should studying history make us feel? What do we do when we can’t study or write the histories we want, or in the ways we want to?

I look forward to meeting and mentoring you as junior colleagues in the art and craft of history!

Grading

  • Active and engaged participation 20%
  • Primary source analysis 20%
  • Secondary source analysis 20%
  • Final research essay 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

There won’t be any required texts. Everything you need will be posted on Canvas or openly accessible.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/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