Schedule — Intro to Historical Study
Fall 2021
Our schedule will evolve somewhat as the term unfolds and each of us contributes to our learning program. Be sure to watch this page regularly for more details. You can annotate any Medium page. Feel free to make comments or ask questions right on this page (or any other within our Medium site).
In general, the term is divided into 8 Units that address different aspects of History as a field, Historical Study, and Historical Thinking. With the exceptions indicated below, most Units begin on a Monday and end on a Sunday, and most run for two weeks.
We will have a guest speaker via Zoom during Unit 5, details below. Please watch for that information and plan accordingly!
Unit 1 (August 30–September 5 [one week!!])
Introductions and Digital Tools (←click for the Unit narrative)
Optional synchronous Zoom session with Brandon on Tuesday, August 31, from 4:00–5:00 pm MDT. Join us for an informal get-to-know-you chat where you can ask questions and comment in real-time. If you can’t make it, don’t worry — I’ll record the session so you can watch it later. [Find the Zoom link in the Overview and Syllabus area in Brightspace].
To do:
1. Read the course website here on Medium. You will have started in Brightspace, which will direct you here. You may have already read some of the site prior to getting to this point 🙂. Please spend some time making sure that you understand the syllabus, schedule, and overall course requirements.
2. Introduce yourself to the rest of the class on the Discussion Board in Brightspace. I’ve included a prompt with questions you can answer, but please feel free to introduce yourself in the way that you’re most comfortable with.
3. Sign up for Medium, complete your profile, and submit your username to this sheet (see instructions and tutorials in the syllabus and Unit 1 Learning Module).
4. Sign up for Twitter (see instructions and tutorials in the syllabus and Unit 1 Learning Module). Post a few tweets that explain what you think of when you think of “History.”
To Read:
Daniel Alarcón, “More Was Lost in the War” (translation of Radio Ambulante podcast episode “Mas se perdió en la guerra”), 28 July 2020.
To Do:
5. Write your first Medium post (here’s how). Using Alarcón’s essay as a jumping-off point, think of your experiences during the pandemic as history. In your post, write about the following: what has changed for you during Covid? How will people in twenty years know your story? Who will know your story? What are you doing to preserve your history? Why does it matter?
Unit 2 (September 7–19)
The field of History and the process of Historical Thinking
Labor Day is September 6. I hope you have a nice day off!
Read the Unit Narrative here for context and specific information about the readings and work we’ll complete over these two weeks. Below is a basic overview of what we’ll be doing.
By the First Sunday:
To Read/Watch:
- Morgan, “History and Its Sources.”
- West African Senior School Certificate Examination digital textbook, “Historiography and Historical Skills.”
- Andrews and Burke, “What Does it Mean to Think Historically.”
- Stanford University (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSey4WALf8I - Int. interview with James Grossman, Executive Director of the AHA (YouTube), “What is ‘Historical Thinking.’”
To Do:
- Post tweets in response to the readings and video clips using the #CNM1103 hashtag. See Unit Narrative for the questions you need to address.
By the Second Sunday:
To Read:
- Review Andrews and Burke, “What Does it Mean to Think Historically.”
- Kevin Gannon, “Objective History is Impossible. And That’s a Fact.”
To Do:
- Write a Medium post that introduces us to the historical item you’ve thought of and that addresses the questions posed in the Unit Narrative. Remember that Medium allows for more modes of expression than just the written word.
- Complete the *Extra Mile* Hypothes.is annotations of Andrews and Burke, if you have time and would like to do so.
Unit 3 (September 20–26 [one week!!])
How to be an active, analytical reader
Read the Unit Narrative here for context and specific information about the readings and work we’ll complete this week. Below is a basic overview of what we’ll be doing.
Optional synchronous Zoom session with Brandon on Tuesday, September 21, from 4:00–5:00 pm MDT. Join us for a chat where you can ask questions and comment in real-time. This one might be particularly valuable if you need help getting started with Hypothes.is. If you can’t make it, don’t worry — I’ll record the session so you can watch it later.
To Read:
- Patrick Rael, “‘Predatory’ Reading”
- Conley, Frees, and McCall, The Foundations of Analytical Reading
- Either Lovell OR Levine, depending on last name (articles located in Brightspace)
To Do:
- Tweet examples of non-written forms of historical evidence to #CNM1103.
- Sign up for Hypothes.is and join our class group, if you haven’t already done so.
- Using Hypothes.is, add annotations to Rael and Conley, Frees, and McCall as you read each one. Comment on and ask questions about their methods for analytical reading.
- Read either Lovell OR Nash and annotate with Hypothes.is. In your annotations, indicate how you’re applying analytical reading skills to your article. Address the questions and points listed in the Unit Narrative.
All reading and activities for this Unit should be completed by Sunday, September 26, at 11:59 pm MDT.
Unit 4 (September 27-October 10)
Historical Thinking: evaluation of secondary sources
Read the Unit Narrative here for context and specific information about the readings and work we’ll complete over these two weeks. Below is a basic overview of what we’ll be doing.
By the First Sunday —
To Do:
- Create a Medium post that reflects on the work we did last week relative to analytical reading. Address the questions posed in the Unit Narrative⬆️.
To Read/Watch:
- Patrick Rael, “How to Read a Secondary Source.”
- The Medieval Historian (YouTube), “Primary and Secondary Sources.”
- The Open University (YouTube), “What is a Secondary Source.”
To Do:
- Post tweets in response to the readings and video clips using #CNM1103 hashtag. See Unit Narrative for the questions you need to address.
By the Second Sunday —
To Read and Annotate with Hypothes.is:
- Read EITHER Garner OR Morgan (your choice), and complete annotations that address the questions posed in the Unit Narrative for the article you chose. Links to the articles located in the Unit Narrative.
To Listen to and Tweet:
- Listen to the NPR Throughline Podcast episode, “Reframing History: Bananas,” (27 August 2020) and tweet your responses to the questions posed in the Unit Narrative using #CNM1103.
Unit 5 (October 11–31 [three weeks])
Historical Thinking: evaluation of primary sources
Optional, *Extra Mile* Zoom meeting on October 18 from 2:00–3:00 MDT. Dr. Cathleen Cahill, Associate Professor of History at Penn State, will join us to talk about her experiences working with primary source research on the history of women’s and indigenous peoples’ rights in the American West and how that work has been impacted by the conditions of the pandemic. The Zoom link is available in Brightspace (Unit 5 Module) and this session will be recorded and posted there, as well. Dr. Cahill formerly taught at UNM and is one of my mentors, colleagues, and friends.
Read the Unit Narrative here for context and specific information about the readings and work we’ll complete over these three weeks. Below is a basic overview of what we’ll be doing.
By the First Sunday —
To Do:
- Post a series of tweets to #CNM1103 that give some examples of the ways that source categorization is contextual (see Unit Narrative for more info).
To Read/Watch:
- U of G Library on YouTube, “What are Primary Sources?”
- Patrick Rael, “How to Read a Primary Source.”
- Dr. Cate Denial, “SOCC Handout for Reading Primary Sources.”
- On YouTube, “History Student Roundtable: Analyzing Primary Sources.”
To Do:
- Create a Medium post that addresses the questions posed in the Unit Narrative regarding how to contextualize and read primary sources critically.
By the Second Sunday —
To Read:
- This set of archival documents from the Governor Merritt C. Mechem collection at the New Mexico State Record Center and Archives. Read information in the Unit Narrative for context and analytical hints.
To Do:
- Create a Medium Post that addresses these four points relative to the documents provided above:
1. Choose one of the documents from the set and apply the PAPER acronym as best as you can. Doing so may require some additional research.
2. Write a narrative of the events and issues described in the documents. What story can you tell about the 24th Infantry? Officials in NM and Washington D.C? People in the Village of Columbus? How did you deal with the contradictory and opposing perspectives presented in the documents?
3. What limitations did you face as you attempted to create a narrative history from the documents provided? Which perspectives can you relate? Which are not included? How might you address the gaps in the record? What other resources would you like to (or did you) consult to provide further historical context?
4. What did this exercise help you to understand about archival research and the analysis of primary sources? What questions do you still have?
By the Third Sunday —
To Read:
- At least two of your classmates’ Medium posts on the 24th Infantry Documents
To Do:
- Add thoughtful and substantive responses to your classmates’ narratives about the 24th Infantry Documents. Response prompts available in the Unit Narrative
- Create another Medium post that addresses the questions listed at the end of the Unit Narrative
Unit 6 (November 1–14)
Historical Thinking: identification of a research topic and question
**During this Unit, we’ll begin work on the Final Research Project. Because our class doesn’t have a specific chronological or geographic focus, you can choose any historical topic from any timeframe or location for this project. The one caveat is that you’ll want to make sure that you choose a topic with plenty of available primary and secondary sources online.
Read the Unit Narrative here for context and specific information about the readings and work we’ll complete over these two weeks. Below is a basic overview of what we’ll be doing.
By the First Sunday —
To Read/Watch:
- Along with the Unit Narrative, be sure to read the instructions for the Final Research Project
- SHSU Libraries, “The History Research Process”
- KState Libraries, “How to Develop a Good Research Topic”
- GMU Writing Center, “How to Write a Research Question”
- Monash University Reading and Learning, “Three Steps to Writing a Good Research Question”
To Do:
- Post a series of tweets to #CNM1103 that address the questions posed in the Unit Narrative.
By the Second Sunday —
To Do:
- Write a draft of a research question for your chosen topic and share it via Twitter (#CNM1103). Respond with feedback to 2 or 3 classmates’ questions.
- Create a Medium post that: 1) states your historical research topic, 2) provides a few sentences that explain your interest in the topic, and 3) states your strong research question.
Unit 7 (November 15–21 [One Week])
What can you do with training in History?
Read the Unit Narrative here for context and specific information about the readings and work we’ll complete over these two weeks. Below is a basic overview of what we’ll be doing.
By the First Sunday —
To Read/Watch:
- Sarah Shurts, “The Landscape after College: Putting Your History Skills to Work”
- “History Major Testimonials,” AHA website
- Ursinus College, “What Can I do With a History Major?”
To Review:
To Do:
- Create a Medium Post that addresses one of the two prompts provided in the Unit Narrative regarding the ways that Historical Thinking skills support various academic and career paths.
- Share your completed bibliography for the final project as a post here on Medium
Thanksgiving Holiday (November 22–28)
Enjoy time with friends and loved ones!!
Unit 8 (November 29-December 10 [Friday])
Workshopping and project completion
Read the Unit Narrative here for context and specific information about the readings and work we’ll complete over these two weeks. Below is a basic overview of what we’ll be doing. Please note that this Unit ends on a Friday rather than a Sunday.
To Review:
To Do:
- Complete your first draft of the Research Project and share a link in this spreadsheet by Thursday, December 2, by 11:59 pm MST
Once many of you have submitted your links, I’ll begin to arrange the peer-review workshopping groups and I’ll provide a link to Google Docs via the spreadsheet. You’ll provide feedback to your peers via those Google Docs.
- Complete your feedback on classmates’ projects no later than Monday, December 6, by 11:59 pm MST.
- Submit your Medium post that includes a link to your revised project and response to the reflection questions by Friday, December 10, at 11:59 pm MST.
