Self-evaluation

Your 1-2 page self-evaluation is due Friday (10/29). Here are some guiding questions:

So far, what has been the most important thing you’ve learned in class?

What has been the most difficult historical trend or reading that you’ve encountered?

What important questions remain unanswered for you?

What classroom activities or assignments have been the most effective in helping you learn this semester? Why?

List of Potential Public History Venues

In this course, your final group presentation is a crucial part of your grade (20%). I am interested in how well you can design and execute a historical narrative via a mock museum exhibit. I will also grade you on your ability to work collaboratively. The assignment is designed to encourage you to explore avenues of historical research beyond the traditional monograph. I have provided a list of potential sites for you to visit below, but these are by no means the only places you may choose. Since we are blessed with a plethora of venues here in Southern California, you have a wide variety of places to act as your point of entry (see http://www.museumspot.com/cities/losangeles.htm for list of other potential sites). Please feel free to discuss your choice with me beforehand.

Whittier Museum

http://www.whittiermuseum.org/

Homestead Museum

http://www.homesteadmuseum.org/

El Pueblo (downtown)

http://www.lasangelitas.org/

Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association

http://www.whittierhistoric.org/history.html

Pio Pico Casa

http://www.piopico.org/

Other historic sites in Whittier

http://www.goby.com/historic-sites--near--whittier-ca

Paper Grading Rubric

Paper Grading Rubric

Writing is an art and sometimes difficult to grade. At the same time, writing is also a craft. This is particularly true in the field of history, where the distinction between "good" and "bad" history can be reasonably assessed. In this course, I use a grading rubric for your writing assignments. See chart below.

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Paper Grading Rubric:

Dimensions:	Grading Criteria: Excellent Paper A/A-	Grading Criteria: Good B+/B/B-	Grading Criteria: Fair C+/C/C-	Grading Criteria: Poor D+/D-/F
Thesis	Clear; stated up front; thoughtful; strong topic paragraph or sentence	Slightly unclear; no strong introduction	Unclear thesis and introduction	No thesis or introduction
Structure	Strong transitions between ideas; clear references to argument; clear arc (beginning/ middle/end)	Generally clear, but weak transitions; vague references to thesis	Somewhat coherent but weak transitions; vague or no reference to thesis	Lack of structure or coherence
Analysis	Demonstrates an understanding of the readings; connects evidence with argument	Reference to but not a clear understanding of readings; vague connection between evidence and argument	Very weak understanding of readings; little connection between evidence and argument	Unable to demonstrate analysis or understanding of sources
Evidence	Clearly highlighted; multiple examples; use of variable sources	Ambiguous use of sources; one-dimensional use	Unclear and/or little use of sources	Little or no use of evidence
Mechanics	No typos, fragments, or run-on sentences; no awkward constructions; no misuse of citations	Minor typos and grammatical errors; run-on sentences	Frequent typos, grammatical, and punctuation errors; frequent run-on sentences	Poorly written with frequent errors

WEEK 15: FINAL THOUGHTS

Week 14: Commemorations: Connecting with Early America

During our final week we will explore the historical issues around early American commemoration, memorials, and monuments.

Reading: Lepore, Epilogue

Points of Entry:

Colonial Williamsburg

http://www.history.org/

colonial reenactment clothing:

http://www.mason-dixonsewing.com/reenactor-clothing.html

Constitution Commemoration:

http://www.cms-ca.org/constitution_day.htm

King Phillip's War Commemoration:

http://www.unionparkpress.com/king-philips-war-commemoration-on-deer-island/

Questions for Discussion:

What are the differences between history and memory?

How does commemoration shape colonial history?

How are your final projects similar or different from the course readings?

Week 12-13: The American Revolution and the Formation of the U.S.

The next two weeks explore the American Revolution and "birth" of the U.S. in the context of the "age of revolutions." Our readings will cover the "founding fathers" and early national debates over the size and structure of the government.

Readings:

Pauline Mauer

David Waldstreicher

David Walker's Appeal

Points of Entry:

The Federalist Papers -

Federalist Papers

Anti-Federalist Papers -

Anti-Federalist Papers

Haitian Revolution -

The Haitian Revolution

Questions for discussion:

What happens to the American Revolution when it is incorporated into the "age of revolutions?" How is it related to other Atlantic Revolutions?

Why do you think the Haitian Revolution is important? What is its legacy?

What happens to the founding documents when we look at them from the perspective of the Atlantic World? How does that change our view of the transition from colonial to national identity?

What do you think is the most important influence on the transition from colonial to national identity?

Which group do you think has a larger historical legacy--the Federalists or Anti-Federalists? Why?

Week 11: The Seven Years War: the First Global War and the End of Colonial Identity

This week explores the foundational conflicts that would ultimately lead to the formation of the United States of America.

Readings:

Taylor (chaps. 18-)

Pauline Mauer, Sacred Scripture (intro. – chap. 2)

Points of Entry:

Seven Year's War

http://www.militaryheritage.com/7yrswar.htm

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/frin.htm

Benjamin Franklin:

http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/

http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/

Founding Documents:

http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp

http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/articles.html

Pontiac's War:

http://www.forttours.com/pages/pontiac.asp

Questions for discussion:

Do you think the Seven Years War was the first global war? Why?

How do the early founding documents relate to the Seven Years War?

What do you think are the most important causes and outcomes of the war? Why?