Junior History Tutorial: The Historian as Detective
CSS 340
Spring 2027
| Section:
01
02
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Whodunnit? In many ways, the craft of history is much like the art of detection. Historians arrive on the scene after the "crime" was committed. They look for traces, or clues, left behind. They try not to contaminate the crime scene. They pore over the evidence. They consider both motive and opportunity. They take note of silences. They keep an open mind. They seek the truth. And, as it happens, the professional historian and the professional detective -- in fact as well as fiction -- emerged roughly around the same time. They are like twins separated at birth. Perhaps, if the two are reacquainted, they will learn something useful about each other, and themselves. This course will draw upon classic (and not-so-classic) works of historical reflection, crime detection, and detective fiction to better understand the importance of forensics and method in the discipline of history, the role of history in the art of detection, and how both history and detection shape the emergence of the nation. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (College of Social Studies) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 - 3rd Quarter |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
:
Sara Maza, THINKING ABOUT HISTORY
Umberto Eco, THE NAME OF THE ROSE
Wilkie Collins, THE MOONSTONE
Caroline Reitz, DETECTING THE NATION
Pinch, FROM MUTINY TO REVOLT
Agatha Christie, MURDER IN THE VICARAGE
¿and selections from the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, Carlo Ginzburg, R. G. Collingwood, Peter Novick, Luis White, Carl Becker, Fara Dabhoiwala, Jill Lepore, Alana Newhouse, and others, to be made available on the course moodle.
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Examinations and Assignments:
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1) Participation, including two questions posted to Moodle each week: 20%
2) Two 5-page response papers (20% each): 40%
3) A case study prospectus (5¿7 pp.): 40%
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
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Course only open to CSS Juniors |
| Instructor(s): Pinch,William Times: .....F. 02:00PM-04:00PM; Location: TBA |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 12 | Permission of instructor will be granted during the drop/add period. Students must submit either a ranked or unranked drop/add request for this course. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
| SECTION 02 - 4th Quarter |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Same as Section 01 Above |
| Examinations and Assignments: Same as Section 01 Above |
| Additional Requirements and/or Comments: Same as Section 01 Above |
| Instructor(s): Pinch,William Times: .....F. 02:00PM-04:00PM; Location: TBA |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 12 | Permission of instructor will be granted during the drop/add period. Students must submit either a ranked or unranked drop/add request for this course. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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