How to Read and Write History: Models from the Past and Present
HIST 195
Fall 2025
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01
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This an introduction to history course meant as both a major gateway and a general pre-major introduction to the practice of making history. It will introduce students to some of the different ways that people have represented the past and history around the world in both amateur, artistic, and professional historical modes. Ancient, medieval, modern, and postmodern examples will be discussed and we'll reach beyond non-fictional writing to fictional models, artistic renditions, and visual histories on buildings, sculpture, art, and in film and television. Central to the course's aims will be helping students to practice styles of history writing themselves in a writing-intensive way that includes both analysing history texts and practicing writing in different styles and with different aims in order to develop each student's own latent powers as a historian, working to make past and present worlds. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (History Minor)(History) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
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Reader of Historical Models and Examples from various periods and traditions; parts of The David Story, tr. Robert Alter; The Histories by Herodotus; John Demos, The Unredeemed Captive; Keith Hopkins, A World Full of Gods; Jill Lepore, The Secret History of Wonder Woman, and selections by Nancy Partner, Peter Brown, Ethan Kleinberg and others.
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Examinations and Assignments:
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Weekly journal exercises (critical and creative); five 2-page response papers; 2 historical essays or exemplifications. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
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Attendance and participation in discussions is expected and graded. |
| Instructor(s): Shaw,Gary Times: ...W.F. 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 18 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 18 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 9 | FR: 9 |
| 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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