Sophomore Seminar: The History of Middletown - A Research Seminar
HIST 171
Fall 2007 not offered
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"An American town, large enough to contain a fairly complete representation of the different classes and types of people yet not so large that individualities are submerged in the general mass, or the line between the classes blurred and made indistinct, is the real epitome of American life. If a modern writer wishes to win an imperishable name as a historian, he has only to write an exhaustive monograph of such a town," the socialist intellectual Randolph Bourne declared in 1913. Middletown, Connecticut, is exactly that sort of town and has been throughout its 350-year-long history. Yet, although several brief histories of Middletown has been written, there is no in-depth account. In this seminar we all, collectively, help create such a history. Rather than works by others, as in the case in most courses, each student will work like a historian, developing a specific topic, working in archives, discussing their findings with each other, writing a draft essay, reading and discussing each other's drafts, and then revising and submitting the final project. In the process students will not only contribute to a greater understanding of Middletown's history but develop their research ability and confidence as writers. |
Essential Capabilities:
None |
Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: None |
Major Readings:
Peter Hall, MIDDLETOWN: STREETS, COMMERCE, AND PEOPLES, 1650-1981 Elizabeth Warner, A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF MIDDLETOWN Essays written by Wesleyan students in the past. Primary documents.
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Examinations and Assignments: Plan, research, and write a major research essay (20-25 pages). |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments: The seminar is designed for sophomores who are considering History as their major. |
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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