Source Critique (due date varies): Choose two sources from the assigned readings (primary or secondary).  Sign up for these two sources during the lecture.  For each source, write a critique, following guidelines presented in Rampolla's Pocket Guide to Writing in History.   Present your critique orally in class on the due date for that source; then revise your critique and post it on the online discussion website, for further discussion online. 

Historiographic Essay (1,000 words; draft due Friday, Feb 1, 5:00 pm).  Choose an entry in the Encyclopedia of Baltic History; sign up for the entry in class.  Write a historiographic essay to complement the entry, as follows (see also Rampolla's Guide, pages 25-38 and 120-133): 

1. Summarize the entry and sources used;
2. Describe useful primary and secondary sources that have appeared after the entry was written.  These should include books, journal articles and websites. 
3. Look at the big picture:  Can you identify new trends, or gaps in the literature? 
4. Include a bibliography of the sources discussed in your essay. 
5. Post your essay on the online discussion website, for further discussion online. 
6. After receiving comments, revise the essay and hand in the new version by the last day of class (March 14).  Note that you should upload the final draft to a different website, the "Collect it" dropbox. 

Research Proposal (due Friday, Feb 15, 5:00 pm).  Formulate a research question and develop a research plan for answering that question.  (See Rampolla's Guide, Chapter 5).  It's recommended that you derive your proposal from reading you've done for your historiographical essay, but other topics are welcome, too.  Post your proposal on the online discussion website. 

Then read a classmate's proposal, as assigned in class.  Post a peer review of that proposal by Friday, Feb 22. 

Research Essay (draft due Friday, Feb 29, 5:00 pm).  Expand your proposal to an essay.  Your essay should present a thesis and an argument supported by evidence from primary sources.  You should also refer to secondary sources as appropriate.  Post your draft to the online discussion website. 

Then read a classmate's proposal, as assigned in class.  Post a peer review of that proposal by Friday, March 7. 

Revise your essay as needed, and hand in the new version by the last day of class (March 14).  Note that you should upload the final draft to a different website, the "Collect it" dropbox. 

 Last Updated: 
01/09/2008