HIST 322 Historical Methods
This course introduces the students to the fundamental skills of historical research. Students work with primary and secondary source materials in the archives, online, and in print. They learn to distinguish primary from secondary sources, to understand the problems that various sources pose to interpretation, and to identify the types of questions particular sources can answer. They learn to read these sources critically and to think historically. Students learn the identifying characteristics of monographs and are introduced to historiography. They learn how to quote properly, to summarize, and to annotate sources. Finally, they apply their skills in both a series of short writing assignments, including review essays, interpretive source critiques, précis, and a substantial research paper based on primary and secondary sources. From the skills acquired in this course, the student should have the methodological foundation needed to conduct research in any course that involves historical analysis. We recommend that this course be taken a student's second year, or in the first semester at Hartwick for transfer students.
Prerequisite
Declared History Major or Minor