HISTORY 2501

LATIN AMERICAN RESEARCH

Spring Term 1999

Instructor: Reid Andrews

Office: 3P386 Forbes Quad Office Hours: T 1:00-2:30, or by appointment

Phones: 648-7452, 247-4604 E-mail: reid1+@pitt.edu

The goal of this course is to design and carry out a research project and write a paper, based on primary sources, on some aspect of Latin American history. In addition to researching and writing their own papers, students are expected to participate actively in reading, discussing, critiquing and editing the work of their colleagues.

Students in the course will prepare three written assignments, each of which will be due in the History Department offices at 12:00 noon on the Friday preceding the class meeting at which it will be discussed. Students will hand in sufficient copies of each assignment to provide every student and the instructor with a copy; and all students are expected to read those papers carefully and come to class prepared to discuss them.

The first paper, due on January 29 or February 5, will be a short (2-3 pages) project proposal, indicating the topic you plan to work on, the central questions you will address, and the sources you will use. The second paper, due on March 12, 19, or 26, will be a combination of progress report and, to the degree possible, preliminary draft of the final paper. The third assignment, due on April 9, 16, or 23, will be the final research paper.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet these deadlines and to complete their work by the end of the term. Final grades will be based 67 percent on the three papers and 33 percent on class participation.

Schedule of Meetings

January 11 -- Introduction

January 18 -- NO CLASS: Martin Luther King Day

January 25 -- Research and Writing

Reading: Jacques Barzun and Henry Graff, The Modern Researcher

February 1 -- Discussion of PAPER I (due January 29)

February 8 -- Discussion of PAPER I (due February 5)

February 15 -- Writing

Reading: Richard Lanham, Revising Prose, 1-80.

February 22 -- Oral progress reports

March 1 -- Oral progress reports

March 8 -- NO CLASS: Spring Vacation

March 15 -- Discussion of PAPER II (due March 12)

March 22 -- Discussion of PAPER II (due March 19)

March 29 -- Discussion of PAPER II (due March 26)

April 12 -- Discussion of PAPER III (due April 9)

April 19 -- Discussion of PAPER III (due April 16)

April 26 -- Discussion of PAPER III (due April 23)

SOME ADDITIONAL TEXTS ON RESEARCH AND WRITING

I. On Writing

Howard S. Becker, Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article (Chicago, 1986).

Chicago Editorial Staff, The Chicago Manual of Style (14th ed., Chicago, 1993).

Peter Elbow, Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process (Chicago, 1981).

Sanford Kaye, Writing under Pressure: The Quick Writing Process (Chicago, 1988).

Richard Rhodes, How to Write: Advice and Reflections (New York, 1995).

William Strunk and E.B. White, The Elements of Style (3rd ed., New York, 1979).

Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (6th ed., Chicago, 1996).

Joseph M. Williams, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace (4th ed., New York, 1994).

II. On Research

David Beasley, How to Use a Research Library (Chicago, 1988).

Howard S. Becker, Tricks of the Trade: How to Think about Your Research While You're Doing It (Chicago, 1998).

Marc Bloch The Historian's Craft (New York, 1953).

Wayne C. Booth et al., The Craft of Research (Chicago, 1995).

Thomas Mann, A Guide to Library Research Methods (Chicago, 1987).