HI 460 Cross-Cultural Encounters

This is the inaugural semester of the History capstone at Worcester State. Welcome, pioneers! A capstone course is designed to help you synthesize and integrate learning in the major and your college education, demonstrate mastery of historical thinking and the student learning outcomes of the history major; and facilitate your transition from WSU to your chosen post-graduate plans. It is meant to be the culminating learning experience of your history degree. We’ve designed it to be a senior-level research seminar focused on a deep, narrow topic in which you produce

• a semester-long inquiry resulting in a substantive original research paper adhering to the scholarly conventions of the discipline of history
• a polished portfolio of your work in the History major as an example of professional self-presentation

This class will lead students through the process of formulating an effective research question, developing a research strategy, understanding and interpreting primary sources, situating oneself within existing historical scholarship, and creating a polished research paper. Students will develop an electronic portfolio of their work in the History major and present themselves professionally as they prepare for their chosen post-graduate pursuits.

My version of HI 460 for Fall 2013 will include use of digital resources for historical research in the mid-20th century, including online archives and databases, online texts, film, media and popular culture. Possible research topics will emerge from our focused study of the decade of the United States in the 1950s and the sources, themes, and historical scholarship of that era.

The course will meet MW 12:30 – 1:45 in Sullivan 318. Bringing your laptop each day is highly recommended. If you have questions or concerns before our first meeting on Wednesday, Sept 4th, please feel free to contact me at thangen (at) worcester.edu.