Maryland History from Colonial Times to the Present

Syllabus

Schedule:

The objective of this course is to examine the history of Maryland from its founding in 1634 to the near present. All texts for the course including  Robert J. Brugger, Maryland: A Middle Temperament, 1634-1980 (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1988),  also available in paperback,  are provided on loan to students  in pdf format (for which an Adobe Acrobat Viewer is requred).  CDs containing the texts will be distributed the first night of class.  They will be  supplemented with pamphlets, articles, and  document packets available on the web through the teaching portal: http://www.teachersmd.net.  Students are expected to complete the assigned reading before class.  All students are expected to submit one book report according to the schedule in the syllabus,  and to complete a take home final exam of 10 identifications, 10 short answers, and an essay (from a choice of three).   The final will be distributed at the last class and due back one week later as an email attachment to the instructor.   Students should purchase in print copies of all copyrighted texts ( and assume responsibility for personal use only of any electronic texts accessed by the password supplied by the instructor, or on CD loaned for the semester).  Students are expected to have email accounts or access to email accounts and web access. Plagiarism in book reports and exams will be grounds for an automatic 'F.'   Definitions of what constitutes plagiarism abound on the web (e.g. http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/definition.html).

INSTRUCTIONS:
Students are required to read and analyze in advance the assigned text, pamphlets,  articles, and to explore topics in document packets available on the World Wide Web at http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/educ/html/sc2221.html.
  All reading should be completed according to the schedule and in advance of class discussion. Each student will be expected to lead one class discussion of a document packet.  That will entail reviewing in advance of class a web-based packet assigned by the instructor, and leading the class through a discussion of what is to be learned from the material as it relates to the assigned reading.

Book reports/reviews should be modeled on reviews in prominent historical journals, examples of which will be found on the web at JSTOR (available via library computers).  The report/review should consist of a critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the book (including what others have written about it)  as well as an indication of what  was learned about Maryland and the study of Maryland history from reading it. Reports should be approximately 5-7 typed pages and are to be submitted to the instructor as an email attachment as noted on the schedule.

Students are encouraged to read other reviews and comments upon the book chosen for a book review, but it is the responsibility of the student (not the typist) to make certain that all ideas not his or her own are accurately and adequately documented. Failure to acknowledge such intellectual debts results in the serious offense of plagiarism. When in doubt, document (Norris 1991). For documentation guidelines see the parenthetical citations outlined in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 5th edition, 1987, pp. 111-119 (for parenthetical citations), and pp. 274-277 (for how to list sources at the end of a review). Note that versions of Turabian are available on the web. Every quotation, paraphrase, and combination should be acknowledged in a parenthetical citation within the text that gives the author's last name, date of publication of the book or article, and the page reference(s). All quotes over three lines should be indented and set apart from your text. All sources cited in parentheses should be listed in a "Works Cited" list at the end of the review. Reviews will be graded on how well the student summarizes and criticizes the book in light of the reading and your explanation of why you chose the book in the first place. Any student may submit a book review for up to 10 points additional credit. The extra credit review will be due the last class.

This course is intended in part to be an introduction to the resources and tools for the study of history available on the internet, the intranet,  and the World Wide Web. Students are advised that updating and adding to  the hyperlinks in the syllabus and further clarification of the syllabus may take place throughout the semester.  At all times, the internet web-based version of the course summary, syllabus, roster, and schedule should be considered as governing the requirements of the course and should be referred to if any questions should arise.  If anything is unclear or additional information is need, don't hesitate to contact the instructor in class or by email.

GRADES:
Students will be graded according to the following:

Midterm book report: (up to 20 points)

Final exam: (take home due distributed last class, due one week later; 10 identifications, 10 short answers, answer 1 of three essay questions-up to 50 points)

Class participation/discussion leader assignments (up to 30 points)

Additional Book Review (graduate students and extra credit): 10 points

All grading will be done on a scale of 1-100 with A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69, and F=0-59. Ten points will be subtracted for every day an assignment is late. Plagiarism is grounds for an automatic 'F.'

©Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse (instructor)

Office Hours by appointment
Phone: (o) 410-260-6401; (h) 410-467-6137

Internet Address: http://www.teachersmd.net
Email Address: edp@mdsa.net

Last update: January 27, 2004