Syllabus—The History of History

an introduction to historical research graduate seminar @ suny brockport, fall 2025.Emma Willard, The Temple of Time, 1846.Instructor info

Dr. Michael J. Kramer, Department of History, SUNY Brockport, mkramer@brockport.edu.

Who is your instructor?

Michael J. Kramer specializes in modern US cultural and intellectual history, transnational history, public history, digital humanities, and cultural criticism. He is an associate professor of history at the State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport, the author of The Republic of Rock: Music and Citizenship in the Sixties Counterculture (Oxford University Press, 2013), and the director of the Berkeley Folk Music Festival Project. He is currently working on a history of the 1976 United States bicentennial celebration and a study of folk music, technology, and cultural democracy in the United States. He edits The Carryall, an online journal of US cultural and intellectual history and maintains a blog of cultural criticism, Culture Rover. His website, with additional information about publications, projects, courses, talks, and more can be found at michaeljkramer.net.

What are we up to?

History, at first, seems like a simple proposition. It’s what happened. Right away, however, the questions get thornier. Happened to whom? Happened where? Who is telling the story? From where are their facts coming? How are they putting those facts together? What questions or perspectives are they bringing to their telling of the past? Why should we care? In this course, we delve into these more difficult issues to deepen our collective understanding of historical knowledge and the methods that can be used to pursue it. We cannot cover everything in this semester-long history of history, but we can start to open the topic for scrutiny. We can begin to frame and define our understanding of history and historical practice. To do so, we will focus on two rich, complex books about history and historical methodology. Students will also begin to refine their own research skills as practitioners of historical inquiry through the development of a prospectus for their capstone project in the SUNY Brockport Masters of History graduate program.

Things you are expected to do this term

By taking this course you are agreeing to do the following to the best of your abilities:

Complete the readings.Come to class prepared.Participate in discussions in class through both comments and listening to and responding to others.Complete the assignments.Be respectful of yourself, your instructor, and your fellow students.This is a hybrid synchronous course. If you are attending online, please find a quiet place with a good internet connection to join the course; keep your camera on and use a headset if possible.Required booksMaza, Sarah C. Thinking about History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017.Novick, Peter. That Noble Dream: The “Objectivity Question” and the American Historical Profession. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988.ScheduleUNIT I: “History never repeats itself, but it does rhyme”August 25

Week 01: Introductions—What Is History, Anyway?

Reading:Maza, IntroductionThomas Andrews and Flannery Burke. “What Does It Mean to Think Historically?,” Perspectives on History, January 2007Earls, Averill, Elizabeth Garner Masarik, Sarah Handley-Cousins, and Marissa C. Rhodes. “What about Continuity?” Perspectives on History, Spring 2024September 01

Week 02: No Class—Labor Day

Assignment:Student IntroductionSeptember 08

Week 03: The History of Whom? The History of Where—Capstone Prospectus Development 01: Imagining

Reading: Maza, Introduction, Chapters 1-2Assignments:What Is History? Assignment 01Capstone Prospectus Development 01: ImaginingSeptember 15

Week 04: How Is History Produced?—Research Skills 01

Reading: Maza, Chapter 4Assignments:What Is History? Assignment 02September 22

Week 05: Causes or Meanings—Research Skills 02

Reading: Maza, Chapter 5Assignments:What Is History? Assignment 03September 29

Week 06: Facts or Fictions—Capstone Prospectus Development 02: Sketching

Reading: Maza, Chapter 6, ConclusionAssignments:What Is History? Assignment 04Capstone Prospectus Development 02: SketchingUNIT II: “Nailing jelly to the wall”October 06

Week 07: Objectivity enthroned

Reading: Novick, Preface-Part 1October 13

Week 08: No Class—Fall Break—Capstone Prospectus Development 03: First Draft

Assignment (due Friday October 17)Capstone Prospectus Development 03: First DraftOctober 20

Week 09: Objectivity besieged—Research Skills 03

Reading: Novick, Part 2Assignments:What Is History? Assignment 05October 27

Week 10: Objectivity reconstructed — Research Skills 04

Reading: Novick, Part 3Assignments:What Is History? Assignment 06November 03

Week 11: Objectivity in crisis—Capstone Prospectus Development 04: Second Draft

Reading: Novick, Part 4Assignments:Capstone Prospectus Development 04: Second DraftWhat Is History? Assignment 07UNIT III: Prospecting for historyNovember 10

Week 12: Capstone Prospectus Workshop 01

Assignments:Capstone Prospectus Development 05: Presentation OutlineNovember 17

Week 13: Capstone Prospectus Workshop 02

November 24

Week 14: No Class—Thanksgiving Break

December 01

Week 15: Final Reflections, Future Directions

December 15

Final Assignments

Capstone ProspectusWhat Is History? Assignment Compilation and Final ReflectionsAssignments and evaluations

All assignments due by Saturday, midnight except where noted.

Student Introduction = 5%What Is History? Assignments and Seminar Participation = 7 x 5% = 35%Capstone Prospectus Development = 5 x 5% = 25%01: Imagining 02: Sketching03: First Draft04: Second Draft05: Presentation OutlineCapstone Prospectus = 25%What Is History? Assignment Compilation Into Final Reflections = 10%Rubric

Yes! = A-level work.

on-time submission of assignmentsfor class meetings, regular attendance and timely preparation overall, plus insightful, constructive, respectful, and regular participation in class discussionsa thorough understanding of required course materials as expressed in seminar meeting participation
For writing assignments:accurate, clear, well-written responses to prompts when relevanta credible, persuasive argument of originalityargument persuasively supported by relevant, accurate, and clearly explicated evidencepersuasive integration of argument and evidence in an insightful overall analysisexcellent organization: introduction, topic sentences, coherent paragraphs, use of evidence, contextualization, analysis, smooth transitions, conclusiongraceful, clear, logical prose style with effective word choice, avoidance of clichés, and free of spelling and grammatical errorscorrect page formatting when relevant, with regular margins, double spaced, and 12-point fontaccurate formatting of footnotes and, when required, bibliography with required citation and documentation using Chicago Manual of Style guidelines

Getting Closer = B-level work, It is good, but with minor problems in one or more areas that need improvement.

Needs Work = C-level work is acceptable, but with major problems in several areas or a major problem in one area.

Needs A Lot of Work = D-level work. It shows major problems in multiple areas, including missing or late assignments, missed class meetings, and other shortcomings.

Nope = E-level work is unacceptable. It fails to meet basic course requirements and/or standards of academic integrity/honesty.

Citation and style guide: Using Chicago Manual of Style

Historians generally use Chicago Manual of Style for citation, bibliography, and formatting. Please familiarize yourself with Chicago Manual of Style.

There is a nice overview of citation at the Chicago Manual of Style websiteFor additional, helpful guidelines, visit the Drake Memorial Library’s Chicago Manual of Style pageYou can always go right to the source: the Chicago Manual of Style is available for reference at the Drake Memorial Library Reserve DeskWriting consultation

Writing Tutoring is available through the Academic Success Center. It will help at any stage of writing. Be sure to show your tutor the assignment prompt and syllabus guidelines to help them help you.

Research consultation

The librarians at Drake Memorial Library are an incredible resource. You can consult with them remotely or in person. To schedule a meeting, go to the front desk at Drake Library or visit the library website’s Consultation page.

Attendance policy

You will certainly do better with evaluation in the course, learn more, and get more out of the class the more you attend meetings, participate in discussions, complete readings, and finish assignments. That said, lives get complicated. Therefore, you may miss up to three class meetings, with or without a justified reason, with no penalty. You do not need a note from a doctor, but feel free to notify the instructor of your absence. If you are ill, please stay home and take precautions if you have any covid or flu symptoms. Moreover, masks are welcome in class if you are still recovering from illness or feel sick. After three absences, subsequent absences will result in reduction of final course grade at the discretion of the instructor. Please note: the instructor does not offer extra credit in this course.

Disabilities and accommodations

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Brockport Faculty Senate legislation, students with documented disabilities may be entitled to specific accommodations. SUNY Brockport is committed to fostering an optimal learning environment by applying current principles and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion. If you are a student with a disability and want to utilize academic accommodations, you must register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to obtain an official accommodation letter which must be submitted to faculty for accommodation implementation. If you think you have a disability, you may want to meet with SAS to learn about related resources. You can find out more about Student Accessibility Services or by contacting SAS via the email address sasoffice@brockport.edu or phone number (585) 395-5409. Students, faculty, staff, and SAS work together to create an inclusive learning environment. Feel free to contact the instructor with any questions.

Discrimination and harassment policies

Sex and Gender discrimination, including sexual harassment, are prohibited in educational programs and activities, including classes. Title IX legislation and College policy require the College to provide sex and gender equity in all areas of campus life. If you or someone you know has experienced sex or gender discrimination (including gender identity or non-conformity), discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or pregnancy, sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or stalking, we encourage you to seek assistance and to report the incident through these resources. Confidential assistance is available on campus at Hazen Center for Integrated Care. Another resource is RESTORE. Note that by law faculty are mandatory reporters and cannot maintain confidentiality under Title IX; they will need to share information with the Title IX & College Compliance Officer.

Statement of equity and open communication

We recognize that each class we teach is composed of diverse populations and are aware of and attentive to inequities of experience based on social identities including but not limited to race, class, assigned gender, gender identity, sexuality, geographical background, language background, religion, disability, age, and nationality. This classroom operates on a model of equity and partnership, in which we expect and appreciate diverse perspectives and ideas and encourage spirited but respectful debate and dialogue. If anyone is experiencing exclusion, intentional or unintentional aggression, silencing, or any other form of oppression, please communicate with me and we will work with each other and with SUNY Brockport resources to address these serious problems.

Disruptive student behaviors

Please see SUNY Brockport’s procedures for dealing with students who are disruptive in class.

Emergency alert system

In case of emergency, the Emergency Alert System at The College at Brockport will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the College’s Emergency Information website.