01:506:495, Honors Program in History

Spring Semester 2009

Professor James Masschaele
Van Dyck Hall 111B and 109
932-7143 and 932-8250
massch@rci.rutgers.edu

One section of the seminar will meet on Fridays from 11:30-12:50 and a second section will meet on Fridays from 1:10-2:30. All meetings will be held in Van Dyck 301 unless otherwise notified.

Seminar Description: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it In the spring semester, the focus of the seminar will shift from emphasizing basic research strategies and information gathering to emphasizing the writing and presentation of your research results. Early in the semester we will work on developing and critiquing drafts of individual chapters, leading to the production of a first draft of your entire thesis. In the middle of the semester, you will be working on your own to resolve any outstanding problems on your first draft and revise it in light of feedback you receive from your advisor. Later in the semester, we will work mainly on preparations for your public presentation at the Honors Conference in Winants Hall on Friday, May 1. Please note that your advisor may ask you to work with different deadlines. If your advisor’s deadlines are earlier, you need to adhere to them. You will still be required, though, to submit work in the seminar according to the schedule outlined below.

HONORS SEMINAR CLASSES AND ASSIGNMENTS

SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2008

Jan. 23 Oral reports on status of your first draft; organizational work for the semester; second readers.

Jan. 30 Discussion of a single draft chapter submitted electronically to a reading partner and to me.

Feb. 6 Discussion of a second draft chapter submitted electronically to a reading partner and to me.

Feb. 13 No class meeting.

Feb. 20 Complete first draft is due. One copy to your advisor, one copy to me.

Feb. 27 Discussion of footnotes, bibliographies, and the formal apparatus of a thesis. Discussion of the oral exam.

March 6 No class meeting.

March 13 No class meeting.

March 20 SPRING BREAK (but not for you).

March 27. Revised draft due. One copy to your advisor, one to your second reader, and one to me. THIS IS THE VERSION OF YOUR THESIS THAT YOU WILL DEFEND. Work out a suitable time for your oral defense if you have not already done so.

April 1- April 10 ORAL DEFENSES MUST BE HELD.

April 3 No class meeting.

April 10 Organizing session for mock presentations.

April 17 FINAL BOUND COPIES OF THESIS DUE. One bound copy to your advisor, one bound copy to me. You also need to provide me with an electronic copy. Mock presentations to prepare for History Honors Conference.

April 24 Mock presentations to prepare for History Honors Conference.

May 1 FINAL HONORS CONFERENCE AT WINANTS HALL. Students, faculty, friends, and family members are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Seminar participants should come for most of the day and must be there for their own paper and the awards ceremony at 3:30.