History 300: (Historical Inquiry) The Metropolis Arizona State University Spring, 2008 Tu & Thursday, 3:15-4:30 p.m. Farmer Ed. - Rm. 130 Dr. Wendy Plotkin Lattie Coor Bldg. – Room. 4547 Office Hours:  Tuesday & Thursday: 4:30-5:30 p.m. (and by appointment) wendy.plotkin@asu.edu

1. Goals

This course aims to improve your knowledge of how historians work, using the perspective of urban historians -- historians who study the city and the metropolis. Thus, we will be looking at historical methods and the main concepts and questions associated with urban history. In addition, you will have the opportunity to practice each of the methods, including research, evaluation, organization, analysis, writing, documentation, and presentation, so that you can understand what is involved in the production of historical scholarship.

II. Books & Readings (Buy them now -- the Bookstore will return extras by late February. Not having the book is not an excuse for not completing an assignment.)

     Abbott, Carl. Urban America in the Modern Age: 1920 to the Present, 2nd Edition. Arlington Heights, Ill.: Harlan Davidson, 1987, 2007.
          Important: Be sure to obtain the 2nd edition, not the first!

     Abbott, Carl. "Urbanization." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. Vol. 8. 3rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. 288-294. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Arizona State University AULC. 22 Jan. 2008 <http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=asuniv>. When you get to that page, type in "Abbott and urbanization." Click on the PDF version of the article, and print it out for yourself.

      Subscribe to Merriam Webster Collegiate.com at https://member.collegiate.com/subscribe.php ($14.95) Please print out the page that shows proof of *your* subscription, and submit to me by January 30.

      (Internet) Wendy Plotkin.“The Internet, the Electronic Media, and Historical Research,” at http://www.public.asu.edu/~wplotkin/History300/Resources.htm (Do not print out -- use on Internet)

III. Student Skills in E-Mail & Blackboard (MyASU)

At the start of the class, you must have a basic competency in using e-mail (including sending attachments). If you do not, please come to my office during office hours, and we will go over this. I assume that all students have read any e-mails I sent out -- and if the e-mail is not returned to me, I'll assume that you received it.

By the second week of the course, you will be expected to be able to use Blackboard (MyASU). After the second week, lack of understanding of how to use Blackboard (MyASU) will not be accepted as an excuse for failure to complete assignments and take exams.

IV. Written Skills

In all of your assignments, you will be expected to show an ability to communicate your ideas and information effectively in written English. Poor English skills will detract from the grade of an assignment. You should seek assistance from the ASU Writing Center if you need to upgrade your writing skills. To ensure that your writing is of the necessary quality, I recommend that you:

          o consult the Writing Skills section of the Blackboard;
          o consult the handouts I'll be distributing on occasion;
          o use the spell checker on your word processor;
          o consult Merriam Webster Collegiate.com

V. Plagiarism

All instances of plagiarism will be penalized severely, with a failing grade on the assignment, even if you are not aware that you have plagiarized. Thus, it is your responsibility to understand what plagiarism is. Please read “Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It” (Indiana University WWW Site, http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml). The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University,” Procedures for Pursuing Charges of Academic Dishonesty,” is at http://clas.asu.edu/facultystaff/classroomresources/dishonestyprocedures.htm

VI. Academic Etiquette

Please arrive on time, and do not depart for another class early, as this is disruptive to your classmates and the instructor. Consistent with professional practice, the proper manner to address a faculty member who is an Assistant, Associate, or full professor is with the title “Dr.” or “Professor.” If students prefer to be addressed as “Mr.”, “Ms”, or other title, they should inform the instructor, who will otherwise address them by their first names. Please do not engage in private conversations in class, nor engage in other activities such as reading the newspaper. If I see a student who is engaged in any activities other than class ones, I will ask them to leave.

VII. Approach and Methods (Including Absence Policy)

We will use lectures, discussion, reading, writing, and presentations in this class, which means that your attendance is important.

Because much of the information will be offered in class, attendance is essential. There are no excused absences, other than for religious holidays accepted by the university (see http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/studentlife/religiousadvisors/religious_holidays.htm ). I will not accept medical and other excuses for absences, although if you have an injury severe enough to put you in the hospital overnight, please contact me. If you know in advance that you are going to be absent, I would welcome an e-mail so I will know that you will not be in class.

Please do not e-mail me to ask me what you missed, if you do miss class.   I will attempt to upload electronic copies of assignments and handouts distributed in class, under "Assignments" and "Handouts," respectively, on the Blackboard, by midnight of the day of class in which they are distributed. You are responsible for checking both of these if you miss class -- missing class is not an excuse for not knowing about an assignment. Also, please make arrangements in advance with another person in class to find out about the content of what you missed in class.

VIII. Assignments

         Assignments will be made in class, usually for completion by the following class or within one week. I know that you are busy, so that I will try to ensure that no assignment takes more than two hours. Thus, please schedule at least two hours each week for reading or completing assignments outside of class.

          A. Format for Written Work

            All assignments must be submitted using Word or an electronic word processor acceptable to the instructor. All should include your name, the date, and the number and title of the assignment, and have page numbers.

         B. Turning in Written Work (Both on Blackboard and in class)

            Please upload assignments by going to "Assignments" on the Blackboard, and clicking on the appropriate link for that assignment. Do not use the Digital Dropbox unless asked to. In addition, please bring a print copy of the assignment to class.     Late work will be penalized, unless a student is able to offer a good reason for not being able to complete it on time.

IX. Grades

X. Criteria for Grading            
           
         Assignments and presentations will be graded based on quality of content, writing, and/or presentation.

           Quality of Content

           o How well does the student understand and comply with the tasks required in the assignment? Has the student done the reading?
           o What is the level of effort revealed by the work? An engaged effort to learn as much as possible, or a weak effort to comply minimally?
           o Is the author accurate in factual information, and logical in analyses?

           Quality of Writing          

           o Comprehensibility -- is it easy to understand the author's arguments and the presentation of evidence? Is the material organized in a logical fashion?
           o Style -- is the language simple enough to read easily but sophisticated enough to present complex thoughts?
           o Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization-- are there grammatical, spelling, punctuation and capitalization errors?
           o Are the citations correctly formatted?

          I do not give grades because a student has worked hard or "needs" a particular grade or is willing to do extra credit. The grade will be based on the quality of the assigned work, and no extra credit will be offered.

XI. Schedule