HIS 397: Seminar in Comparative History
Fall 2023, MW 3:30-4:45 in DHC 210
Professor Jonathan Skaff
E-mail: jkskaf@ship.edu; Office Tel: 717-477-1907 (MOW 246 during office hours)
Website: http://webspace.ship.edu/jkskaf/
Office Hours in Mowrey 246: MW 2:00-3:00, T 1:00-1:50, Th 1:15-3:15, and by appointment.
Seminar in Comparative History is the capstone class for History B.A. majors. The purpose of this class is to refine the study skills and knowledge of history, historiography, and historical methods that majors have developed during their college career. Since the capstone has a seminar format, there will not be any lectures. Instead, students will learn by discussing reading assignments and their own writing with classmates and the professor. THE CLASS WILL ONLY BE AS GOOD AS THE STUDENTS. YOU MUST CAREFULLY READ ALL ASSIGNED BOOKS AND ARTICLES. YOU ALSO MUST COME TO CLASS PREPARED TO DISCUSS READINGS AND YOUR RESEARCH.
The theme of the course is the nature and feasibility of comparative and global history. To provide background, we will read theoretical and historiographical articles and a book that discuss different approaches to the study of comparative and global history. Using this background, we will read and critique books that are practical attempts to use the comparative method to write global histories. In class discussions and writing assignments, you will be expected to analyze and critique characteristics of these books such as the thesis, methodology, sources, and intended audience. This process will help you to understand different approaches to the practice of history. The class will be “capped off” with your own attempt to research and write a comparative history paper.
The class also will have a career development component. To prepare for your imminent entry into the real world, you will work on developing a resume, cover letter, job search, and interview skills. For those planning to go to graduate school, you have the option of carrying out a graduate program search and writing a statement of purpose in place of the cover letter.
1. Complete assigned readings and participate in class discussion (see Policy #2 below, 20%).
2. Lead two 45-minute class discussions on reading assignments (see Part IV below, 10%).
3. Resume, Cover Letter, and Mock Interview (5%).
4. Write a Historiographical Paper on Comparative and Global History (10%).
5. Write 2 book reviews (20%).
6. Write a research proposal (2.5%), a research update (2.5%), and final paper on a comparative topic (25%).
7. Final oral presentation on your research (5%).
1. Health and safety: The professor had a bad experience with COVID-19 in 2021 and is wary of reinfection.
· You are strongly encouraged to receive the most recent COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of yourself and the community.
· Students suffering from cold and flu symptoms are strongly encouraged to refrain from attending class until receiving a negative COVID-19 test. Free testing is available at Etter Health Center.
2. Attendance is mandatory. The class participation grade will be based on attendance and contributions to discussions. You will receive a grade for each class session. Grades will be awarded according to the following standards:
90-100: Student demonstrates mastery of readings by making thoughtful and insightful comments.
80-89: Student shows that he/she has completed reading assignments.
70-79: Student participates in discussion without giving evidence of having completed the reading.
65: Student attends class without speaking.
0: Student has an unexcused absence, sleeps in class, or uses unauthorized electronic device.
3. Absences will be excused if you can document a serious illness, COVID-19 infection, family emergency, varsity athletic event, military duty or religious observance. Only students with documented excuses can make up in-class assignments. A student with a medical condition that prevents attendance or a COVID-19 infection must submit a note from Etter Health Center or a doctor. For a family emergency, I require a phone call from a parent or guardian, or a death notice. Athletes should provide a memo from the head coach with the team schedule. If you have military duty, inform your dean’s office. They will send notification to all of your professors. The university’s policy on religious observances is the following: “At the beginning of each academic session (fall, spring, summer), the student will be required (in writing) to provide his/her faculty with the dates of scheduled religious observances.”
4. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. All papers must be written in your own words. To check for plagiarism or Artificial Intelligence, all papers must be submitted to the D2L Assignment Folder. Cases of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to the policies in the “Academic Dishonesty” section of the Undergraduate Catalog (https://catalog.ship.edu). Students who intentionally or irresponsibly violate university policies on academic dishonesty will receive a penalty of a grade of “F” for the course.
5. “Smartphones make you dumb in class.” All electronic devices are banned in class, except for those used to take notes or view course readings. Educational research has shown that electronic communications, including text messaging, create distractions that interfere with learning. Violations of this policy will result in participation grade of zero for that day’s class session.
6. I comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to keep your academic records confidential, and Title IX requirements to “report incidents of sexual violence shared by students.” To read the full Title IX syllabus statement, click on this link: https://www.ship.edu/EIC/title_ix_statement/
7. I welcome students with disabilities in my classroom. Any student who may require an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) in Mowrey 252 to discuss the specific needs. For more information, see the website: www.ship.edu/oar
8. I assign letter grades used in the Shippensburg University grading system to the following numerical scores:
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 70-76
D 60-69
F Below 60
IV. Discussion Leader Assignments (10% of final grade)
FIRST Draft of Questions Due: 8:30 p.m. on the day before you lead the discussion OR at least 24 hours earlier if you are not available to send me revisions on the evening and morning before class.
Send me drafts of questions via email (jkskaf@ship.edu) in MS Word format. I will respond with suggested revisions using the MS Word “track changes” and “comment” features. Plan to revise your questions based on my feedback at least 3 or 4 times.
FINAL Draft Due at 3:00 p.m. on the day of the class discussion: Email the final draft to me and upload it to D2L>Discussion Leader Assignment Dropbox
Directions: Develop 4 or 5 main questions with additional follow-up questions to be used only as needed. Some main questions should be factual, asking classmates to summarize major themes and arguments of the reading. At least one question should be open-ended, asking classmates to share their interpretations and opinions of the reading.
Your grade will be based on the effectiveness of your written questions and oral delivery:
Some hints on developing good questions (adapted from former professor Vera Reber):
E-Articles Available on D2L
Beltran, Gray. "The Pandemic Changed Everything About Work, except the Humble Resume." New York Times, Jan. 21, 2022.
Diehl, Carl. "Hearing the Right Notes From a Job Candidate." New York Times, July 25, 2010.
Fillafer, Franz L. "A World Connecting? From the Unity of History to Global History." History and Theory 56, no. 1 (2017): 3-37. PERMALINK
Levine, Philippa. "Is Comparative History Possible?". History & Theory 53, no. 3 (2014): 331-47. PERMALINK
Pope, Loren. “Afterword.” Looking Beyond the Ivy League. New York: Penguin, 2007.
Books Available at the Bookstore or Course Reserves: https://library.ship.edu/er.php?b=c
Conrad, Sebastian. What Is Global History?. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2017. E-Book: PERMALINK
Hansen, Valerie. The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World and Globalization Began. New York: Scribner, 2020. Reserves Desk: D123 .H37 2020
Lucassen, Jan. The Story of Work: A New History of Humankind. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2022. Not in library collection
Robins, Jonathan E. Oil Palm: A Global History. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2021. E-Book: PERMALINK
VI. Schedule
W 8/28: Introduction to the Capstone Seminar
W 8/30: What is Comparative History?
E-Articles: Conrad, 37-61, (Chap. 3); Levine, “Is Comparative History Possible?”
M 9/4: No class: Labor Day
W 9/6: What is World or Global History?
Reading: Conrad, 1-16, 62-89, (Chaps. 1 and 4)
E-Article: Fillafer, “A World Connecting?,” 3-26
M 9/11: Career Presentation on Resume Writing/Cover letter
E-Articles: Beltran, Pope
W 9/13: What is World or Global History?
Reading: Conrad, 17-36, 205-235, (Chaps. 2 and 10)
E-Article: Fillafer, “A World Connecting?,” 26-37
Historiographical Paper on Comparative and Global History Assigned
M 9/18: Deep History: The Story of Work
Reading: Conrad, 141-161 (Chap. 7); Lucassen, x-xvii, 1-45 (Preface, Note, Introduction, Chap. 1)
W 9/20: Deep History: The Story of Work
Reading: Lucassen, 46-114 (Chaps. 2-3)
M 9/25: Career Presentation on Internet Job or Grad School Search (Location to be Determined)
E-Article: Diehl
Historiographical Paper on Comparative and Global History Due
Resume and Cover Letter Assigned
W 9/27: Deep History: The Story of Work
Reading: Lucassen, 115-192 (Chap. 4)
M 10/2: Deep History: The Story of Work
Reading: Lucassen, 193-291 (Chap. 5)
W 10/4: Deep History: The Story of Work
Reading: Lucassen, 292-361 (Chap. 6)
M 10/9: Deep History: The Story of Work
Reading: Lucassen, 362-437 (Chap. 7, Outlook)
W 10/11: Dr. Kirk Moll, “Presentation on Comparative Historical Research” (Library Room 134)
Laptops available, bring your own laptop if you have one.
Draft and Final Resumes and Cover Letters Due
M 10/16: No class: Fall Break
W 10/18: Dawn of Globalization?
Reading: Conrad, 90-114 (Chap. 5); Hansen, 1-25 (Prologue, Chap. 1)
Book Review 1 Due
M 10/23: Dawn of Globalization?
Reading: Hansen, 27-79 (Chaps. 2-3)
W 10/25: Dawn of Globalization?
Reading: Hansen, 81-142 (Chaps. 4-5)
M 10/30: Oral Presentations on Research Proposals
Written Research Proposal Due
W 11/1: Dawn of Globalization?
Reading: Hansen, 143-197 (Chaps. 6-7)
M 11/6: Dawn of Globalization?
Reading: Hansen, 199-235 (Chap. 8, Epilogue)
Book Review 2 Assigned
W 11/8: Global History of Commodities: Oil Palm
Reading: Conrad, 115-140 (Chap. 6); Robins, 1-24 (Introduction, Chap. 1)
M 11/13: Global History of Commodities: Oil Palm
Reading: Robins, 25-74 (Chaps. 2-3)
W 11/15: Global History of Commodities: Oil Palm
Reading: Robins, 75-120 (Chaps. 4-5)
M 11/20: Career Presentation on Interview Strategies
Book Review 2 Due
W 11/22: No class: Thanksgiving Break
M 11/27: Oral Research Update Due
Revised and Expanded Research Proposal Due
W 11/29: Global History of Commodities: Oil Palm
Reading: Robins, 121-172 (Chaps. 6-7)
M 12/4: Global History of Commodities: Oil Palm
Reading: Robins, 173-216 (Chaps. 8-9)
W 12/6: Global History of Commodities: Oil Palm
Reading: Robins, 217-263 (Chaps. 10-11)
Mock Job Interview Due
M 12/11, 3:30 pm: Final Exam Period: Final Papers and Presentations Due