HST 620: Proseminar in American Revolution & Early Republic
Prof. F. T. Miller
Office: 417, Public Affairs Classroom Building
Phone: 836-5917
Hours:
Email: ftm922f@mail.missouristate.edu
Course Objective: To study several of the important monographs on
the
social, intellectual, and political history of the American Revolution and Early Republic.
Students will report and write reviews on the books selected for the course.
Required Texts:
Bailyn, Ideological Origins of the American Revolution
Banning, Jeffersonian Persuasion
Countryman, A People in Revolution
Crowley, The Privileges of Independence: Neomercantilism and the American
Revolution
Cunningham, The Jeffersonian Republicans
Greene, Peripheries and Center
Main, The Antifederalists
McDonald, Novus Ordo Seclorum
Morris, Southern Slavery and the Law
Nelson, Liberty and Property
Salmon, Women and the Law of Property in Early America
Slaughter, Whiskey Rebellion
Watts, The Republic Reborn
Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution
Also, each student will read a biography approved by the instructor
Course Grade
5 Book Reviews: 40%
10 Book Synopses: 10%
Book Presentations in Class: 15%
Class Attendance, Class and Virtual Discussion: 20%
Exam: 15%
Book Reviews
Write reviews on 5 of the required books in the course. Each essay must be typed, double spaced, have 500 to 750 words, and include the author, the full title, and the date of original publication. This is not a book report. Do not just summarize the book. Your review should consist of three parts: a statement of the book's thesis or themes; a brief summary of the book; and a critical evaluation of the work. In being critical of the book, consider the following: how well it is written in terms of style, clarity, and organization; how well the material is documented with citations to sources; are there charts, tables, or maps that assist the reader; does the author use logical arguments and present sufficient information to prove or support the thesis; does the author appear biased and lack objectivity; does the author make a significant contribution to the scholarship in the field. Quotations are not necessary. If you do quote, page numbers in parenthesis will be sufficient for citations. The reviews will be graded on formal style and language. Do not use abbreviations or contractions. Do not use slang. Avoid writing in the first person. Be sure to proofread your work for misspelling. After you turn in your reviews, I will make suggestions on how you can revise and improve them. Turn them in by email. (No credit will be given for plagiarized work. Grades will be lowered for late papers.) (Do not write one on the biography you have chosen.)
Book Synopses
Submit synopses of 10 of the required books in the course. Include the author, the full title, the date of original publication; the thesis; and a brief description of the subject of the book. Neither summarize nor critique the book. Each one should be about a page in length. Turn them in by email. Each synopsis of a book is due before we begin the class discussion of that book. (Do not write one on the biography you have chosen.)
Class Presentation
Students are responsible for giving two or three class presentations and getting our class discussion started on the required books. Give the author, full title, date of original publication, and state the thesis of the book. Give a summary and a critique of the work. Raise some questions about the book for the class to discuss. Each presentation should be about 10-15 minutes.
Also, each student will choose a biography, approved by the instructor, on a person in the Revolution or Early Republic, and give a review of the book in class.
Exam
There will be an oral exam at the end of the semester on our class discussion. The exam time for each student will be about 20 minutes. We will talk about the kinds of questions that will be asked before the exam. I may need to administer the exam in two sessions, during the last class time as well as the final exam time.
Class Attendance and Participation
Good attendance (no absences without excuse) is expected. You are also expected to participate in and contribute to the class discussion, which will include a virtual discussion. For information on the virtual discussion, go to the course internet site.
Dates: See Dates page