Here students are specifically exposed to primary sources. They work through the research sources, critically review them, and then discuss them in class. Subsequently, a paper is written based on the student's research. Every student as well as the Professor reads every paper. The professor discusses the paper with the student, then with the class.
Assessment takes place through the discussion process at every stage.
Many students produce papers that are read at regional and national meetings, and two in the past few years have won national prizes. It is too early to tell if our revamped curriculum will produce the intended results. However, if our earlier review of recitation and non-recitation student experience is consistent, then there should be an evident improvement. Restructuring each of the foundation courses to four hours should increase student exposure to a more detailed reconstruction o fthe past and expand their speficic knowledge base. Medium-level students continue to be tied to the idea that history is simply a chronology.