This course works to make students conscious of the broad tradition they work in and of the contested philosophic approaches, assumptions, and leaps of faith from which they choose their own path in studying and writing it.
Historians can write good history oblivious of their craft's traditions and of their own methods.
This course argues that some self-consciousness about the work is, marginally, more fun. The purpose of this course is to introduce first-year graduate students to the literature of United States history, through consideration of major problems of historical interpretation as presented by members of the faculty in American history. Each class meeting provides an opportunity to meet with a visiting member of the faculty to discuss a carefully selected group of readings. Students are also required to write a 3500-word historiographical essay on a topic approved by the course instructor, discussing recent trends in interpretation in a subfield of American history. The course grade is based on seminar discussion of readings, summaries of readings, and the historiographical essay.