The broad purpose of this course is to prepare students to conduct research and to write term papers in the different areas of Politics and History according to the standards expected by the Marymount Politics and History faculty. We shall discuss sources of information that are available to students at Marymount. We will also introduce basic discussion of methodology in the fields of History and Politics, and the different approaches of Humanists and Social Scientists in these fields.
Research takes far more time than most students realize.
Begin it early or you will not find your sources and your analysis will be shallow and unsubstantiated. The course will use lectures, class discussions of exercises and of student papers, individual discussions of student papers, and bibliographical workshops. Students are also required to proof each others' papers. There will be a grade component for competence in this critical reading as well. Because of the many short assignments, each will be graded on the basis of ten points or a multiple of ten.