| Research report for week 2 | |
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BEFORE CLASS Today we will discuss a reading by Charles Postel. For purposes of this class we are not interested in the topic; instead we shall focus on how the author conveys a sense of importance for their research and writing with respect to our historical understanding of the past, and with respect to any contemporary resonance toward the present day. 1. What techniques does the author use to hope that their research and writing catches the eye and really matters for readers like you? 2. How does the author address something that is missing from our knowledge and concern? 3. What is the author calling into question something that needs questioning, on a fundamental level? BEFORE AND/OR IN CLASS Today’s task is to refine your research proposal, with the luxury of some undisturbed time in class — although you are very welcome to proceed before class. Some of the questions (# 1-5, 7) repeat from your original research proposal, which you can and should continually refine as you continually sharpen and rethink your ideas. Other questions (# 6, 8-10) are new to this step, and point you to being more concrete with historical context, historiographical sources (books and articles), and archival sources (from the past). 1. What topic, part of the world, and time period would you like to work on for your research project? 2. What is your main interest/passion in life? I.e., what can’t you stop noticing, thinking about, reading about, talking about, et cetera? 3. How is your passion reflected, either directly or indirectly, in the research project that you are considering for this semester? (My aim is that you work on something that you really, really care about.) 4. How might someone else — who is interested in their own thing, not your thing — manage to see what’s important and inspirational about your research topic? 5. How does your research topic address something that is currently missing from our historical knowledge? 6. How do new concerns and perspectives from your own lifetime lead you to re-examine history? 7. How does your research topic question some aspect of life that is unquestioned in our society/culture? 8. Framing: What is the bigger situation (time) and world (place) around your topic? 9. What important (oft cited) books and articles exist about your topic and/or situation and world around it? (I.e., secondary sources; historiography.) 10. What sources might you investigate? (I.e., primary sources; archives.) |