Maryland History from Colonial Times to the Present

Syllabus

Schedule:

The objective of this course is to examine the history of Maryland from its founding in 1634 to the near present. There is one main text for the course, Robert J. Brugger, Maryland: A Middle Temperament, 1634-1980 (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1988), available in paperback, supplemented with pamphlets, articles, and  document packets. Students are expected to hand in a discussion outlines of all textbook, pamphlet, and article reading assignments on the night the reading assignment is discussed, and graduate students are expected to read and review one additional secondary source chosen as indicated in the syllabus. This is a web-based course with all reading assignments available in electronic form for the use of enrolled students.  Students are required to purchase in print copies of all copyrighted material and assume responsibility for personal use only of any electronic texts accessed by the password supplied by the instructor.  Students are expected to have email accounts or access to email accounts.  All written assignments are to be submitted to the instructor by email no later than the evening before class with the exception of midterm and final exams which will be composed and submitted electronically in class (or from some other site if approved in advance by the instructor or if the student is enrolled as in an approved distance learning curriculum.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Students are required to read and analyze in advance the assigned text, pamphlets,  articles, and to explore topics in eight document packets in class on the World Wide Web: All reading should be completed according to the schedule and in advance of class discussion. Students should prepare discussion outlines of the argument and points of interest in each reading assignment according to the schedule. Assigments should be submitted by the night before class discussion as an email communication to the instructor.   Students may set up their own account for Internet and e-mail service (as long as they have a valid student ID, the Jcard) by contacting the HAC information centr on the Homewood campus (170 Kreiger Hall; 410-516-4242) or the SCS information desk at each Center. Call 410-516-5205 for help. There is no charge for this service and is available at all campuses. The instructor also recommends that students consider acquiring an independent, web-based mail account such as http://www.hotmail.com which will permit accessing and sending email (with attachments) from any internet web-linked computer at most libraries and university facilities.

In addition, each graduate student member of the class will be expected to submit one 10 page book review as noted on the schedule. The book to be reviewed is The Evils of Necessity: Robert Goodloe Harper and the Moral Dilemma of Slavery by Eric Robert Papenfuse (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1997) and can be obtained from the library or purchased ($) from the instructor.  For assistance and an indication of form in constructing a book review see the reviews of The Evils of Necessity in the Journal of Southern History and the Maryland Historical Magazine.  The review should consist of a critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the book (including what others have written about it)  as well as an indication of what  was learned about Maryland and the study of Maryland history from reading it.

Students are encouraged to read other reviews and comments upon the book chosen for a book review, but it is the responsibility of the student (not the typist) to make certain that all ideas not his or her own are accurately and adequately documented. Failure to acknowledge such intellectual debts results in the serious offense of plagiarism. When in doubt, document (Norris 1991). For documentation guidelines see the parenthetical citations outlined in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 5th edition, 1987, pp. 111-119 (for parenthetical citations), and pp. 274-277 (for how to list sources at the end of a review). Note that versions of Turabian are available on the web. Every quotation, paraphrase, and combination should be acknowledged in a parenthetical citation within the text that gives the author's last name, date of publication of the book or article, and the page reference(s). All quotes over three lines should be indented and set apart from your text. All sources cited in parentheses should be listed in a "Works Cited" list at the end of the review. Reviews will be graded on how well the student summarizes and criticizes the book in light of the reading and your explanation of why you chose the book in the first place. Any student may submit a book review for up to 10 points additional credit. The extra credit review will be due the last class.

This course is intended in part to be an introduction to the resources and tools for the study of history available on the internet, the intranet,  and the World Wide Web. Students are advised that updating and adding to  the hyperlinks in the syllabus and further clarification of the syllabus may take place throughout the semester.  At all times, the internet web-based version of the course summary, syllabus, roster, and schedule should be considered as governing the requirements of the course and should be referred to if any questions should arise.  If anything is unclear or additional information is need, don't hesitate to contact the instructor in class or by email.

GRADES:
Students will be graded according to the following:

Midterm exam: (two essays and several short answers) up to 25 points (non-graduate students, up to 30 points)

Final exam: (in class, one essay and several short answers) up to 35 points (non-graduate students,  up to 40 points)

Class participation (including discussion note assignments): up to 30 points

Book Review (graduate students and extra credit): 10 points

All grading will be done on a scale of 1-100 with A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69, and F=0-59. Ten points will be subtracted for every day an assignment is late. Plagiarism is grounds for an automatic 'F.'

©Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse (instructor)

Office Hours by appointment
Phone: (o) 410-260-6401; (h) 410-467-6137

Internet Address: http://www.teachers.md
Email Address: edpapen@flash.net

Last update: September 6, 2000