Catalog Description: This course will explore topics in the field of Public History, including architectural preservation and restoration, museum studies and oral history. The topics will vary from semester to semester, but each term students will receive instruction on the techniques of analyzing oral sources, primary textual materials and historical artifacts of various types, including architectural dwellings, tools, and local and family records. Credit 3.

*LEARNING OUTCOMES

1) Students will gain factual knowledge.
Students will gain a basic understanding of the discipline of Public History.

2) Students will learn fundamental principles, generalizations, and theories.
Students will learn the fundamental principles of historical scholarship as they encounter traditional and recent interpretations of the American past.

3) Students will learn to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view. Students will learn to evaluate primary documents and secondary sources as they consider conflicting historical interpretations.

*BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR THIS COURSE

Daniel J. Cohen and Roy Rosenzweig, Digital History: A Guide to Gathering, Preserving, And Presenting the Past on the Web (2005). Available Online

Huntsville and Walker County, Texas - A Bicentennial History (1976). Available Online

Walker County, Texas (1986). Available Online Part I | Part II

Sam Houston Normal Institute and Historic Huntsville Through a Camera (1899). Available Online

Ty Cashion, Sam Houston State University: An Institutional Memory, 1879-2004 (2004). Available Online

Jeff Littlejohn, Huntsville, Texas (2009). Available Online

In addition to the books listed above, you will be assigned various documents and articles over the course of the semester. These readings should be completed by the date they appear on the syllabus.

*COURSEWORK AND GRADING

*ASSIGNMENTS

Public History Blog

- Each student in this class will establish his or her own blog at http://www.blogger.com.

- The blog for this class should be titled in this fashion: yourlastname_his388

- Follow the easy directions posted there.

- On this blog, each student will answer the reading questions presented in the course schedule below. Reading questions appear in read.

- Each response may earn 10 points.

Huntsville State Park Project

- As part of this class, students will develop a public history project on Huntsville State Park to be displayed on October 8.

- Students may create public history posters, organize a historical event, plan a geocaching race, or develop any other project approved by the instructor.

- Attendance at the Park on October 8 is mandatory as part of this project.

Digital Project Proposal

By September 6, each student will submit a 350-word proposal for his/her digital project. This proposal should include: 1) a title; 2) a brief summary; 3) a list of primary and secondary sources.

Digital Project Research Paper

By November 20, each students will submit a research paper to Blackboard as a MICROSOFT WORD attachment. This paper will provide the background for your online module.

a) Your paper should be 8 to 12 double-spaced pages in length.
b) Your paper should be based on primary and secondary sources.
c) Your paper should present a clear thesis statement that is supported by relevant facts.
d) Your paper should be well-organized and free of stylistic and grammatical errors.
e) Your paper should contain footnotes formatted in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style.
f) Your paper should contain a bibliography formatted in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style.

Final Digital Project

*ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

The University expects all students to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom.  Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action.

5.31 The University and its official representatives, acting in accordance with Subsection 5.32, may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.
"Cheating" includes the following and similar actions:
(1) Copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files, data listings, and/or programs.
(2) Using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test.
(3) Collaborating, without authorization, with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work.
(4) Knowingly, and without authorization, using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, soliciting, copying, or possessing, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.
(5) Substituting for another student, permitting any other person, or otherwise assisting any other person to substitute for oneself or for another student in the taking of an examination or test or the preparation of academic work to be submitted for academic credit.
(6) Bribing another person to obtain a test or information about an unadministered test.
(7) Purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one's own work any research paper or other writing assignment prepared by an individual or firm. This section does not apply to the typing of the rough and/or final versions of an assignment by a professional typist.

5.32 "Plagiarism" means the appropriation and the unacknowledged incorporation of another's work or idea into one's own work offered for credit.
5.33 "Collusion" means unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work for credit.
5.34 "Abuse of resource materials" means the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft or alteration of materials provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.
5.35 “Academic work” means the preparation of an essay, dissertation, thesis, report, problem, assignment, or other project that the student submits as a course requirement or for a grade.

2.00 PROCEDURES IN CASES OF ALLEGED ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
2.01 Procedures for discipline due to academic dishonesty shall be the same as in disciplinary actions specified in The Texas State University System Rules and Regulations and Sam Houston State University Student Guidelines except that all academic dishonesty actions shall be first considered and reviewed by the faculty member teaching the class. The faculty member may impose failure or reduction of a grade in a test or the course, and/or performing additional academic work not required of other students in the course. If the faculty member believes that additional disciplinary action is necessary, as in the case of flagrant or repeated violations, the case may be referred to the Dean of Student Life or a designated appointee for further action. If the student involved does not accept the decision of the faculty member, the student may appeal to the chair of the appropriate academic department/school, seeking reversal of the faculty member's decision.
2.02 If the student does not accept the decision of the chair of the academic department/school, he/she may appeal to the appropriate academic dean. The chair of the academic department/school may also refer the case directly to the academic dean if the case so warrants. 

*INSTRUCTOR EVALUATIONS

At the end of the semester, students will be asked to complete an evaluation of the course, but we welcome feedback about readings, assignments, and our instruction throughout the semester.  Let’s work together to make this a successful and rewarding learning experience.

*CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS

This syllabus is your contract for the course. We will not change the nature of the course, the number of assignments, or the grading system. However, we reserve the right to update the course schedule and reading assignments throughout the term.

August 25 – Introduction and Syllabus
The Huntsville POW Camp | pdf

August 27 –  What is Public History?
Meet at the Walker Education Center, Sam Houston Memorial Museum
Exhibit: Alamo Images: Changing Perceptions of a Texas Experience | link
Read: Public History Resource Center, "What is Public History" | link
Read: James Percoco, “The Wide, Challenging, and Wonderful World of Public History” OAH Mag | link
Review the Alamo Exhibit. What did the exhibit teach you that you didn't already know about the Alamo?

September 1 – A Critical Review of Public History
Discussion of Available Local History Topics
Read: Ludmilla Jordanova, “Public History,” in History in Practice (Hodder Arnold, 2000) | pdf
Review Prof. Jordanova's essay. As students of the past, what considerations must we make when we view public history exhibits?

September 3 – Debating History: The Enola Gay and the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum
Read: History on Trial: The Enola Gay Controversy | link
Position Paper. Briefly explain the controversy surrounding the Enola Gay exhibit in 1995 and take a position on matter. Who was right and why?

BY MIDNIGHT ON SEPTEMBER 6 SUBMIT YOUR DIGITAL PROJECT PROPOSAL VIA BLACKBORD

September 8 – Public History and the Newton Gresham Library’s Digital Resources
Meet in Room 155 at the Newton Gresham Library for an overview of available digital resources.
Provide a review of 2 documents you located through digital resources at the library.

September 10 – The Rise of Galveston and the Hurricane of 1900
Field trip to Galveston | 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | costs $20.00
Alternate assignment: Erik Larson, Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in HistoryFilm based on Larson's book, Isaac's Storm | link
What made Galveston a special place at the turn of the twentieth century, and how did the Hurricane of 1900 change the city?

September 15 – Local Records in the Newton Gresham Library
Meet in the Thomason Room at Newton Gresham Library
What sources did you find that will assist in the design of your project?

September 17 – No Class: Constitution Day
Attend a Constitution Day Event
Reading: Nelson Lund, "Is Constitution Day Constitutional?" | doc
Reading: Alan Garfield, "What Should We Celebrate on Constitution Day?" | doc
Review the Constitution Day Event you attended. What did you learn about the U.S. Constitution that you did not already know?

September 22 – Local Probate and Deed Records
Meet at the Records and Deed Room, Walker County Courthouse, Room 105
Who did you "look up" in our visit to the County Clerk's office? What interesting facts did you discover?

September 24 – Introducing the Huntsville State Park Project
Meet at the Entrance to Huntsville State Park
Discussion Topics: Timber Industry; Park Formation; Civilian Conservation Corps; Eleanor Roosevelt; New Deal Projects in Huntsville; Park Segregation; Flood; Governor's State's Rightist Speech 1956 (why)?
http://www.geocaching.com
Tasks Assigned: Posters; Geocaching Race; Other Events; Music (1939)
Have you ever been to Huntsville State Park before? If not, what did you like most about the park? If so, what did you learn about Huntsville State Park that you did not already know?

September 29 – Huntsville State Park Review and Follow-Up
Meet in class. Review Tasks and Follow-Up.
Each group will present.
Since your initial exposure to the Huntsville State Park project, what have you developed to contribute to our public history project?

October 1 - Huntsville State Park Work Day: No Class

October 6 - Huntsville State Park Dry Run
Exhibit Posters to One Another; Test geocaching race; Review all issues.
What concerns do you have about our project at this time? All you well prepared? Do you believe your topic will be well received? Why or why not?

October 8 - Huntsville State Park Event
Meet at Huntsville State Park
Do you feel that the Huntsville State Park Event was a success? Did the individuals who attended take away the information you hoped they would? What did you learn about the production of a public history exhibit from this experience?

UNIT I BLOGS ARE DUE BY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 AT MIDNIGHT

October 13 - Introduction to Unit II
Meet in AB4 302 | Websites discussed
http://www.littlejohnexplorers.com/jeff/brown/
http://www.littlejohnexplorers.com/jeff/brown/cartoon/index.htm

October 15 - Computer Lab: Dreamweaver
Meet in White Hall 120
Sam Houston Technology Tutorials | link
Adobe Dreamweaver for SHSU Webspace | link
Adobe Dreamweaver User Manual | link

October 20 - Roundtable: Current Progress Report
Meet in AB4 302
Directions for Progress Report | doc
Southwestern Social Sciences Proposal | doc
Post your Progress Report to your blog.

October 22 - Computer Lab: Dreamweaver
Meet in White Hall 120
Adobe Dreamweaver User Manual | link
After two classes working with Dreamweaver, what major concerns do you have? Do you find the design process interesting? Do you feel that the construction of a website will help you think about the design of your research paper in any way?

October 27 - Roundtable: Current Progress Report
Meet in AB4 302
Two-page, single-spaced, research paper
Post your two-page, single-spaced, research paper to your blog.

October 29 – Computer Lab: Photoshop
Meet in White Hall 120
Sam Houston Technology Tutorials | link
Adobe Photoshop User Manual | link
Image selection will serve as a major component of your design process. Describe two images you have located and what they add to your project.

November 3 – Library Research Day
You have three weeks to complete your research paper. Do you have a solid thesis statement? If so, what is it. What major research questions do you still need to answer? What obstacles (as far as research goes) stand in your way?

November 5 – Computer Lab: Photoshop
Meet in White Hall 120
Sam Houston Technology Tutorials | link
Adobe Photoshop User Manual | link
You should now be fairly far along in the design of your website. What difficulties have you come across as you've developed the project? Be as specific as you can.

November 10 – Peer Review I
Meet in AB4 302
Follow directions posted under Peer Reviews on the left menu bar in blackboard.
What did you learn about the writing and reviewing process from your initial peer review experience?

November 12 – Computer Lab: Finalizing Project
Meet in White Hall 120
Sam Houston Technology Tutorials | link

November 17 – Peer Review II
Meet in AB4 302
Follow directions posted under Peer Reviews on the left menu bar in blackboard.
Did your second reviewer find weaknesses or strengths that the previous reviewer did not? How did the two reviewers differ in their assessment of your work?

November 19 – Computer Lab: Finalizing Project
Meet in White Hall 120
Sam Houston Technology Tutorials | link

BY MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20 SUBMIT YOUR FINAL RESEARCH PAPER VIA BLACKBOARD
Use the Research Paper tab in the left menu bar to submit your paper. Please note: all papers will be run through turnitin.com to check for plagiarism. This is a typical precaution with research papers.

November 24 – Work Day

December 1 – Student Presentations
Meet in AB4 302
Post a blog-entry reviewing the student presentations you viewed today.

December 3 – Student Presentations
Meet in AB4 302
Post a blog-entry reviewing the student presentations you viewed today.

December 8 – Student Presentations
Meet in AB4 302
Post a blog-entry reviewing the student presentations you viewed today.

December 10 – Student Presentations
Meet in AB4 302
Post a blog-entry reviewing the student presentations you viewed today.