HIS 497 Week 1 Discussion

Prepare: In order to successfully complete this week’s assignments:

• Watch Credibility: Critical Thinking (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Read the following chapters from the text, Essaying the Past: How to Read, Write, and Think about History:
  • Chapter 1: History: It’s About Time
  • Chapter 2: What’s the Story with History?
  • Chapter 3: The Sources of History
  • Chapter 4: Good Answers Begin with Good Questions
  • Appendix A: Writing anEssay: Ten Easy Steps in Review

Reflect: The first step in the research process is selecting a topic that interests you and is manageable within the context of this course. As you reflect on your coursework in History, which the following themes do you find most intriguing?

• Belief systems in historical context
• Colonialism or decolonization
• Empire or imperialism
• Gender roles and relationships in historical context
• Nationalism
• Revolution (social, political, cultural, or economic)
• Social traditions or social change

As you think about your research topic

• Start to narrow your focus.
• Try to pose your idea as an answer to a how or why question.
• Consider what kinds of primary sources may be available to support your inquiry. Think about how your idea fits into the historiography of the topic or issue.
• Remember that your topic must be manageable within the scope and confines of this course.

Write: In an initial post of at least 250-300 words, state the theme that interests you and explain how or why it relates to the topic you wish to examine in your Final Capstone Research Project.

• How could a research project help you explore your interests and seek answers to questions you may have?
• What research strategies can you use to begin your inquiry?
• How does your interest in a broad theme lead to a more specific topic for your paper?

Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.