EMU History News
A newsletter for majors and minors in History at Eastern Michigan UniversityNovember 2007
Something Wiki This Way Comes
When you want a quick answer to an academic question, you probably turn to the Internet, and most likely to the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia. But given that Wikipedia articles can be written and edited by anybody, is using Wikipedia a good idea? How reliable is Wikipedia? Should scholars ignore Wikipedia or try to improve it? These questions are being addressed in a four part lecture series initiated on October 25 by 2007-8 McAndless Scholar Marshall Poe. The remaining lectures will be delivered in the winter semester by Wikipedia co-creator Larry Sanger, Internet critic Andrew Keen, and Wikimedia editor and trustee Katherine Walsh.
In an interview with the Ann Arbor News, Poe described how this lecture series came about: "A professor, Walter Moss, a colleague in Russian history, knew that I had done some work at The Atlantic Monthly. He asked whether I would be interested in doing something on the Internet. I entered into a discussion with the English and history departments (at EMU). I talked to the deans and they were very enthusiastic. They asked if I could put together a series of talks and lectures on Wikipedia. We got basically the very best people (for lectures throughout the year). EMU is the first university to really do anything like this on a campus-wide scale. They will get national attention for this and they should. Wikipedia is not going to go away."
Inspired by this discussion of Wikipedia, some History instructors are incorporating wiki-based writing assignments into their classes. Dr. Linda Schott is giving students in her graduate class on Women in US History the option of writing a Wikipedia article as a class assignment. Dr. Schott comments, "I like the assignment because, as Marshall has said, it makes student writing consequential. Instead of just writing for me, the professor, they are now writing for the world. They get to see that others take their work seriously and that they are capable of producing something of value outside the classroom." Drs. Jones, McCurdy, and Egge are planning wiki-based assignments for the winter term. Dr. McCurdy explains, "Using a class wiki will allow the students to exchange ideas and make the process of learning about the founding of the United States a more collaborative experience - much as the founding was itself. Part of the assigned reading and writing for the course will be to survey some of the collaborative information already out there - on sites like Wikipedia - and judge its historical accuracy and usefulness. I am also hoping that students in the class will contribute articles to Wikipedia and to use what they have learned about the American Revolution to make a real contribution to the larger knowledge base."
Some EMU History students are already Wikipedia contributors. EMU History major Jon Dickey has edited articles on such topics as the Great Sleigh Drive, the Siege of Constantinople, and Year Zero, and has authored the article on Robert M. Citino. Jon's experience demonstrates the reach of Wikipedia: "I eventually wrote a very large essay for my Research and Writing History class on the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople and I've seen that particular article referenced on numerous websites by people I've never even talked to who are discussing the historical and contemporary aggression of Islam. I've also seen a few people mention the Great Sleigh Drive on military history websites, and they linked to the Wikipedia article about it to prove their assertions."
Road Trip!
In 2008 two EMU History classes will offer you the chance to travel while earning credit toward your college degree.
Over winter break, Dr. Ron Delph will be touring Italy with the students enrolled in Hist 329: Power, Place and Image in Florence and Rome. Created by Prof. Delph in 2004, this program is entering its fifth year. Students travel to Italy over winter break, where they stay in the beautiful cities of Florence and Rome while studying the society and culture of Medieval and Renaissance Italy. Course work investigates the dynamics of social and political power, and the relationships between men and women, both inside and outside families. The class spends time studying tangible manifestations of power as expressed in monuments, palaces, city walls and churches. They also use the art of Medieval and Renaissance Florence and Rome to gain an understanding of the mentality and values of the period, and to explore the religious beliefs and practices of the time. In Rome students stay in a small hotel, while in Florence accommodations are in a family run pensione. For a complete trip itinerary and information on the cost and academic requirements go to: http://www.emich.edu/abroad/winterbreakitaly.
During Spring semester, Dr. Steven Ramold will be heading south and east with the members of the class Hist 379: Civil War: Combat, Culture, and Place. Leaving the classroom behind, the Civil War Tour takes students to important Civil War sites, and allows students to understand the events of the war by walking the ground upon which the events occurred. Besides several battlefields, the Tour also visits Arlington Cemetery, Ford's Theater, and several Civil War related museums. The Tour also visits the Library of Congress, where students will have the chance to view original letters and diaries written by Civil War participants. For more information, email Dr. Ramold at sramold@emich.edu.
Students' History Association / Phi Alpha Theta Calendar
The Students' History Association is a student organization open to all EMU students interested in History, and Phi Alpha Theta is the honor society for History. The organizations will be sponsoring or attending the following events in November:- 11/5-9: PAT/SHA Membership Drive. Applications are always available in the Department.
- 11/5: Sherman Alexie, who is widely regarded as the best Native American writer alive today, will speak at the Student Center at 7 PM.
- 11/9: Dr. Citino will make a presentation and sign his new book at Motte and Bailey Book Store, 212 N. 4th Ave in Ann Arbor at 6:30PM.
- 11/12: Dr. Schmitz will give a brown bag presentation at 12PM.
- 11/15: Deadline to propose a presentation for the Phi Alpha Theta conference.
- TBA: Dr. Whitters will give a lecture on martyrdom as a concept in the West (Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians, and Muslims).
- Every Tuesday: PAT/SHA meeting in Pray-Harrold room 719 at 7:30 PM.
- All Month: Thanksgiving Food Drive.
History Classes for Winter 2008
Registration for winter semester will be starting soon! If you want to talk about your course of study with a History undergraduate advisor, please call the Department at 487-1018 to make an appointment.Winter offerings are listed below, with links to the catalog description of each course. Classes that satisfy the Historical Writing requirement are marked 'HW.' Some times have changed since the schedule book went to press--check the online course listings for up to date schedule information.
HIST 100 - The Comparative Study of Religion
HIST 101 - Western Civilization to 1648
HIST 102 - Western Civilization, 1648 to World War I
HIST 103 - 20th-Century Civilization
HIST 104 - Quest for Power: Famous Figures in History (honors only)
HIST 106 - Asian and African Civilizations
HIST 109 - World History to 1500
HIST 110 - World History since 1500
HIST 115 - Making American Society: Race, Ethnicity and Gender in Historical Perspective
HIST 123 - The United States to 1877
HIST 124 - The United States, 1877 to the Present
HIST 300W - Researching and Writing History
HIST 302 - Near Eastern and Western Religions (HW)
HIST 307 - Buddhism (HW)
HIST 313 - Michigan History
HIST 315 - History of Black Americans (HW)
HIST 324 - Roman History
HIST 327 - Europe in Early Middle Ages 400-1050 (HW)
HIST 339 - Arab-Israeli Conflict
HIST 347 - Sub-Saharan Africa to 1885
HIST 364 - United States Military History
HIST 375 - Modern India (online only)
HIST 379 - Special Topics: History of American Sports
HIST 426 - The United States from 1963 to the Present
HIST 444 - China and its Nomadic Neighbors
HIST 450 - European Military History, 1815-1945
HIST 456 - Europe since 1945 (HW)
HIST 469 - The American Mind Since the Civil War (HW)
HIST 480 - The American Revolution (HW)
HIST 481 - The Teaching of Social Studies
In addition, seniors may take 500-level graduate courses with the instructor's permission. These 500-level courses will be offered this winter:
HIST 518 - Studies in Recent German History
HIST 530 - Urban Communities in U.S. History
HIST 560 - Studies in Latin American History
HIST 592 - Special Topics: The Creation of the United States
HIST 592 - Special Topics: Studies in Conflict: Britain and Ireland
History Section
Department of History and Philosophy
Eastern Michigan University
701 Pray Harrold
734 487 1018