Fall 2013/Pasadena
CH808/508
Bradley/Thompson
CH808/CH508: HISTORIOGRAPHY. James Bradley and John Thompson.
DESCRIPTION: This is a CATS doctoral seminar open to a limited number of advanced master’s students (CH508). The Graduate Seminar on Historiography is an examination of theory and methods in church history and historical theology intended to facilitate graduate work in the field. Students will be asked to think through issues of structure, pattern, and meaning, as well as proper use of sources and tools, with a view toward the development of their own skills in historiography.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course is designed specifically for students wishing to pursue a career in teaching. The course stresses methods of research and writing leading to the production of theses, dissertations, lectures, and scholarly articles and books.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Successful completion of the course should enable students to select and narrow a meaningful topic of research, locate and use primary and secondary sources, and order the results of their research in a coherent and convincing form.
COURSE FORMAT: The seminar meets weekly for a three-hour session of presentation and discussion. Assigned reading is to be completed as a preparation for classwork. Students will be expected to participate in discussion and to present the results of their research projects during the final weeks of the quarter.
REQUIRED READING:
Bloch, Marc. The Historian’s Craft. Vintage paperback, 1964. ISBN: 978-0394705125, Pub. Price $10.95 [197 pp. assigned].
Bradley, James, and Richard Muller. Church History: An Introduction to Research, Reference Works, and Methods. Eerdmans, 1995. ***OUT OF PRINT. A new, revised edition will be available in electronic form [286 pp. assigned].
Carr, E. H. What is History? Vintage paperback, 1967. ISBN: 978-0394703916, Pub. Price $14.50 [224 pp. assigned].
Garner, Bryan A. Garner's Modern American Usage. Third edition. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0195382754, Pub. Price $45.00 [~100 pp. assigned].
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 7th ed. Chicago University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0226823379, Pub. Price $17.00 [130 pp. assigned].
Assorted articles, to be posted on eReserves [~100 pp. assigned].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Completion of required reading, attendance and discussion in class (10%).
Various weekly exercises (30%).
Preparation of a 20-30 page research paper on a topic chosen in consultation with the professor and written in conformity with the methodological guidelines discussed in class (60%).
PREREQUISITES: For master’s level students, permission of one of the professors.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.