Research Seminar on

U.S. FOREIGN RELATIONS

Wednesdays, 4:45-7:55 pm, AH 105

(AMH 6939: Summer 2009)

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Kenneth Osgood

Phone:  (561) 297-2816

Email:  kosgood@fau.edu

Web Site:  http://www.fau.edu/~kosgood

Office Hours: Wednesday afternoons (appointment recommended)

 

Course Description:

 

This research seminar will explore U.S. diplomatic, cultural, and political relations with the wider world.  This course has a single objective:  for each of you to produce a substantial research paper that meets the academic standards of a scholarly journal article.  You will be expected to produce an original, high-quality research paper based on both primary and secondary sources that makes a meaningful contribution to the field.  It should reflect substantial research in primary sources as well as extensive reading in relevant secondary literature.  Everything we do during the semester will be done with this goal in mind.  We will essentially dedicate the entire semester to research and writing. 

 

A quick glance at the articles and book reviews in the journal Diplomatic History will reveal that two intellectual trends are expanding the horizons of historical research on U.S. foreign relations:  the move to “internationalize” the study of diplomacy to include actors other than the United States; and the move to expand the research agenda to include cultural, social and domestic factors as elements of U.S. foreign relations.  Many researchers no longer focus merely on politicians and diplomats and generals, but on non-governmental organizations, popular culture, race, gender, domestic politics, historical commemoration and memory, the environment, religion, media, propaganda and a host of other “non-traditional” topics that explore the aspects of U.S. foreign relations at home and abroad.   

 

Reflecting the diversity of perspectives and methods of this “new diplomatic history,” student papers can explore any topic generally pertaining to U.S. foreign relations from the American Revolution to the present.  Topics that focus on domestic politics, culture, and social movements are most welcome so long as they pertain, in some way, to US foreign relations.  All papers must demonstrate extensive primary source research:  papers that merely cobble together information from secondary sources will not receive a passing grade.

 

Stylistic Guidelines:

 

All papers must conform to the stylistic guidelines of the Chicago Manual of Style and/or Turabian (endnotes or footnotes are acceptable).  In citing primary sources, you should also follow the stylistic conventions of the journal, Diplomatic History.

 

Suggested Reading:

 

Michael J. Hogan and Thomas G. Paterson, Explaining the History of American Foreign Relations, 2nd ed.  (Cambridge University Press, 2004). [differs substantially from 1st ed.]

 

Class Meetings and Consultations:

 

For several weeks during the semester, the class will not meet.  This is your time for conducting research, and I expect you to use it wisely!  Throughout the semester, I will be available on Wednesday afternoons (and possibly on other days) for individual consultations.  Please email me to set up an appointment.  You must meet me at least once during the semester for an individual consultation about your research.

 

Special Assignments and Peer Review Discussants:

 

To help you prepare for your final paper, you will submit early drafts and proposals that address your work in progress. You will be asked to review the work of a colleague and to submit your own work for review by your peers.  You will do this for three “special assignments”: the prospectus, draft introduction, and rough draft.  Please approach the peer review process conscientiously and collegially.

 

Note that each of these assignments is due on a Monday.  This is so you will have time to read and review the work of your peers before the class meeting.  In most cases, you will be asked to email your work as a Microsoft Word attachment both to me and to all your classmates.  (Note: If you use another word processing program, please convert it to MS Word or save it as a Rich Text File (*rtf) so that technologically challenged classmates can access your work easily.)

 

To email your work to the class:

  • Log-in to MyFAU. 
  • Click the “My Courses” tab.
  • Click “Gateway to course tools and academic info”
  • Click “Seminar US History”
  • Click “Email”
  • Check “select all,” and then click “Send Email”
  • Click the “Attach” button
  • Click “Browse” to locate the file on your disk drive
  • Then click “attach” – this is important!  (You should see the name of your file appear in the box to the right.)
  • Click “OK.”
  • Enter your name and the assignment in the subject line (e.g. “Osgood Prospectus”), and include a message if you like.
  • Click “Send.”

 

Grading:

 

Your overall course grade will be based on these criteria:

  • your consistent participation in class discussions and willingness to engage your colleagues in constructive criticism of their work;
  • the completeness and thoughtfulness of each special assignment;
  • the conscientiousness of your effort in acting as peer reviewer for your colleagues;
  • your final paper.

 

Please be advised that you will not pass the course if:

  • you do not submit, in timely fashion, each of the special assignments and the final draft
  • your final paper does not reflect original research in primary sources.

 

Also note that even if you miss class for a “good reason,” your absence may affect your grade since it will limit your ability to participate in discussions and peer reviews.

 

 

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