HPS 208 - Historical Methods

• Define “history” and explain its potential uses and misuses.
• Understand & apply the 4 main sub-categories (or themes) within historical studies: Political History;Social History; Economic History; and Cultural History.
• Discuss the concept of “historiography”.
• Differentiate between primary and secondary historical sources, plus evaluate and analyze their contents, keeping particularly in mind their respective strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize and employ the main modes of historical analysis: continuity vs. change; multiple causality; contextual/thematic; comparative/ synthesis.
• Communicate historical analyses effectively in writing and discussion.
• Identify career possibilities within traditional historical professions (and the application of historical skills to other career fields) and present oneself professionally.