Senior Capstone Seminar – HIST 491

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

A senior-level capstone seminar covering historiography, interpretation, research methodologies, Christian worldview approaches, vocational opportunities, and assessment.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

This course is designed to prepare the history student in the broader contours of historical writing, solidify Christian worldview thinking, evaluate Christian historiography within the secular academy, and enhance career opportunities related to history. It is also the principal course through which the department assesses student learning and program effectiveness.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. The Discussions in this course will be completed in 3 different formats.

Two will follow the standard format of written threads and replies. Each thread must be 250–300 words. Each of 2 replies must be 100–150 words.

One will require a blog thread with written replies. Free blogs may be set up for this Discussion through www.blogger.com, www.wordpress.com, or another web-based provider. The blog thread must be 250–300 words and must contain at least 3 visuals related to the topic. Each of 2 replies must be 100–150 words.

One will require a video thread with video replies. Each video thread must be 120–150 seconds of student-spoken audio. Each of 2 replies must be 60–90 seconds of student-spoken audio.

Book Review: Herbert Butterfield Assignment

The student will write a 2-page book review in current Turabian format using parenthetical citations (not footnotes) from the assigned book. You must list the book at the top of the first page in bibliographic format. No title page is necessary for the book review.

Research Paper: Proposal Assignment

The student will write a 1–2-page research proposal with an annotated bibliography (on any topic in history) in current Turabian format that focuses on what the student desires to research and why. The statement may include a preliminary thesis if enough research has been done at that point. The proposal must include a title page and a bibliographic listing of works examined up to that point.

Research Paper: Final Assignment

The student will write a 10–12-page research-based paper in current Turabian format that focuses on an approved topic. Approval is contingent upon a successful Research Proposal. The paper must include at least 4 primary sources and 4 secondary sources.

Quizzes (4)

Each exam will cover the Learn material of both the module in which it is assigned as well as the previous module. Each exam will be open-book/open-notes; contain 50 multiple-choice and true/false questions as well as 1 essay question; and have a 1-hour and 15-minute time limit.

Quiz: Biblical Worldview

This 10 question multiple choice quiz assesses basic understanding of how to integrate biblical worldview thinking into the historical discipline. This exam will be open-book/open-notes; contain 10 multiple-choice questions; and have a 15-minute time limit.

Quiz: Comprehensive Assessment

This 100 question multiple choice exam is an undergraduate history content assessment. The student will not have necessarily studied all of the topics or questions, but these are designed to reflect an expected attainment level for an undergraduate history major preparing to graduate. This exam will be open-book/open-notes and have a 1-hour and 15-minute time limit.