History 450 - JYW Seminar in History

This seminar trains students in historical research techniques and the writing of history, and fulfills the University's Junior Writing requirement. See the History Department course description guide for various sectional sub-titles and descriptions.

Open to Seniors and Juniors in History, Middle East and Judaic majors only. US Immigration History: In this seminar, we will examine the roles race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality have played in U.S. immigration history and policy from the arrival of the first large wave of immigrants to the U.S. (the Irish), through the first racially-based immigration act (the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882), to the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965, which eliminated quotas based on national origins. Students will read and engage with both primary and secondary source material. During the first third of the semester, students will read scholarly articles and monographs on selected topics and lead group discussions. A short paper will be required for each reading. In the remainder of the semester, students will select their own topics and research and produce an original paper (approximately 20 pages). Students will also engage in peer review and evaluation of their work as they move through the research, drafting, and writing stages of their papers. Must not have completed 595I.