Invitation to History (Theme: The Pandemic Century) (HIST*1050) | College of Arts

Invitation to History (Theme: The Pandemic Century) (HIST*1050)

Code and section: HIST*1050*01

Term: Winter 2023

Instructor: Catherine Carstairs

Details

Details

Professor Catherine Carstairs
Office: MacKinnon Extension 1004
Office Hours: TBD
Phone: (519) 824-4120 Ext. 53185
Email: ccarstai@uoguelph.ca

Invitation to History

Introduces students to the basics of the historian’s craft including interpreting primary sources, locating and critically analyzing secondary sources and writing for History. In small classes of fifty students or less, it will provide you with the tools you need for success in your History major, minor or area of concentration.

Section*01: The Pandemic Century

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic occurred a century after the 1918-9 pandemic flu epidemic.  In this course, we will examine the past century of pandemics beginning with influenza and continuing with polio, AIDS, Ebola SARS, Zika and COVID-19. All students will complete an oral interview about the University of Guelph’s experience with COVID-19.  

Course Delivery

This course is planned for face-to-face delivery.

Learning Outcomes

Upon finishing this course you will learn:

  1. how to distinguish between a scholarly and a non-scholarly source
  2. how to manage your time in university for success
  3. how to cite sources appropriately in history classes
  4. how to distinguish between important information and unnecessary details
  5. what is academic misconduct and how to avoid it
  6. how to improve your oral and written communication
  7. that historical interpretations change over time and in response to evidence
  8. that history is a global enterprise and the value of understanding the history of different cultures, regions and states.

Assignments

Identifying Scholarly Sources: 10% 
Completing and transcribing an Oral Interview: 20%
Reviewing a Peer Reviewed Article: 10%
Presentation: 10% 
Paper: 30%
Class Participation: 20%

Texts Required:

  • Mark Honigsbaum, The Pandemic Century: One Hundred Years of Panic, Hysteria and Hubris

**Please note: This is a preliminary web course description only. The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description.  The final, binding course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester.**

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