UNIT OF STUDY DESCRIPTION

This seminar focuses on how scholars over the past few decades have analyzed race and gender in nineteenth and early twentieth-century U.S. history. We will explore this recent literature in relation to a variety of developments, such as the culture of segregation in the post-war South, changing understandings of citizenship, state regulation of obscenity and abortion, and the reformulation of masculinity and sexuality around the turn of the century. In constructing their own primary research-based papers, students will apply some of the insights gained from this scholarship to their own research projects.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Email: frances.clarke@arts.usyd.edu.au
Phone: 9351 2880 (wk) Office: Rm 838, Brennan

AVAILABILITY OF READING MATERIAL

The essential readings for this seminar are available in Special Reserve. It is your responsibility to obtain this reading each week. All articles have been scanned and are available on electronic reserve.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The Department of History requires satisfactory class attendance as part of participation in a unit of study. Attendance below 80% of the seminars without written evidence of illness or misadventure will be penalized with loss of marks; attendance at less than 50% of the seminars, regardless of the reasons for the absences, will result in the student being deemed not to have participated in the unit of study.

PENALTY FOR LATE WORK

History III:research essays handed in late without extension will be penalised at the rate of 2% per day (weekends count as a single day). Extensions must be sought BEFORE the due date.

History IV: Essays must be submitted by the date set by the History IV Co-ordinator (Zdenko Zlatar). Extensions beyond that date must be approved by the History IV Co-ordinator. Work submitted late without extension will be penalised according to the decision of the History IV examiners’ meeting at the end of the year.

APPEALS

If you are unhappy with a grade, you should first speak to the person who marked your work. Appeals against academic judgements or grading decisions can be made either to the unit of study co-ordinator, or to the Chair of Department. Appeals may be made informally or in writing. An appeal against a grading decision or a request that work be remarked must be made within six months of the release of results for the unit of study, except in exceptional circumstances.

PREREQUISITES

The formal pre-requisite for HSTY3094 is completion of 32 credit points of Senior History or equivalent, including 2901 and 2902. Fourth Year Honours Gender Studies students are also eligible for entry.

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is the theft of intellectual property. The Academic Board of the University of Sydney had defined plagiarism as ‘presenting another person’s ideas, findings or work as one’s own by copying or reproducing the work without due acknowledgement of the source.’ The most common form of plagiarism is presenting written work that contains sentences, paragraphs or longer sections from published work without acknowledgement. In other cases, students reproduce portions of the work of another student and present it as their own. Using the structure of another’s argument is a form of plagiarism, even if the wording is changed. The History Department encourages students to think for themselves. In assessing your work we look for evidence of your understanding and capacity for independent thought, so we are always disappointed to discover plagiarism. Our disappointment is only mitigated by the delight of successful detection: academics have very sensitive antennae and derivative phrasing will swiftly alert our suspicions. Plagiarism from the internet, in particular, is absurdly easy to detect. The Department’s first responsibility is educative, and where plagiarism seems to arise from poor referencing practices or lack of confidence, we will alert you to the problem and suggest strategies for improvement. Regardless of the reasons for it, plagiarized work is never acceptable, and may fail because it does not meet the requirements of academic merit. Where dishonest intent is apparent, the Department may proceed to disciplinary measures. In the most serious cases, university procedures relating to student misconduct may be invoked and can lead to expulsion.