070285 KU Globalgeschichtliche Arbeitstechniken (2017W)

Examination:
Engaged participation in the class activities (50% percent) plus weekly assignments (50%) with a reasonable workload according to 3 ECTS. The assignments will not be graded individually but altogether by using the conventional range of scores from “sehr gut” (1) to “nicht genügend” (5).
Presenters of topics will be randomly chosen so that everybody always has to be prepared. This is not to intimidate students. It is simply a matter of time management.

Preview:
First assignment
Chose a history book you know and find at least three book reviews of it. Use different database (e.g., JSTOR), websites, perhaps also another browser (e.g., Google Scholar). Write a text of 2000 to 3000 characters about who uses which arguments and why, respectively which reviewers base their assessment on emotions and/ or unreflected opinions and, what in comparison, are academic book reviews.
The goal of this task is not to rank the chosen book reviews (informative/useless) but to develop a sense for what an opinion and what an argument is. Please, particularly highlight this aspect in your text.

Second assignment
We all like big narratives, preferably in a history set. Search the internet and find out, why the books/ the series “Game of Thrones” is such a success. Write a short outline (length does not matter) about the reasons you would give in a scholarly debate about the fascination of this epic narrative. You will want to use your notes for a discussion in class about the difference between fiction and historic narrative themes and tools in “Game of Thrones” (chronical order, claims of power, the role of slavery, feudalism, the war on territories, etc.). However, when it comes to an epos, magic plays a role. Does it also belong to a historical narrative? Ask yourself, if treated how history writing would deal with magic.
The goal of this assignment is to understand the possibilities and restrictions of fictional and history writing.

Third assignment
Chose one primary source from the Wien Bibliothek and draw up a handout of it. What, when, where, why, who, how?
Be prepared to present your findings in a short presentation. Besides the handout (please provide copies for all participants), it is recommended to have at least an image of the source available for the audience.
The goal of this task is, to figure out a concise (very short, most 10 minutes) narrative about your finding. Please, consider that your audience wants to listen to a precise and exciting story. My suggestion is to also focus on what is missing or, what your source does not tell or might be hiding. That usually encourages discussion.

Fourth assignment
We are getting into details with tools. According to the number of students, chapter 6 of Linda Olson’s handbook will be divided into parts, and every student will be assigned to prepare a sub-topic from it for the following class. Preparation includes a review and a handout with examples of the topic focused on. The conclusions will be presented and the handouts provided on paper.
The goal of this assignment consists of establishing a common standard for the examination of the texts to proofread.