Doing History

An Introduction to the Historian's Craft, with Workbook Activities

Wendy Pojmann, Barbara Reeves-Ellington, and Karen Mahar

The unique two part structure can be assigned separately or together
Offers concrete models of work by students and professional historians to emulate in their own research and writing with explanations of the strengths and weaknesses of those authors
Two-part format combines intellectually engaging discussions of the discipline of history with practical, hands-on methodology

Doing History

An Introduction to the Historian's Craft, with Workbook Activities

Wendy Pojmann, Barbara Reeves-Ellington, and Karen Mahar

Description

In this era of Twitter and text-messaging, which calls into question previously accepted notions of literacy, today's students need a new and more pragmatic approach to developing writing and research skills. While a number of guides to historical research and writing and several historical methodology texts have appeared in the past several years, no single text accomplishes what Doing History: An Introduction to the Historian's Craft does. Through a unique two-part organization, authors Wendy Pojmann, Barbara Reeves-Ellington, and Karen Ward Mahar offer specific assignments to identify students' weaknesses and build their skills. They provide concrete examples of historical approaches and theories and detailed guidelines to help students complete their work within the constraints of the academic term. The text integrates the complexities of historical research and writing into a single, comprehensive narrative without compromising depth and breadth. Its lively and accessible writing style helps students grapple with sophisticated ideas while also avoiding the pitfalls that commonly entrap them as they learn to think and write as historians. The book's intellectually engaging discussions of the discipline of history in Part One: the Historian's Craft are enriched by solid examples of published scholarship. Students preparing research projects will benefit from straightforward guidelines for the research and writing process. In addition, the integrated workbook in Part Two: Doing History Workbook Exercises allows them to hone their skills with assessment exercises and skill-building assignments.

Doing History

An Introduction to the Historian's Craft, with Workbook Activities

Wendy Pojmann, Barbara Reeves-Ellington, and Karen Mahar

Preface
About the Authors
Part One: Handbook
Chapter 1:What is the Discipline of History
Chapter 2: The Development of the Discipline
Chapter 3: Historiography
Chapter 4: Primary Sources
Chapter 5: Research
Chapter 6: Writing
Part Two: Workbook
Chapter 1:What is the Discipline of History
Chapter 2: The Development of the Discipline
Chapter 3: Historiography
Chapter 4: Primary Sources
Chapter 5: Research
Chapter 6: Writing
Appendix
Glossary
Additional Readings
Index

Doing History

An Introduction to the Historian's Craft, with Workbook Activities

Wendy Pojmann, Barbara Reeves-Ellington, and Karen Mahar

Author Information

Wendy Pojmann, Barbara Reeves-Ellington, and Karen Mahar

Wendy Pojmann is Professor of History at Siena College.

Barbara Reeves-Ellington is former Associate Professor of History at Siena College.

Karen Ward Mahar is Professor of History at Siena College and the Co-Director of the American Studies Program.

Doing History

An Introduction to the Historian's Craft, with Workbook Activities

Wendy Pojmann, Barbara Reeves-Ellington, and Karen Mahar

Reviews and Awards

"This is the first book that comprehensively prepares undergraduate history majors in the U.S. for writing a bachelor's thesis. Not only do the authors explain historiography and the methods of academic historians clearly and fully, but they also provide a detailed and immensely helpful guide to undertaking original research. This book is exactly what I've always wanted to help explain the mysteries of professional historical research to my students." - Scott K. Taylor, University of Kentucky

"This text fills a real need. The authors explain concepts in clear and accessible language, although they never shy away from dealing with some of the most complicated issues in the field." - Connie Shemo, State University of New York, Plattsburgh

"Doing History is very well crafted. It strikes the right balance between methods of historical and historiographical analysis. The writing is accessible and the authors move logically through defining history as a discipline, laying out the major types of history and how they have evolved over time, introducing students to the concept of historiography, teaching students how to examine primary and secondary sources, and walking them through the development of a research paper." - W. Brian Newsome, Elizabethtown College