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Required Documents and Schedule

Major Examination Documents

Senior history majors must submit the following four documents related to oral and written exams. (This year's due dates and times are in the tables at the bottom of the page.):

1. The "Statement of Courses and Exams" is different for History and History-ES majors: History Statement of Courses and Exams and History-ES Statement of Courses and Exams.

NOTE: The rest of this page has not yet been updated with information on the new capstone paper version of exams.

2. The "Oral Examination Proposal" will provide a 100- to 200- word description of a topic for the exam. The topic shall present a question or issue to be examined across two geographic areas, specifying the time periods and areas involved. The paragraph may suggest why you are interested in the topic or what you expect to find. The proposal must be signed by the two professors, one for each of the geographic areas studied, who will conduct the oral examination. The "Oral Examination Proposal" must be appended to the "Statement of Coursework and Exams".

3. The "Annotated Bibliography" and "Revised Oral Examination Proposal" The annotated bibliography is similar to the one you created in History 299. You should have a minimum of four sources for each area in your comparative project. Each entry in the annotated bibliography will consist of five parts:

  1. regular bibliography entry
  2. a brief description of the contents
  3. any essential information about the author
  4. identify the main issues, themes, and/or arguments
  5. assess the source's potential uses and value for your project

You will also revise the "Oral Exam Proposal"; in accord with how your project has developed since October. Both of these documents must be signed by the two faculty members who will conduct the oral exam.

4. The "Initial Outline of the Oral Presentation and Updated Bibliography" should reflect your preliminary research. At this point, you must have completed enough research to have an idea of what material will be covered in the presentation. The outline is not to exceed one page, with one-inch margins and a legible typeface no smaller than 12 points, i.e., the outline is a guide to the presentation, not a narrative to be used by the student. The updated bibliography should indicate the relevant materials that you have identified. This may include materials assigned in classes you have taken or additional research. This bibliography does NOT need to be annotated. This document must be signed by both professors.

5. The "Final Outline" is the actual document that you will use during the oral examination. Like the initial outline, it will not exceed one page, with one-inch margins and a typeface of at least 12 points. The outline should cover the major points of the presentation and may provide some of the details to be discussed. In order for this outline to be an effective guide to the oral presentation, most of the research must be completed before the outline is written. The signatures of both professors must be obtained before the outline is handed in. No further changes will be allowed in this document.

The student must provide copies of all required documents to Professor Dott's box on the following schedules:

Schedule of Due Dates and Exams

May Candidates

Oral Exam Proposal & Statement of Courses and Exams Friday, October 18, 2019 4:00 pm
Oral Exam Annotated Bibliography and Revision of Proposal Friday, January 31, 2020 4:00 pm
Preliminary Outline and Updated Bibliography Friday, February 21, 2020 4:00 pm
Final Oral Outline Friday, March 13, 2020 4:00 pm
Field Written Exam Monday, March 30, 2020 4:00 pm
Oral Exams (scheduled by the Department) March 31 - April 3, 2020 TBD

December Candidates

Oral Exam Proposal & Statement of Courses and Exams Friday, October 18, 2019 4:00 pm
Oral Exam Annotated Bibliography and Revision of Proposal Friday, November 1, 2019 4:00 pm
Preliminary Outline and Updated Bibliography Friday, November 22, 2019 4:00 pm
Final Oral Outline Friday, December 6, 2019 4:00 pm
Field Written Exam Monday, December 2, 2019 4:00 pm
Oral Exam Scheduled after Field Exam by Committee TBD
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