Assignments

The readings and weekly exercises will be listed in the schedule, which is subject to change during the course of the semester. All readings are available online at no cost. The hyperlinks following each article will get you the pdf if you are logged in on campus. If you want to get access from home, you will have to either save the article while on campus or authenticate through the library website and search for the journal or use the citation linker.

 

There will be two types of written assignments:

 

1.    Statistics and computer exercises. There will be regular assignments to help ensure that everyone is up to speed on the material. These assignments will include a combination of textbook problems that you will do by hand, questions that require you to use SPSS, as well as tasks that will help you complete your final research project. During the latter part of the course, the homework will be a table or graph of your choosing. You will prepare a table or graph of your own design with substantive historical findings, using the methods we are learning.

 

2.    Research project. In the latter half of the course, we will focus on substantive historical research projects. You will present the findings of your research in two formats, an oral presentation and a poster. Both the oral presentation and the poster will describe your research question, sources, methods, and findings. You will present a 10-minute PowerPoint to the class and prepare a poster for the famous Quantitative History Poster Session at the end of the semester, which is widely attended by faculty and students from several departments. Prizes will be awarded, including the coveted "People's Choice Award," determined by popular vote.

 

Most of the quantitative assignments and research projects will be based on the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS), the fabulous general-purpose historical database covering the United States from 1850 through 1990. IPUMS was created right here at the University. Students who wish to use other historical data for their research projects should contact me right away for approval. 

 

Grading and Expectations

 

1.    Classroom attendance and participation: 20%

Attendance is absolutely essential. We have no textbook, so if you do not attend class there is no alternative way to get the material.

 

2.    Statistics and computer exercises: 15%.

I encourage you to work together on the statistics and computer exercises; in fact, since we have no TA I will be relying on those of you who are able to do a particular problem or method to help me teach the others. You should submit it via e-mail to ruggles@umn.edu. Unless otherwise specified, the assignments are due on Thursday of the week in which they appear. Late assignments will be penalized 5% per day. If you wish to dispute a grade, you must do so within one week of receiving it.

 

3.    Quizzes: 15%

Probably three. Don’t worry, I’ll warn you when they are and what will be on them.

 

4.    In-class presentation: 10%

Two brief presentations of research findings. Details forthcoming.

 

5.    Research Project: 40%

Final projects must present original quantitative research findings about the past. PowerPoint and Poster presentations.