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.