Invitation to History

Introduces students to the basics of the historian’s craft including interpreting primary sources, locating and critically analyzing secondary sources and writing for History. In small classes of fifty students or less, it will provide you with the tools you need for success in your History major, minor or area of concentration.

Section*01: Student Life: University of Guelph

The University of Guelph was established in 1964, but it has a much longer history!  In 2024, the Ontario Agricultural College, which is part of the University of Guelph, will be celebrating its 150th anniversary. As part of this project, students in Hist*1050 will all be conducting interviews with alumni of the University of Guelph to learn more about student life in the past. We will also learn more about the history of university education at the University of Guelph and beyond.  

Course Delivery

This course is planned for face-to-face delivery.

Learning Outcomes

Upon finishing this course you will learn:

1. how to distinguish between a scholarly and a non-scholarly source
2. how to manage your time in university for success
3. how to cite sources appropriately in history classes
4. how to distinguish between important information and unnecessary details
5. what is academic misconduct and how to avoid it
6. how to improve your oral and written communication
7. that historical interpretations change over time and in response to evidence
8. that history is a global enterprise and the value of understanding the history of different cultures, regions and states.

Assignments

Identifying Scholarly Sources: 10% 
Completing and transcribing an Oral Interview: 20%
Reviewing a Peer Reviewed Article: 10%
Presentation: 10% 
Paper: 30%
Class Participation: 20%

Texts Required

All material will be available on-line.

*Please note: This is a preliminary web course description only. The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description. The final, binding course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester.