Section outline

  • Announcements + Syllabus

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  • Resources: Library Guide and Study Carrels

  • Week 1 (Week of August 30): Proposing a Topic

    Due Sunday 8/30, 11:59 pm: Please upload (as a PDF or Word doc) a one- or two-paragraph proposal for a potential capstone project, indicating the topic and key questions you hope to explore this semester. If you are not certain about your topic yet, you can submit two (one- to two-paragraph long) proposals. 

    IN CLASS: Monday 8/31: Class Meeting: Proposing a Topic
    In class, we will discuss the challenge of choosing a project topic – what makes a good historical topic and/or question, how do you decide the appropriate scale and scope of the project, and how might availability of sources shape your thinking. We will also read some topic statements from last year.

    • Mini-Proposal - Due Sunday August 30 at 11:59 pm Assignment
      Opened: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 12:00 AM
      Due: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 11:59 PM

      Due Sunday 8/30, 11:59 pm: 

      Please upload to Moodle (as a Word doc or PDF) a one- or two-paragraph mini-proposal for a potential capstone project, addressing the following questions: 

      1. What is the general topic you hope to explore?
      2. What are the key questions you hope to answer? 
      3. What kind of archival (primary) sources might you look for? And/or who do you see as the key voices or historic actors whose story you want to trace?
      4. Why is this topic / why are these questions significant? What’s at stake in tracing this history? 
      5. What form do you think the project will take?
      Most students write a 20-25 page essay, but you may also produce an alternative assignment — for example, a digital project, a proposal for future research (approximately 15-20 pages); or a syllabus for a course with a supporting document (approximately 10-15 pages) explaining why and how it is designed and to what pedagogical ends. Whatever form it takes, the final project should articulate your research question and your findings, demonstrate competency with primary and secondary sources on which your project is based, and be supported by evidence and rigorous analysis.  
       
      Your topic may build on something you’ve worked on before, or it could be something totally new. You are not committing to a topic, but please do take some time with the assignment. The senior seminar is an opportunity to delve deeper into a topic than you’ve have gotten to before, so one key goal is to figure out a topic you’ll feel excited to spend a semester (or longer) with. If you are still between topics, you may submit two mini-proposals. 

  • Week 2: Week of Sept 6: No class (Labor Day) / Individual Meetings with Professor Vider

    Due Monday 9/7, 11:59 PM: Weekly progress report #1 + Two Annotations
    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: How are you thinking about (or rethinking) your topic proposal after our meeting last week? What do you see as the potential pathways and challenges for researching this topic?

    For the annotated bibliography: Please complete at least two annotations (at least one primary source, at least one secondary source).

    NO CLASS / Required individual meetings with Professor Vider
    Please schedule an individual meeting with Professor Vider to discuss your project (W 9/9 11:45 am to 2:15 pm sign up here or email to set up another time)

    • Weekly progress report #1 - due Monday 9/7, 11:59 pm Forum

      Due every Sunday night, 11:59, unless otherwise noted, starting Week 2 

      Each week you will write a brief, one- or two-paragraph report (visible as a forum to the full class on Moodle) that explains what you did on your project and what impact that work has had on your understanding of your project. i.e. What new secondary and primary sources did you read?  What historiographical debates did you encounter on your subject?  What new evidence/primary sourcedid you incorporate into your research?  Any new approaches, questions, material related to your research? We have included specific prompts for each week to help guide your research process towards the next major assignment, though you may want to write more.

      For report #1, some questions for potential reflection: How are you thinking about (or rethinking) your topic proposal after our meeting last week? What do you see as the potential pathways and challenges for researching this topic?

    • Two Annotations - Due Monday 9/7, 11:59 PM Assignment
      Opened: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 12:00 AM
      Due: Monday, September 7, 2026, 11:59 PM

      At least two sources a week (one primary, one secondary), due Monday 9/7, Sunday 9/13, and Sunday 9/20, 11:59 PM

      As part of the preliminary research and planning of your project, you will be asked to build an annotated bibliography of at least six sources—with two new sources due each week from Week 2 to 4. Annotations should include:
      (1)    Standard bibliographical information (i.e. author, title, date, publisher, etc.) in Chicago Style format
      (2)    Summary of the source (one to three sentences)
      (3)    Brief explanation (one to three sentences) of how the source relates to the historical question you are examining. 

      For Monday 9/7: Please complete at least two annotations (at least one primary source, at least one secondary source). Please upload as a PDF or Word doc

  • Week 3. Week of September 13: Class at Canaday Library with Jennifer Coval

    Due Sunday 9/13, 11:59 PM: Weekly progress report #2 + Two Annotations
    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: How has the research been going so far? Which has been more challenging, finding primary or secondary sources? What would be your dream source for your topic? How are you feeling right now about your topic?

    For the annotated bibliography: Please complete at least two annotations (at least one primary source, at least one secondary source), added to previous entries.

    IN CLASS: Class Meeting in Canaday Seminar Room
    Introduction to research resources with librarian Jennifer Coval

    Between September 15 and September 28 you must meet with Jennifer Coval, history librarian to discuss your research interest. To set up an appointment use https://brynmawr-edu.zoom.us/zbook/jennifer-coval

  • Week 4. Week of September 20: Individual Meetings with Professor Pilgrim

    Due Sunday 9/20, 11:59 PM: Weekly progress report #3 + completed annotated bibliography

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: Were there any sources, databases, or archives you learned about during last week’s class with Jennifer Coval that you found especially helpful or promising? Do you feel like you have found some good primary sources so far, or know where to look? Are you having trouble finding secondary sources that feel relevant? 

    For the annotated bibliography: Please complete at least two more annotations (at least one primary source, at least one secondary source) and submit your full annotated bibliography (at least six sources total).

    NO CLASS / Required individual meetings with Professor Pilgrim
    Please schedule a time to meet with Professor Pilgrim to discuss your project. 

  • Week 5. Week of September 27: Proposal Workshop

    Due Sunday 9/27, 11:59 PM: Weekly progress report #4 + Proposal with bibliography (10-15 sources, at least 6 annotated)

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: How have your ideas for the project changed since you wrote your initial mini-proposal at the end of August? Do you have any concerns about the project or your research so far? What do you feel most excited to do next? 

    IN CLASS: We will break up into small groups to read and workshop the proposals.

    • Weekly progress report #4- due Sunday 9/27, 11:59 pm Forum
    • Project proposal plus bibliography - Due Sunday 9/27, 11:59 PM Assignment
      Opened: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 12:00 AM
      Due: Sunday, September 27, 2026, 11:59 PM

      A 2 to 3-page proposal (double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman-style font) that introduces your specific topic, question, argument, and—if not a research paper—the format and intended audience. Proposal should address (1) The topic and question you plan to address; (2) the secondary sources you plan to draw on / be in conversation with; (3) the primary sources you plan to research to build your analysis and argument. 

      Please also include a bibliography of 10-15 sources (including the 6 sources from your annotated bibliography—you can but do not need to include annotations) 

      All projects are subject to departmental approval

  • Week 6. Week of October 4: Joint Meeting with Professor Vider and Professor Pilgrim

    Due Sunday 10/4, 11:59 PM: Weekly progress report #5
    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: What did you find most helpful (or confusing) from last week’s workshops? Are there any gaps in your research/bibliography you want to address? Is there a secondary source or two that might be especially helpful to read over the fall break? 

    JOINT MEETINGS / NO CLASS THIS WEEK
    Please sign up for a joint meeting with Professor Vider and Professor Pilgrim (during or after class time) to discuss your project.

  • Week 7. Fall Break

  • Week 8. Week of October 18: Primary Source Presentations

    Due Sunday 10/18, 11:59 pm: Weekly progress report #6 + a slide for primary source presentation 

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: What primary source do you plan to share tomorrow? What do you think is significant or interesting about it, and how does it connect to your larger topic/question/argument? What are your goals for your research and writing over the next few weeks?

    IN CLASS: Primary source presentations and discussion

  • Week 9. Week of October 25: Individual Meetings

    Due Sunday 10/25, 11:59 PM: Weekly progress report #7
    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: What did you find useful about the primary source presentation last week? What research and/or writing have you done in the last week? Have you found that there are particular times or places where you write/work best?

    NO CLASS / Required individual meetings
    Please sign up for meeting with either Professor Pilgrim or Professor Vider

    **Due Friday 10/30, 11:59 PM: Please upload your introduction to Moodle, AND email to your workshop groups**

    • Weekly progress report #7 due Sunday 10/25, 11:59 PM Forum
    • Introduction - Due Friday 10/30, 11:59 PM Assignment
      Opened: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 12:00 AM
      Due: Friday, October 30, 2026, 11:59 PM

      This assignment is meant to provide a first draft of your introduction. It may draw on material you’ve already written in your proposal.

      In approximately five pages (double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman font), please address the following:
      (1)    Introduce your topic and the major cultural, political, and or/social contexts.
      (2)    Provide a clear articulation of the main question(s) that your final project seeks to answer
      (3)    Give an overview of the existing historiography—what have other scholars written about your topic, and how will your paper build on/expand on their work? 
      (4)    Give an overview of the primary (archival) sources you plan to draw on.

      Please upload your introduction to Moodle, AND email to your workshop groups

  • Week 10. Week of November 1: Introduction Workshop

    Due Sunday 11/1, 11:59 pm: Weekly progress report #8 

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: How did writing the introduction go? How do you feel about your historiography? Do you think you have enough sources (primary and secondary) at this stage to write the paper, or do you feel like there are still sources you would like to look for?

    IN CLASS: Introduction workshops 
    Please come to class prepared to discuss introductions.

  • Week 11. Week of November 8: Optional Individual Meetings

    Due Sunday 11/8, 11:59 pm: Weekly progress report #9

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: What were some of the major comments from the introduction workshop? What feedback was most helpful? Was there any feedback you think you won’t take – and why? 

    NO CLASS / Optional individual meetings

    **Due Friday 11/13, 11:59 pm: Please upload your partial draft to Moodle, and email to your workshop groups**

    • Weekly progress report #9 due Sunday 11/8, 11:59 PM Forum
    • Partial Draft + Outline Due Friday 11/13, 11:59 pm Assignment
      Opened: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 12:00 AM
      Due: Friday, November 13, 2026, 11:59 PM

      This assignment is meant to build on your introduction, to provide a draft of the first 10-12 pages of the final paper (or equivalent in the case of an alternative format), with an outline of additional work needed to complete the project. This partial draft should include your introduction from 10/30 (making edits based on earlier feedback), plus an additional 5 to 6 pages of writing, focused on analysis of your archival sources.

  • Week 12. Week of November 15: Partial Draft Workshops

    Due Sunday 11/15, 11:59 pm: Weekly progress report #10

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: How do you feel about the 10-12 pages you have written so far? Where do you think you have the most work to do? Is there anything you are especially curious to hear or ask about during the workshop?

    IN CLASS: Partial draft workshops
    Please come to class prepared to discuss drafts.

  • Week 13. Week of November 22: Optional Individual Meetings

    Due Sunday 11/22, 11:59 pm: Weekly progress report #11

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: What were some of the comments from the draft workshop? What feedback was most helpful? Was there any feedback you think you won’t take – and why? 

    NO CLASS: Optional individual meetings

  • Week 14. Week of November 29: Optional Individual Meetings

    Due Sunday 11/29, 11:59 pm: Weekly progress report #12

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: What is your plan to complete a full draft by the end of Week 15? What do you think is most important to work on next? Do you think the argument is clear – or are there ways to make it clearer? Are there important sources you haven’t integrated yet? 

    NO CLASS: Optional individual meetings

  • Week 15. Week of December 6: Primary Source Presentation #2

    Due Sunday 12/6, 11:59 pm: Weekly progress report #13 + presentation slide 

    For your weekly progress report, some questions for potential reflection: How would you describe your experience of research this semester? What surprised you about the process and/or the material you researched? What were some of the most exciting moments? What were some of the major challenges, and how did you address those challenges?

    IN CLASS: Primary source presentations and reflections on the semester

  • Final Project Presentation – Monday, Dec 14, 10 am to 1 pm

  • Final Projects + Reflections Due Friday 12/18, 12:30 PM

    Please upload your final project to Moodle, along with a 3-page reflection paper (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font) providing a brief discussion on the processes (research, writing, designing) that were involved in creating your capstone project. Discuss your methods and the strategies you employed as well as the challenges that you faced. Then envision the possible futures of your research project. If you had all the resources (including time) that you could need, what would the project become?

    • Final Project Assignment
      Opened: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 1:00 AM
      Due: Friday, December 18, 2026, 12:30 PM
    • Reflection Paper Assignment
      Opened: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 1:00 AM
      Due: Friday, December 18, 2026, 12:30 PM