Please note that the schedule is subject to change based on weather or other external factors as well as our progress through the semester.
| Week | Topics and Readings | Assignments (due Sunday, 4pm unless noted) |
| 1 | Weds., Jan. 21 Introduction: Why base a course on Benjamin Franklin? | |
| 2 | Mon., Jan. 26 Understanding Franklin and Introducing Primary Sources
Reading: Rampolla, 1-15; Franklin, Autobiography, Part I, 27-85 Weds., Jan. 28 Franklin’s World and Introducing Secondary Sources Reading: Rampolla, 15-21; Simon P. Newman, “Benjamin Franklin and the Leather-Apron Men: The Politics of Class in Eighteenth-Century Philadelphia,” Journal of American Studies 43, no. 2 (2009): 161-75; W. Caleb McDaniel, “How to Read for History” (2008) |
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| 3 |
Mon., Feb. 2 Understanding Franklin Weds., Feb. 4 The Eighteenth Century Online |
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| 4 |
Mon., Feb. 9 Conducting Research
Reading: Rampolla, 77-93
Weds., Feb. 11 Placing Franklin in Context
Reading: Three articles from The Atlantic World of Print in the Age of Franklin, special issue of Early American Studies, vol. 8, no. 1 (Winter 2010)
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| 5 |
Mon., Feb. 16 NO CLASS – Presidents’ Day
Weds., Feb 18 Franklin: Alternative Takes
Reading: David Waldstreicher, “Capitalism, Slavery, and Benjamin Franklin’s American Revolution,” in The Economy of Early America: Historical Perspectives and New Directions, ed. Cathy Matson (University Park, Pa., 2001), 183-217; Jennifer Jordan Baker, “Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography and the Credibility of Personality,” Early American Literature 35, no. 3 (2000): 274-93
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Due Monday, February 16: Analysis of a primary source and annotations of 3 secondary sources
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| 6 |
Mon., Feb. 23 Designing a Research Paper
Reading: Rampolla, 49-67
Weds., Feb. 25 Documentation
Reading: Rampola, 111-49 (browse)
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Updated annotated bibliography with additional sources |
| 7 |
Mon., Mar. 2 Conferences
Weds., Mar. 4 Conferences
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| 8 |
Mon., Mar. 9 Plagiarism
Reading: Rampolla, 98-105
Weds., Mar. 11 The Writing Process
Reading: Rampolla, 93-98
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5-page research prospectus |
| 9 |
Mar. 16-20 NO CLASS – Spring Break
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Work on paper outline |
| 10 |
Mon., Mar. 23 Working with Primary Sources
Reading: Rampolla, 106-13; Bring a primary sources to class that you’ve had trouble analyzing/understanding
Weds., Mar. 25 Working with Primary Sources
Reading: Bring a primary sources to class that you’ve had trouble analyzing/understanding
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Detailed outline |
| 11 |
Mon., Mar. 30 Conferences
Weds., Apr. 1 Conferences
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Introduction and at least five body paragraphs |
| 12 |
Mon., Apr. 6 Writing Skills
Reading: TBA
Weds., Apr. 8 Writing Skills
Reading: TBA
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Five additional body paragraphs |
| 13 |
Mon., Apr. 13 Revision
Reading: Rampolla, 67-76
Weds., Apr. 15 Peer Review Day
Reading: Assigned paper draft
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Due Friday, April 10: First draft |
| 14 |
Mon., Apr. 20 NO CLASS – Patriot’s Day
Weds., Apr. 22 Conferences
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Due Monday, Apr. 20: Self-assessment, response to peer review, plan for revisions |
| 15 |
Mon., Apr. 27 Oral Presentations
Weds., Apr. 29 Oral Presentations
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Due Wednesday, April 29: Final draft of paper |
Joseph M. Adelman 