1. When historians investigate the past, they use evidence and test its reliability. Discuss the forms of evidence and methods of testing.
2. Discuss the use of computer technology in historical research.
3. What is a philosophy of history?
4. Identify the major schools of historical interpretation.
5. What can you do with the knowledge you will gain from this history course?
6. How should you read our survey text?
7. Describe the best way to take notes in class.
8. How should you give a formal class talk?
9. Our final exam is in essay format. What should you do to make an "A" on the final exam?
10. What is plagiarism?
11. Analyze "How to Write a Research Paper." Briefly discuss the structure of a research paper. How should you apply this information to your course journal summaries and reactions?
Scan each chapter's sub-titles and select the sub-title that interests you most. Craft a journal entry that has the following structure: (1) a title and date; (2) a one-paragraph introduction that includes a listing of those sub-titles you have not chosen; (3) a summary of your selected sub-title section; (4) a one-paragraph conclusion; and (5) a reaction. Total length of your entry using Times New Roman #10 font must not be more than a page and a half.
Read the historical novel, then reflect on the issue of reparations for the Atlantic slave trade. Craft your double-spaced, typed 500-word review according to book review guidelines given in Benjamin's A Student's Guide to History.
Summarize and react to each Vansina chapter in no more than one page. Restate each chapter question and limit your response to one page.
Preface and Chapter 1 ("Before")
Question: What were the historiographical influences on Vansina?
Chapter 2 ("In the Field: Kuba Country")
Question: How would you describe Vansina's life with the Kuba?
Chapter 3 ("Old Africa Rediscovered")
Question: What were the contributions of Fage and Oliver to the discipline of African History?
Chapter 4 ("Toward the Millennium of Independence")
Question: Describe Vansina's experience as a teacher at Louvanium.
Chapter 5 ("On Wisconsin!")
Question: Assuming you are Vansina and you are looking up at the satellites of the West pass over the African sky as he does at the end of the chapter, reflect on your early contributions to creating the formal discipline of African history, especially your influence on it in the US.
Chapter 6 ("The Roaring Sixties")
Question: Discuss the development of the discipline of African history in Africa. As you do, consider Terence Ranger, H.R. Trevor-Roper, Philip Curtin, and Kenneth Dike.
Chapter 7 ("A Restless Temperament")
Question: Discuss Vansina's return to Lovanium in Zaire.
Chapter 8 ("Betwixt and Between")
Question: In Chapter 6 Vansina introduces the UNESCO History of Africa project. Review that section and consider Vansina's contributions to it here in Chapter 8.
Chapter 9 ("Professionals and Doctrines")
Question: Vansina said in 1995 that the discipline of African history is in flux.
One reason for this assertion was the impact of postmodernist views. What did Vansina mean?
Chapter 10 ("Transitions")
Question: Vansina goes through several transitions in the latter stages of his career. One transition concerns his attempt to provide for the future
of African studies at the University of Wisconsin. Discuss this and the problems graduate students now face while earning an advanced degree
in African history.
Chapter 11 ("Living with Africa")
Question: Consider the sociological approach and the history of ideas approach to
the development of the discipline of African history. Discuss Vansina's definition of
"truth" and "interpretation." Consider the state of African history, as Vansina sees it in
1995. Finally, how does Vansina "live" with Africa?
First Online Edition: 20 June 1997
Last Revised: 19 August 2009