Department of Economics
University of California
Spring 1999
Professor Martha Olney

Economics 114 is an undergraduate seminar in topics in U.S. economic history. This semester we will look at the common wisdom about various aspects of economic history that we gain from popular films and assess the accuracy or inaccuracy of that "wisdom" gained from film. In addition, term papers will be required for this course. Economics 114 is especially recommended for junior economics majors who anticipate writing a senior thesis. The term papers written in undergraduate seminars can become the basis for a senior honor's thesis.

 
Adding the Course

 Enrollment is limited to 25 students. You must have passed Economics 113 in a previous semester in order to take this course. Priority is given to economics majors. No admissions after February 2.

 Admission is through instructor approval. To petition for admission, submit the following to Professor Olney
(1) a copy of your transcript, and
(2) a one-page paper explaining why you want to take Economics 114.

You can place the information in Professor Olney's mailbox in 611 Evans or e-mail it to MOlney@econ.berkeley.edu. Decisions on admission will be made by Friday, January 22. Admissions lists will be posted at 691 Evans and 508-2 Evans. Course entry codes will be e-mailed to students who are admitted to the seminar. Check your e-mail!

 
Professor's Office Hours
Professor Olney, 691 Evans Hall, 642-6083, MOlney@econ.berkeley.edu
 Drop-in: Mondays 4:30-5:30 p.m.; Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. Other times by appointment.

 I am also teaching Econ 1 this semester so my office hours might be crowded. Good times for Econ 114 students to catch me: walk back to my office with me after class.

Required Textbook and Reader
 There is no textbook or reader for the course.

Goals for This Seminar and Strategy

 I have three primary goals for this course. First, I want you to further develop your critical thinking and viewing skills. Second, I want you to develop research skills. And third, I want you to acquire an appreciation for the extent to which we often learn our history from the movies.

To accomplish these goals, we will have three three-week film modules in which we will watch a film, form research questions based on the film's assertions, research those questions in groups, and report the research results. In addition, your critical thinking and research skills will be developed through the writing of a research term paper, discussed in detail below.

Responsibilities and Requirements

 My responsibilities are to come to class prepared, encourage appropriate class participation, promptly grade and return papers, be available during scheduled office hours and as possible for scheduled appointments, and stimulate an enthusiasm for economics, for history, and for learning.

 Your responsibilities are to attend and participate in the seminar three hours per week, attentively watch the film during class time (or, if you are unable to attend, in the Media Center of Moffitt Library within days of the class viewing), participate in the research design, complete all assignments on time, and write and present a term paper.

Special Accommodations

 If you require special accommodations due to learning or other disability, speak with Professor Olney no later than February 3. You will need an evaluation form from Disabled Students' Program (230 César Chávez Center).
 

Letter of Introduction

 For our second meeting, please write a one-page letter of introduction of yourself to Professor Olney. Include your name and anything about yourself that you would like to share. This may be typed or handwritten. It may be brought to class on January 27 or sent by e-mail to MOlney@econ.berkeley.edu. It will not be graded nor returned.

 
Film Modules

 There will be three 3-week film modules. Each module counts for 15 percent of your course grade. During week 1's meeting, we will watch a film that either directly or indirectly offers lessons about some aspect of U.S. economic history. We will watch with pen in hand, with an eye toward picking out what the film maker has stated about the economy. During week 2's meeting, we will discuss what economic history we saw in the film, develop research questions based on the assertions in the film, form groups of up to four people, plan and begin our research. During week 3's meeting, your group will discuss and turn in a 4 to 7 page paper reporting on the research your group has conducted. At week 3's meeting, you will also turn in an individual confidential evaluation of yourself and your team members. In the evaluation, give each member of your team including yourself an individual score out of 10 possible points for participation and contribution to the group's paper. Include a few comments accounting for the number of points awarded. Your class participation and team evaluation component of your grade (worth 10 percent) will be based in part on your teammates' evaluations of your contribution to the group paper.
 

Term Paper

 An important requirement for this course is a term paper. You should choose a topic in U.S. economic history. It need not be suggested by the films we watch, but it should be about some aspect of U.S. economic history. All topics must be approved by Professor Olney. Most students try to choose a topic that is too broad (for example, "Slavery in the U.S."). It is simply impossible to write anything interesting on such a broad topic. For most people, the challenge is narrowing the topic down. For example, "Evidence of Nutritional Attainment in African Slaves in the American South" is a topic that is probably narrow enough to allow the writing of an interesting and worthwhile paper.

 If you do not have an initial topic of interest, I suggest two strategies. First, thumb through your Economics 113 textbook and make a list of the topics that particularly interested you. One of those topics might provide the basis for a term paper topic. Second, go to the library and thumb through old issues of Journal of Economic History, Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Social Science History, or Journal of Social History. Keep a list of the papers that particularly interested you. If neither of these strategies turns up a topic that is of interest to you, then you really should not be taking this seminar.

 You will need to manage your time well in order to complete the requirements for this seminar. To help you along, there are several preliminary deadlines and one final deadline connected with the term paper.

Topic Idea Due Wednesday, February 10
 This should be a topic you have narrowed down at least somewhat. Professor Olney will give you feedback on your topic idea.

 Discuss Topic Wednesday, February 24
 On this date, you will discuss your term paper topic with others in the seminar in groups.

Bibliography Due Wednesday, March 10
 This should be an annotated bibliography of at least seven items. At least one item must be a primary source, not a secondary one. "Annotated" means that you need to write one or two sentences about each item in the bibliography, summarizing what is in the item and how it will be useful to your research.

First Draft Due Wednesday, April 7
This can have some holes in it, but not many. There should be at least 8 usable pages of text in your first draft. The first draft should reflect a carefully thought-out outline of the paper. It may not have all the empirical work completed; there may be some literature you have not yet consulted; it will still need some work. But it should be possible from this first draft to have a clear idea of where you are headed with your final draft.

Presentation Wednesdays, April 21, April 28, and May 5
 You will have 10 minutes to present the main findings of your term paper to the class. When you prepare your presentation, keep in mind that a good presentation should clearly and concisely tell your audience (1) what your topic is, (2) why it is an interesting topic, (3) what others had written previously on this topic, and (4) what you have found. You should spend half of your time on the first three points and half your time on the last point. 10 percent of your course grade will depend upon your term paper presentation.

Final Draft Due Friday, April 30, 5:00 p.m.
 15 to 20 pages. Double-spaced. One-inch margins on all sides. Pages numbered. Reasonable font size. Tables imbedded in text. Something you are proud of. Late papers lose grade per 24-hour day or part thereof. For example, papers received Monday morning, May 3 will lose one full grade (a B paper receives only a C; an A- paper receives only a B-). Papers received before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5 will lose 5/3 of grade (a B paper receives a D+).

Course Grades

 Your course grade will depend upon your performance on the following, with weights as indicated:
 

Academic Honesty Policy

 In fairness to students who put in an honest effort, cheaters will be treated harshly. Any evidence of cheating will result in a score of zero (0) on that assignment or paper. Cheating on the term paper will result in a failing grade (F) for the course. Incidences of cheating will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct, which may administer additional punishment. Cheating includes plagiarism. Plagiarism includes appropriation of whole passages with or without credit, appropriation of words and phrases without credit, appropriation of both main and supporting ideas without credit, and paraphrasing without credit. Plagiarism also includes submitting a paper written by someone else. If you are unsure of how to properly cite sources, be sure to ask Professor Olney for guidance.

 Course Outline and Due Dates

Wednesday, January 20
Introduction to Seminar; Overview of Course; Interests and Backgrounds

Wednesday, January 27
Letter of introduction due; Doing Economic Research (meet in usual room in Etcheverry); Using the Library (we will all move to 450C Moffitt for seminar by librarian Bill Whitson)
 

Wednesday, February 17
Reports on your research; Group Papers due

Wednesday, March 10
Annotated Bibliography Due; Discussion of Film; Research Questions; Planning the Research

Wednesday, March 17
Reports on your research; Group Papers due

Wednesday, April 7
8+ page Draft of Term Paper due; Discussion of Film; Research Questions; Planning the Research

Wednesday, April 14
Reports on your research; Group Papers due

Presentations

 Wednesday, April 21
 Wednesday, April 28
Wednesday, May 6
        Presentation of Term Papers

Friday, April 30, 5:00 p.m. Term Papers due