Assignments

I. Reaction Papers

Three reaction papers are required for the course, each one is worth 8 points. They should be 2-3 pages, double-spaced.  Summarize the methods and findings of the class readings, i.e. from articles or book chapters, and then comment. Comments should address some of the following sorts of questions:

• What questions does this article raise for you and why?
• Why are the odds it discusses historically important?
• What analogies come to mind with other cases, including contemporary situations?
• How has this reading affected your understanding and assessment of medical issues?
• If this is a primary source, what does it tell us about the time and place of its production?
• If it is a secondary source, what assumptions is the historian making in framing and answering the question?

These reaction papers are not essays in the formal sense; much more reactions to tell me about what you've read and what you think of it. They are due in class at the end of the week for which the reading is assigned. It is highly recommended to do at least one in the first half of the semester.

II. Panel-Paper-Presentation: the Virtual Medicine of the past

This assignment is the main research component of the course. There are multiple parts.

A. Article Choice

Your first job will be to find an article in one of those journals (or, in a few cases, a book from the period) that lends itself to addressing some aspect of America as medicine prior to 1960. Choose a subject that interests you and connects to the themes of the course; avoid well-known figures.

Our library possesses a remarkable collection of medical journals from the late 19th-Century on. Under the Additional Resources section, you'll find a partial list of fascinating journals we hold. Alternatively, you may wish to consult the Surgeon General's Catalogue, either in its bound version in the library or electronically at the National Library of Medicine website. Most journal articles are available through interlibrary loan.

Your job is to provide a historical explanation of this article. Try to understand it from the author's point of view. Why has this person chosen to write; what does the article tell us about medical priorities, institutions, modalities at its time? To do that will require background work in secondary and, perhaps, other primary sources. Anyone who plans to address a topic associated with the 18th- or 19th-century should contact the professor immediately; otherwise article choice is due by September 24. The article choice is worth 3 points.

B. Working Groups

By October 1, you will be assigned to a working group of 2-4 persons who are working in analogous areas for discussion and presentation purposes. At that point we will set a date for a panel presentation of the group's findings. One week before the presentation, the professor will meet with the group to distill the readings into bullet points and illustrations for lecture on the day of the presentation.  In effect, the group will take partial responsibility for the presentation of class material. During that lecture period, I will ask the group members to serve as a panel to amplify points and respond to questions. You will be summoned as our expert representatives of these issues in the past, or perhaps asked to adopt the persona of its author to defend the work. Note that presentation material will be subject to examination. 

With regard to illustrations for presentations, the National Library of Medicine, History of Medicine Division, has a fine photographic collection. Additional material can be found here. The panel presentation is worth 5 points.

C. Term Paper

Each member of the working group is to produce a short term paper (8-10 pages, double-spaced with full footnotes or intratextual references and bibliography) on the article she or he has chosen. Again, your purpose is to try to understand the article in the context of its times, and from its author's viewpoints. To reiterate: Why has this person chosen to write; what does the article tell us about medical priorities, institutions, modalities at its time?

A two part format is suggested, but is not required. The first section of your paper should be an apologia: e.g., I am Dr. XY, physician of Philadelphia in 1794.  My education and medical background are ... and this is what I experience, observe, and conclude. The second section should be a critical assessment in retrospect, e.g., how do we now understand Dr. XY and her/his context? For example, those working on colonial medicine might want to know more about Cotton Mather, or smallpox inoculation, or the professional dispute between ministers and physicians. Those working on quackery might wish to focus on certain products or kinds of therapy where it was prominent. 

This paper requires the use of additional sources. Please submit an annotated bibliography of at least five satisfactory sources (due November 5 and worth 5 points).  [By annotation, I mean a sentence or two on how the source will help you.] The professor may be able to suggest resources, but you should also consult two online databases: the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine and America: History and Life. Both can be accessed through the Notre Dame library website. The grading template below indicates what the professor is concerned with. The paper is due December 3 and is worth a total of 20 points.

III. Midterm Exam

The midterm exam consists of take-home essays on major themes of lectures, readings, and discussions.  It is worth 15 points.It will be handed out on October 17 and due on October 31.

IV. Final Exam

The final exam is comprehensive and consists of take-home essays on major themes of lectures, readings, and discussions.  It is worth 20 points.It will be handed out on December 6 and due on the date of the final exam.

Grading Criteria

Overall, your grade will be based on:

1. the persuasiveness of your historical argument,
2. the quality of your writing,
3. careful and precise use of the assigned texts, and
4. thoughtfulness and originality.