TOPIC: The French Revolution
For this assignment, you will read a scholarly historiographical publication that examines an aspect of the historiography relevant to your chosen topic.
To help you understand key elements of historiographical writing, you will examine this article according to the following parameters:
How does the author define the key topic under consideration?
What is the authors main purpose for writing this article?
How does the author define the main issue (or issues) facing scholars researching the topic?
Does the author define any debates or controversies among scholars researching the topic?
Does the author define any major changes in the way scholars have approached the topic?
What are three key books or articles the author defines as being key to shaping or altering the study of the topic? Why are these works pointed out as noteworthy?
What types of interpretations have characterized past study of the topic?
What types of interpretations are dominating the study of the topic currently (at the date of the articles publication)?
What does the author suggest might be new avenues of research or analysis moving forward (from the date of publication)?
What are at least two key issues you will be seeking to identify in the work of other scholars as you continue your research on the topic?
Main arguments (theses)
Key scholars
Methodology/historical approach (social history, cultural history, economic history, political history, postcolonial history, gender history, etc.)
