Overview
HIST 492 offers an opportunity to pursue an extended research project in European history, under the direction of a professor. It is intended for students in the last stage of a B.A. major in History or Humanities.
The course of study will include extensive library research as well as online research. Working with the professor, students first develop a research proposal indicating the goals of the study and a timetable for completion of the project. They next prepare a first draft of the research essay, with a full bibliography of primary and secondary sources. After further consultation with the professor, they then write the final version of the research paper. Evaluation will be based on the adequacy of the research proposal, the comprehensiveness of the bibliography, and the quality of both the first draft of the essay and of the final research paper. The latter will be at least 5,000 words in length.
Evaluation
Students are evaluated at each stage of the project, first on their research proposal, next on their draft essay and bibliography, and last on the final version of their research essay.
Students are required to achieve a minimum mark of fifty percent (50 percent) on each stage of the project.
Students are required to achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent).
| Activity | Weight |
| Research Proposal | 20% |
| Draft Essay & Bibliography | 30% |
| Final Research Essay | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.