Professor Charity Urbanski (urbanski@uw.edu)
Office: 106 Smith (in the east stairwell between the 1st and 2nd floors)
Office Hours:
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Welcome to Medieval Outlaws!
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to introduce undergraduate students to the transition from being consumers of history to producers of history. It will emphasize critical reading and analysis of primary and secondary literature, the theoretical and methodological problems of historical research, and involve students in doing original primary research. Its focus is on the process of historical reading, research, and writing. Our theme is medieval outlaws. While our primary sources are literary works, we will be concerned with determining what these legends and the mythology of the outlaw can tell us about social organization, values, and the limits of the legal system in medieval England. We will also address the changing legal status of the outlaw, as well as the evolution and historical context of outlaw legends.
Learning Objectives
Introduce students to strategies for reading and evaluating secondary sources by identifying the main question, argument, approach, method, and evidence
Help students develop an ability to see connections and distinctions among different authors and varied approaches to the study of history.
Introduce students to research techniques, databases, and other resources and allow them to conduct original research.
Help students hone their skills with regard to various styles of reading, diverse forms of writing, oral presentation, time management, and collaboration.
Required Books
Medieval Outlaws: Twelve Tales in Modern English Translation, ed. Thomas Ohlgren (West Lafayette Indiana: Parlor Press, 2005)
All of our primary source readings will come from this book. It is available at the University Book Store.
Recommended Books
Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History
Martha Howell and Walter Prevenier, From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods
These are both available new and used on Amazon.
Assignments
This is a reading, writing, and discussion intensive course. It requires weekly reading of 100-150 pages; regular participation in discussion; weekly 1 page reaction papers; a 5 minute presentation on one of our readings; an annotated bibliography (2-3 pages); a detailed outline of your final paper (2-3 pages); a draft of your final paper (at least 10 pages); peer reviewing of outlines and drafts; and a revised final paper (12-15 pages).
Grading
10% – Active class participation (including peer reviews of outlines and drafts)
10% - Weekly Reaction Papers
10% – Presentation
0% – Research Question (this is ungraded, but required) due
10% – Annotated Bibliography (2-3 pages) due
15% – Detailed Outline of Final Paper (2-3 pages) due
20% – Full Draft of Final Paper due
25% – Revised Final Research Paper (12-15 pages) due
You must complete all graded assignments in order to pass the course.
Grades will be assigned as percentages on individual assignments and exams and converted to the 4.0 scale for the final course grade.
4.0 95-100%
3.5 90%
2.5 80%
1.5 70%
0.7 62% (lowest passing grade)
Seminar Rules
The structure of this class assumes that everyone will attend our weekly meetings and turn their assignments in on time. Some features of the course, such as the peer reviewing and presentations, really depend on your presence, participation, and timeliness in submitting assignments. I expect everyone to come to class and to make an effort to meet the deadlines. If you need to miss class, let me me (urbanski@uw.edu) as soon as possible.
Reading
Our primary sources for each week will come from Ohlgren’s Medieval Outlaws; all other readings will be available as PDFs through the course website. You should complete the reading before class each week and bring it with you to class.
Reaction Papers
Each week students will submit a brief (1 page; double-spaced, 12 point font) critical reaction to the secondary readings for that week (you can either submit the assignment online before class or bring a hardcopy to class with you). You do not need to provide a summary of the articles, but you should discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the argument in at least one of the articles and explain why you found it persuasive or unpersuasive.
The reaction papers will be graded as follows:
0 = no assignment submitted or an assignment that demonstrates no familiarity with the reading
70% = paper discusses the primary source, but does not engage with the secondary sources
80% = paper summarizes the argument of at least one of our secondary sources, but does not address its strengths or weaknesses
90% = paper discusses the strengths and/or weaknesses of the argument in at least one of our secondary sources, and shows a very good understanding of the argument and the issues at stake
100% = paper discusses the strengths and/or weaknesses of the argument in at least one of our secondary sources, and shows an excellent understanding of the argument and the issues at stake
*Every student will be allowed to miss one reaction paper without penalty during the quarter. You do not need to submit a reaction paper the week you give your presentation.
Participation
Because this seminar is driven by in-class student discussion, participation represents a vital portion of your grade. Your participation grade will be based on your active contribution to in class discussion and participation in peer-reviewing sessions.
*Everyone will be allowed to miss one class without penalty, as long as it isn’t a peer-reviewing day.
Presentations
Every class meeting one or more students will be in charge of presenting on one of the assigned readings and starting discussion. Everyone will present once during the quarter, and I will circulate a sign up sheet during the first week of class. Students will be responsible for:
- Giving a 5 minute presentation that coherently articulates the main point(s) discussed in the selected reading; and addresses the following questions: Who is the author? What is the argument(s)? What evidence does the author use to support their argument(s)? Do you find the argument(s) convincing? Feel free to point out passages that you found to be particularly important, compelling, or problematic.
- Posing one or two questions to the class to stimulate further in-class discussion.
- You do not have to submit a response paper during the week you deliver your presentation.
Peer reviewing
You will be responsible for peer-reviewing the outlines and drafts of two of your fellow students. I will assign groups and issue instructions for the peer-reviewing once everyone has submitted their research questions.
Academic Standards and Conduct
Honesty, ethical conduct, and academic integrity are expected in this course. Academic integrity includes a commitment to not engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception. Acts of dishonesty include cheating or copying, plagiarizing, submitting another persons’ work as one’s own, using Internet sources without citation, having another student take your exam or working together with other students on your exam, tampering with the work of another student, facilitating other students’ acts of academic dishonesty, etc.
Unless I specify otherwise, all assignments and exams are to be completed by the student alone, without inappropriate assistance of any kind, including the use of AI programs such as ChatGPT.
Students who engage in acts of dishonesty will receive an “F” on the assignment or exam and will be reported to the University of Washington’s Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct for possible further disciplinary action.
Accommodations
Please let me know as early as possible if you require religious accommodations or DRS accommodations, or if there is anything I can do to support your learning style.
Information on UW policies regarding Religious Accommodations, Student Conduct, Disability Resources, Academic Integrity, and Campus Safety can be found at https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/syllabi-guidelines
History department syllabus attachment
Schedule of Classes (The syllabus is under construction)
The syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
Week 1 - Introduction
“How to Read a Primary Source”
“How to Read a Secondary Source”
Sign up to present on one of our readings
Week 2 – Exile and Outlawry in the Middle Ages
Complete the reading and the writing assignment before class
Primary Source: “Introduction” and “The Outlawry of Earl Godwin,” in Medieval Outlaws, pp. xv-xxxv and 3-27
Secondary Sources:
Presenter:
Conor McCarthy, "Outside the Law in the Middle Ages," in Outlaws and Spies (Edinburgh University Press, 2020), pp. 21-54
Presenter:
UK National Archives site explaining the process and history of outlawry
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/outlawry.htm
Week 3 - Research Trip to Suzzallo
We will meet in 102 Suzzallo for a presentation on conducting research in the library; come to class with a potential topic or two to investigate (to get to 102 Suzzallo, enter the library from Red Square and make an immediate left turn. Go through the quiet study space and the door to 102 will be in the far right corner https://www.lib.washington.edu/suzzallo/study/study-spaces/suzzallo-102)
Week 4 - Hereward the Wake
*RESEARCH QUESTIONS DUE BEFORE CLASS
Complete the reading and the writing assignment before class
Primary Source: “The Deeds of Hereward” in Medieval Outlaws, pp. 28-99
Secondary Sources:
Cyril Hart, “Hereward the Wake,” in The Danelaw (London, 1992), pp. 625-648
Presenter:
Presenter:
Week 5 - Eustache the Monk
*ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (2-3 PAGES) DUE BEFORE CLASS
Complete the reading and the writing assignment before class
Primary Source: “Eustache the Monk,” in Medieval Outlaws, pp. 100-150
Secondary Sources:
Presenter:
Presenter:
Week 6 - Fouke fitz Waryn
Complete the reading and the writing assignment before class
Primary Source: “Fouke fitz Waryn,” in Medieval Outlaws, pp. 165-247
Secondary Sources:
Presenter:
Presenter:
Week 7 - Outlaws and Criminal Gangs in Late Medieval England
*OUTLINES OF FINAL PAPERS (2-3 PAGES) DUE BEFORE CLASS (PEER REVIEWS DUE, THURSDAY, MAY 12 BY 11:59 PM)
Complete the reading and the writing assignment before class
Primary Source: “The Outlaw’s Song of Trailbaston,” in Medieval Outlaws, pp. 151-164
Secondary Sources:
Presenter:
translations for Stones article
Presenter:
Week 8 - Robin Hood
Complete the reading and the writing assignment before class
Primary Source: “A Gest of Robyn Hood,” in Medieval Outlaws, pp. 356-396
Secondary Sources:
Presenter:
Barbara Hanawalt, “Ballads and Bandits,” in Robin Hood: An Anthology (Brewer, 1999), pp. 263-284
Presenter:
Week 9 - Workshop on Drafts
Week 10 - Peer Review of Drafts
FULL DRAFTS OF FINAL PAPER DUE TO ME YOUR PARTNERS ON TUESDAY, MAY 31 BY 5 PM; BRING YOUR COMPLETED PEER REVIEWS TO DISCUSS IN CLASS
REVISED FINAL PAPERS DUE