Monthly Archives: July 2010

Reading List 1

Posted on by
Reply

Books have begun to arrive on my door step which means classes are not too far away.  I thought, while I had a spare moment, I would share my book list for this semester.  I plan on doing this for every semester.  Feel free to click the links and check the book out and buy it if you so desire!

I have 20 books for the semester.  Some you have heard of, but most you probably have not.  Thanks to the USPS, I have seven on my desk now and hope the rest arrive by August 10th.  I ordered them all from Amazon (saved $200!) and, before you ask, I am sure I got the right editions because JMU’s bookstore lists the ISBN of each book!!  I wish MSSU did that!  Anyway, here is the list:

HIST 592 (American Material Culture): Waste & Want, Refinement of America, New Urban Landscape, Material Christianity, Chesapeake Family & Their Slaves

HIST 653 (Patterns of World History): Before European Hegemony, Importing the European Army, Old World Encounters, Plagues & Peoples (with New Preface), Why Europe?, World & Very Small Place in Africa

HIST 671 (Historical Research): Idea of History, Protestant Ethic & Spirit of Capitalism, New Cultural History

GHIST 102 (My TA Course): Death & King’s Horseman, Ways of the World, Vol 2 Brief Global History, Worlds of History (V2), Complete Persepolis, Robinson Crusoe, Discourse by Three Drunkards on Government

There you have it!  Sixteen weeks of reading. Sounds like a lot, but I will admit, some of the books are pretty thin and the longest one is about 370 pages.  I had longer books at MSSU, but I never had 20 for four courses!

If any of the titles interest you, I have provided a link to the Amazon.com page so you can get more info.  I will, however, give more information about the books when I discuss each course in a separate blog.

Until then…

Eric

Courses

Posted on by
Reply

Today I finally found out which class I will be TA for.  The course will be GHIST 102 World History Since 1500.  After doing some research, I know the course has six books assigned for it and that the department will provide these books (meaning I will save a few $$).  These six books, however, bring my total up to 20 for the semester!  This is what I expected from grad school, however!  There is one unresolved problem…I do not recognize the name of the professor and he/she (I was only given the last name) is not listed on the History Department‘s website.  I guess I will find out in due course.

Knowing which course I am TA for is a relief, but I thought I would share the other courses I am taking this semester.  They are:

1. HIST 592 – American Material Culture

2. HIST 653 – Patterns of World History (Historiography)

3. HIST 671 – Seminar in Historical Research Methods

I know they sound incredible and I plan to describe each course and give the book lists in later posts (once I find out exactly what they are!!).

I am looking forward to taking three courses and being a TA.  Grad school is going to be a completely different experience from undergraduate, but I think it will be more enjoyable.  I will be taking only history courses and surrounded by fellow history students!  I have been told by several of my professors at MSSU that graduate school was the best part of their education.

Also, I have ordered my books and they should be arriving soon!

Eric

Three Weeks

Posted on by
Reply

Welcome to my blog!!  I do not consider myself the blogging type, but many of you are interested in what I am doing and this is where you will find it all!  I will be discussing my travels and experience at JMU from my classes to my assistantship.  In addition, I want to answer any question you may have so if you have any questions about anything (grad school, Harrisonburg, JMU, etc.) just email me or post a comment and I will try to answer them all right here!

Anyway….

Three weeks from today I will be well on my way to Harrionburg, Virginia where I will begin my career as a graduate student.  I already have a full schedule and classes have yet to begin.  Here is how the month of August looks:

August 2 – Pack ABF U-Pack truck

August 3 - ABF U-Pack truck will be picked up from my house

August 7 – Trip to Des Moines, Iowa for Antiques Roadshow

August 10 – Leave Missouri for Virginia – Drive to Lebanon, Tennessee (537 Miles) and will stay in a Hampton Inn

August 11 - Leave Lebanon and drive to Lexington, Virginia (453 miles) – Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are buried in Lexington – The Hampton Inn we are staying in Lexington is a historic home (will post pics)

August 12 – Leave Lexington for Harrisonburg (61 miles) – My lease begins at noon and ABF U-Pack will deliver by noon for us to unpack

August 13 – Cable and Internet will be connected (do not expect updates on August 12th)

August 23 – Orientation for the Graduate School in the morning – A seminar for TA and GA students in the afternoon

August 27 - Orientation for the Department of History followed by a reception at a professor’s home in Harrisonburg

August 30 – CLASSES BEGIN

Despite my full schedule, I am looking forward to my experiences, travels and anything else I come across while living in Virginia.  I will update Twitter, Facebook and this blog while on the road and while I get settled.

I cannot stress enough the opportunity I have been given.  Not only will I be attending a prestigious University, I will be in great proximity to countless historic sites and will be in Virginia for the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.  I have ambitious goals for grad school, but I am confident I can achieve them!

Thank you for reading my first of many blogs to come and I will try to update everyone as much as possible.

Eric