DEPARTMENTAL DISTINCTION IN HISTORY

What is Distinction?

        Distinction is a formal academic honor (which
        appears on the transcript) that each
        Department in the College may vote to bestow
        upon its senior majors who have those qualities
        most valued in their discipline and who
        demonstrate their ability to produce
        independent work of the highest scholarly or
        artistic standard. A Department awards
        Distinction to recognize outstanding
        achievement and encourage potential.
 
        The Department of History invites senior
        majors who seek a significant and
        challenging intellectual experience to apply
        for Distinction in History.
 

Application

        Candidates must select an advisor, complete
        an application describing the project signed
        by their Project Advisor, and submit the
        form to the Chair of the Distinction Committee,
         Tim Howe, by 14 November. Forms are
        available on-line and also from Nancy
        Hollinger in 513 Holland Hall.


Criteria for Distinction

        To be considered for Distinction, you must
        satisfy certain minimum GPA requirements,
        prepare a project under the direction of a
        Project Advisor in the Department of History
        (or an advisor approved by the Department of
        History), have your work reviewed by faculty,
        and successfully complete an oral defense
        of the project.
 
        GPA requirements: Cummulative GPA of
        at least 3.30 and GPA in history courses of at
        least 3.50. Under special circumstances, and
        after consultation with their Project Advisor,
        students who do not meet the minimum GPA
        requirements may petition the  Chair of the
        History Department for permission to begin the
        Distinction process.

        Project: The core of Distinction work is a formal
        research project (usually a paper, or project
        accompanied by a paper such as a museum
        display, website, poster) that demonstrates
        excellence in historical method and source
        analysis. A Distinction project offers research
        and writing above and beyond “normal"
        coursework. A Distinction project is something
        you might use in a graduate school application,
        present at an academic conference, or submit
        to an academic journal for publication.
 
        A Distinction project poses a provocative, clearly
        defined historical question and cogently argues
        a response to that question based on critical
        and sensitive evaluation of primary and
        secondary sources. A Distinction project must
        place its question firmly within the historical
        and scholarly context--that is, it must
        acknowledge the scholars who have
        influenced the question as well as assess the
        importance of those scholars’ contributions to
        the context of the question. In sum, a
        Distinction project must demonstrate
        excellence in (1) primary research,
        (2) scholarship analysis, and (3) historical
        method.
 
        While Distinction is a matter of quality, not
        quantity, typically the written component
        (the paper) is between 30 and 40 pages in
        length.

        The Department of History uses the Chicago
        Manual of Style [Turabian, Kate. A Manual
        for Writers of Term Papers, Thesis, and
        Dissertation (6th Ed.) Chicago: University of
        Chicago Press, 1996.] and expects all
        footnotes and bibliographic references to
        conform to that system. MLA or other styles
        are acceptable under special circumstances
        only.  

        Faculty Review:  The award of Distinction
        depends upon an evaluation of the project
        and an oral exam, which considers the
        project within the larger context of your
        work as a St. Olaf history major.
 
        Faculty review of your project occurs at
        three levels: A Distinction Committee (three
        members of the Department) screens all
        projects that have been submitted. A project
        meriting further consideration passes to a
        readers committee (three members of the
        Department, usually including your Project
        Advisor), which discusses your work with you
        in an oral exam. The entire History faculty
        then reviews the project and votes to award
        Distinction. Please Note: Final decision
        to award Distinction is made by the
        History faculty, not the Distinction or
        readers committees.
 

Past Examples

        Examples of past Distinction projects are
        available for you to consult in the St. Olaf
        Archives (Scope: All Collections;   
        Keywords: History Distinction; Format: Paper;
        Date: Any Year.) Successful Distinction
        projects have included: (1) research based
        on the imaginative use of primary sources to
        present an original argument; (2) reflective
        or critical analysis based on extensive reading
        in the scholarship of a significant historical
        topic; or (3) analysis of a particular
        methodological dissemination of historical
        understanding.
 
        The History faculty encourage each student
        (in consultation with a faculty advisor) to
        develop original projects that contribute to
        the study and scholarship of history in
        diverse and creative ways.


Routes to Distinction

        Many students use work begun in another
        course (including the Senior Thesis Seminar,
        Level III seminar, IS or IR) as a foundation for
        their Distinction project. Please note,
        though, that if a project has its origins in
        work for an earlier course, the final
        Distinction project must undergo
        *substantial* revision in size and scope,
        conducted under the direction of a
        Project Advisor in the Department of
        History (or advisor approved by the
        Department of History) for it to qualify
        for Distinction in History.
 

Important Dates
 
            • Spring Semester, junior year:  select
               Project Advisor and discuss research goals to
               determine if Summer work or travel is
               required
 
            • Fall Semester, senior year:  meet with
               Project Advisor to focus Distinction proposal,
               complete Distinction Application, and finalize
               research timeline and goals
 
            • 14 November:  submit completed
               Distinction Application Form to Chair of
               Distinction Committee

            • 05 January - 13 March:  substantive
               discussions (at least 3) with advisor about
               progress

            • 13 March:  completed paper submitted to
               Project Advisor

            • 3 April:  Final Draft submitted electronically
               as a Word document to Chair of Distinction
               Committee

            • 8-22 April:  Oral Exams scheduled


Please Note:
        If, for any reason, you decide not to pursue
        the approved project or wish to make changes
        in the scope and scale of the approved
        project, you must meet with the Chair of the
        Distinction Committee for approval before
        making any changes.