Academics
Real Stories
History Ends, Hilarity Ensues
- Course:
- HIST 380: Historical Methods
- Department:
- History
- Faculty:
- Professor Laura McEnaney
"Each year, the most fun comes at the end of Historical Methods," says Prof. Laura McEnaney, a perennial favorite of students for her humor and unfailing enthusiasm for teaching her own favorite subject. "This is unquestionably the hardest research and writing class in the major, and toward its conclusion, students give presentations and there’s a peer review. These sessions are a strange mixture of nervous energy, end-of-semester combat fatigue, and wonderful scholarly collaboration. We order pizza, slog through drafts together, and students push each other to make the work better."
While the Whittier experience is rooted in the liberal arts tradition—embracing interdisciplinary understanding and breadth of knowledge—it also is designed to teach students to become experts in their chosen majors. All students are required to do a senior presentation or paper-in-the-major, the capstone toward completion of study. Students are able to share with faculty and their peers the depth and breadth of all they have learned at Whittier. This process encourages intellectual thought and collaboration. Although it can shake the nerves for some students, after it is over, many students recount it as one of the most important elements of their college career.
"It's exhilarating to see them come into their own as scholars," says Prof. McEnaney, "and frankly, it’s hilarious when they begin to turn on me (the taskmaster) and poke fun at some of my semester-long advice on how to survive the whole experience."
