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Capstone: Historical Biography

Ariane Liazos photograph“There is properly no history; only biography.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The capstone offers an opportunity for students to engage in the challenges of writing historical biography. We reflect on the ways that biographers explore individual lives in the context of wider historical forces – how biographers connect the public and private lives of their subjects, and how they engage in careful historical research to craft engaging narratives. We begin by reading and discussing award-winning historical biographies alongside more theoretical discussions of the craft of biography. Students then undertake original historical research on an individual of their own choosing. Together, through our weekly meetings, we form an enthusiastic and supportive writing workshop.

— Ariane Liazos, Faculty

Overview

Pre-capstone

This course teaches students the research and writing skills they need to write historical biography. It is interdisciplinary, drawing on the research skills of history and political science as well as narrative writing skills. Together, we read and discuss excerpts from biographies as well as articles on the craft of biography. Students develop research and writing skills through short assignments and oral presentations. Students submit a proposal for their spring capstone as their final assignment for the course.
 

Capstone

This course builds on the work done in HIST E-597b. Students use the research and writing skills they have developed to produce a sample chapter of a biography, one that could be submitted as part of a book proposal, or a biographical article for an academic journal. Students include a bibliography and endnotes with their final submission. This semester predominantly consists of workshops of student writing-in-progress; students are evaluated on the feedback they provide for each other.

Faculty

Ariane Liazos, PhD
Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University

Course Links

Precapstone Course: HIST E-597b Precapstone: Historical Biography
Capstone Course: HIST E-599b Capstone: Historical Biography