Syllabus

Topics in the History of Data in Social Context

Spring 2020, Newman 124 (CRN 20276)

Professor Tom Ewing, Department of History

Office hours: Liberal Arts Building 202

Tues Thurs 9:30-11:00 am, and by appointment

etewing@vt.edu, 231-3212 Course website (public): https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/etewing/1918flustats

Twitter: @1918_flu, @ethomasewing, @discvt

This course examines the question of how many deaths were caused by the influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1918. Students will examine how health officials, physicians, and the public understood the toll of the epidemic as it occurred, how epidemiologists at the time and subsequently have attempted to measure morbidity, mortality, case fatality rates, and excess deaths, and how historians can contribute to public understanding of the long-term significance of this epidemic, at the time and in the hundred years since it occurred.

Prerequisites: A commitment to work hard, the capacity to collaborate effectively with peers, some flexibility in adjusting to changing assignments, a sense of humor, willingness to spend considerable time researching death, eagerness to share discoveries with classmates and the public, and desire to learn skills valued in employment, advanced studies, and civic obligations.

Readings: Nancy Bristow, American Pandemic (2012, any edition), is required. All other readings will be posted in the shared drive and / or linked from the syllabus.

Assignments:

I. Collaborative Project: 60% of semester grade

Research, data analysis, presentations, visualizations, social media, web design, poster preparation, dissemination, participation in April 15 symposium, at National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland, or virtually from Blacksburg

II. Research reports: 3 assignments, 2 @ 15%, combined 30% of semester grade:

1) Project on states, final project due April 22, 20% semester grade;

2) Case study of city mortality using newspapers, due March 3, 10% semester grade.

III. Reflective essay: 4 pages, final essay due May 1, draft due April 1, 10% of semester grade.

Analytical discussion of what was learned about doing research for public audiences at the convergence of history, medicine, and data. Essay could take the form of an application for graduate school or an internship, letter to parents, or opinion piece for a blog or newspaper.

All work must adhere to the Virginia Tech Honor Code. Students needing accommodations of any kind are encouraged to contact the instructor. Course materials will be available through a shared drive, available to enrolled students and external partners: 1918 Influenza Statistics Project (Ewing). Canvas will not be used for syllabus, grades, assignments, or anything else significant.