Like historians, this semester we will spend a lot time investigating. Whether it is the role of women in society, ideas about science, the development of constitutional government, or whatever, we will do a lot of investigating. And, just like historians and criminal investigators, we will put our thoughts about evidence together into coherent narratives. To start you thinking along these lines, your task for September 5 is to conduct your own investigation of a murder--one that happened more than 100 years ago.

Before you begin, read the material you find in the links to the right on historical method and the detective process. Then go to the website on William Robinson's murder. Read the evidence carefully and decide for yourself who was guilty. Was it the man executed for the crime, or was it someone else. Once you've decided, post an entry to the class weblog in which you lay out your case, paying particular attention to the evidence you think is most convincing. Then, read Silver Blaze and ask yourself how Sherlock Holmes' method was similar or different from yours. Finally, post another entry to the blog in which you comment on those similarities and differences.

Last modified August 30, 2006