Students in 2026 who extend their residential experience with a few weeks of online work can receive free Dickinson College credit for their coursework that should be transferrable to any college or university.**
During the campus experience in July, all students will have one close reading reflection essay due; first draft on Sunday afternoon, July 19 (to grad TAs) and final version on Monday evening, July 20 for grading by Prof. Pinsker. This close reading reflection (about 500 words or 2-3 pages single spaced) will summarize and analyze one of the featured texts from the seminar’s collection. All reflections should be posted at the 2026 projects site with a selection of 2-3 images (properly credited and captioned) and with a link to one short video built in WeVideo that attempts to bring to life a short snippet (20 to 60 seconds) from the assigned text. These assignments will be evaluated and graded on the basis of prose quality, analysis, and video effort. Models for these reflection essays and document videos are available at the course site. Students are required to participate in at least one brainstorming sessions with their assigned TA. Last posts will be penalized up to 5 points per day.
During the four weeks following completion of the July seminar (by Friday August 21), students seeking college credit will be required to submit a second close reading reflection post and a new final essay (about 1,000 words to 1,500. words or roughly 4 to 6 pages, single spaced) that draws lessons about how best to achieve change in American democracy through comparing and contrasting the antislavery strategies of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Essays should include properly captioned and credited images as well as Chicago-style footnotes, citing wherever relevant the primary source texts from the course syllabus as well as from Matthew Pinsker’s biography of Lincoln, Andrew Delbanco’s collection of Lincoln’s writings, and the collection of Frederick Douglass’s writings edited by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and John Stauffer. Outside research beyond these materials is allowed but not required. Final essay projects will be graded on prose quality, research and depth of analysis. Models for these essays will be available at the course site via the Student Hall of Fame. All final essay projects should be posted at the 2026 student projects site.
** Credit decisions come with the caveat that all institutions of higher education determine the transferability of college credit on their own basis.