Objectives

To review the history and concepts of archival appraisal as a practice of cultural construction.

To familiarize students with appraisal theories and their outcomes.

To familiarize students with current appraisal practice and its implications in an institutional setting, including economic, political, theoretical, and professional issues.

To familiarize students with current appraisal practice with reference to personal recordkeeping.

To expose students to the implications of appraisal through a set of classroom appraisal exercises.

To prepare students to review existing appraisal policies and past appraisal decisions and to prepare appropriate documentation plans for appraisal work in a given archival environment.