| SENIOR RESEARCH (PE 498.01)- FALL 2001 | Dr. WILLIAM R. NYLEN
Department of Political Science
Class Meeting: M & W, 2:30-3:45 320 Elizabeth Hall
Office Hours: 315B Elizabeth Hall, T,W &Th 3:45-5:00 or by appointment | | COURSE DESCRIPTION | REQUIRED BOOKS | | COURSE REQUIREMENTS | COURSE OUTLINE | | COURSE DESCRIPTION: | In this class, we will begin by looking into the building blocks of political science research:methodology and research design. We will also explore the history of the discipline, with an eye towards discovering some of its most ‘enduring questions' and how our own research topics might fit into those questions and the relevant literature. All of this will be carried out in the
context of striving to develop our own research questions, hypotheses, research design (e.g. case studies), literature reviews and empirical research (e.g. combing the secondary sources). | | COURSE REQUIREMENTS: | Grades will be based on the student's performance in the following: Class attendance, keeping up with the reading and participating in class discussions; demonstrating that you've done the reading and that you're intellectually engaged (5%) Two article critiques (2˝ % each: 5%) An outline and bibliography, at least partially annotated, for the thesis (5%) An oral presentation of your first completed draft, summarizing the argument, evidence and major conclusions of your Thesis, due in last two weeks of class (5%) Your Senior Thesis, due on the last scheduled day of class (80%) Regular consultations with Dr. Nylen during the actual writing of your thesis
Prof. Nylen stands by Stetson's official statement on grades, which says: Grades ... represent the instructor's final estimate of the student's performance in a course. The grade of A (+ or -) may be interpreted to mean that the instructor recognizes exceptional capacity and exceptional performance. The grade of B (+ or -) signifies that the student has gained a significantly more effective command of material than is generally expected in that course. The grade or C or C+ is the instructor's certification that the student has demonstrated the required mastery of the material. A student is graded C- or D (+ or -) when his/her grasp of the course essentials is minimal. The F grade indicates failure to master the essentials and the necessity for repeating the course before credit may be earned. [Stetson University Bulletin, 1999-2000, P.43.] | | BOOKS REQUIRED FOR PURCHASE (on order at the bookstore): | | Gregory M. Scott & Stephen M. Garrison. The Political Science Writer's Manual, 4th Edition (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2002). | | COURSE OUTLINE, READING & WRITING ASSIGNMENTS, and EXAMS: | W 8/22: Introduction
Discussion: Case study research design
• Writing Assignment: Article Critique #1 (due M 8/27)
M 8/27: Discussion: Article Critiques and Key concepts for political science research
• Reading Assignment for Next Time:
* Janet Buttolph Johnson & Richard A. Joslyn "The Building Blocks of
Social Scientific Research: Hypotheses, Concepts, and Variables" and
"Case Study Design" in Political Science Research Methods, 3rd Ed.
(Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1995): 41-71 & 143-7.
• Writing Assignment: One-paragraph ‘first stab' at Thesis question, hypotheses, methodology and research design.
W 8/29: Discussion: Johnson & Joslyn reading and Writing Assignment
• Reading Assignment for Next Time:
1) * Robert E. Goodin & Hans-Dieter Klingemann. "Political Science: The
Discipline" in Goodin & Klingemann [eds.] A New Handbook of Political
Science (NewYork: Oxford University Press, 1996): 3-49.
2) * Gabriel A. Almond. "Political Science: The History of the Discipline"
in Goodin & Klingemann (1996): 50-96.
3) "Organizing the Research Process" (Chapter 7) in Scott & Garrison.
• Writing Assignment: Article Critique #2 (due M 9/10), include "Contribution to the Literature" (Scott & Garrison: 170)
M 9/3 Labor Day: no class
W 9/5 Dr. Nylen is presenting a paper at the Latin American Studies Conference in Washington, DC: no class
M 9/10 Discussion: Goodin & Klingemann and Almond readings and Article Critiques
• Reading Assignment for Next Time:
1) "Traditional Research Papers and Literature Reviews" (Chapter 9) in Scott & Garrison
2) * Janet B. Johnson & Richard A. Joslyn. "Conducting a Literature Review"
(Chapter 6) in Political Science Research Methods, 3rd Ed. (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1995): 153-69.
W 9/12 Discussion: Scott & Garrison and Johnson & Joslyn
• Writing Assignment for Next Time: outline and bibliography, at least partially annotated, for the thesis (due M 9/17)
M 9/17 Hand in Paper, no class meeting
W 9/19 Discussion: Outlines and Individual one-on-one meeting schedules with Dr. Nylen
M 9/24 - F 11/16 THESIS RESEARCH & WRITING & DISCUSSIONS W/ DR. NYLEN
M 11/19 - F 11/30: ORAL PRESENTATIONS (specific times TBA)
W 12/5: FINISHED FINAL VERSION OF THESIS DUE |
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