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COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is designed for students who are beginning work on senior honors theses in Social Sciences. The course enables participants to develop a detailed plan for researching and writing an acceptable senior thesis for honors in Social Sciences. Students work with peers and the Instructor during the term to frame a suitable topic, conduct preliminary research, and write a prospectus, or in-depth description of their topic. Please note that this class is NOT a substitute for working closely with your advisor. If the student has an advisor, it is recommended that they meet with the faculty to get a head start on the process. Earlier contact with a faculty helps students better shape their theses and will ensure them direction on the project from a faculty with expertise in the area of investigation. The course meets 10 times during fall term as specified below. Course meetings are largely be devoted to discussing the research project. Specifically, the group trouble-shoots any problems that students may have in the course of developing and researching a research topic. Students in the course research a wide variety of topics, but work together to provide feedback and ideas for every aspect of the process. The course is offered on a grade basis; in order to pass the course; students must attend the meetings, complete the assignments, and submit acceptable prospectuses at the end of the term. In the Winter and Spring quarters, the final version of the thesis is completed with your advisor/mentor. The Honors Coordinator is available for consultation. You must enroll in 190B and 190C during Winter and Spring quarter and add cards are signed upon request. REQUIREMENTS Reading assignments have been assigned for almost every class period. Please read the assignments and develop responses to the study questions before the next class. Class sessions include short lectures, small-group conversations, and whole-class discussions based in part on the readings. Classes are designed for active participants. Please come to class prepared to discuss the assigned material and its implications. The Instructor gives credit for good oral participation in class. EXPECTATIONS Students are expected to attend all class meetings and participate in discussions. In order to participate effectively, students must complete the assigned tasks in advance of each class meeting. The course requires minimal assigned readings, most of which will from your book or the course website articles. The course has one major writing assignment, the preparation of a prospectus for the senior thesis. Students are be provided with guidelines for the prospectus early in the term. Throughout the quarter, students complete one draft of the various sections of the prospectus and the Instructor and the other students in the class review these drafts. Students first are asked to produce an initial statement of their thesis topics. Following, students begin working on a review of the literature exploring their topic of interest. Students also develop a description of the methods intend for their research project. Finally, students complete a more sophisticated description of the topic that will serve as the introduction to the prospectus. |
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Fall Course Syllabus