WGSS 489:
Senior Seminar in Research Methods
and Capstone Preparation
Graded Assignments
Fall, 2009
Dr. McWhorter
Participation: This is a research seminar, so
all students are expected to be present (unless ill and contagious)
at all meetings and to come prepared to discuss all assigned readings. Participation in discussions
on assigned texts and other students' research presentations counts
as 10% of the final grade.
Critical Essay: On September 23, all students will submit a 5-7 page paper on Judith Butler's Undoing Gender. The paper will consist of a response to a discussion question to be given out a week in advance of the due date. This paper is worth 10% of the final course grade.
Working Bibliography: On October 7 students will submit a working bibliography for the thesis. This will consist of all materials identified thus far that seem to bear some relevance to the thesis topic. All citations must be complete and in the agreed-upon citation format. (This will vary depending upon whether students are working in the sciences, social sciences, or humanities.) The bibliography must demonstrate that the student has done a thorough review of the relevant literature--including books, periodicals, and online sources. In addition to the citation list, students must turn in a statement listing the sources actually examined thus far and any texts which have been deemed central to the thesis work. It is expected that students will have begun to read and analyze key sources by this point in the semester. 10%
Presentations: A full 50% of the course grade comes from in-class presentations, so obviously these are to be taken very seriously and to be very carefully prepared. Each student will do a total of five, as follows:
1. September 7 - each student will have ten minutes to present his/her idea for a thesis topic. The class will offer feedback and suggestions for bibliography and possibly for an appropriate WGSS faculty mentor. 5%
2. September 23 - each student will make a ten-minute progress report on his/her research. These reports should include not only a brief logistical update (resources gathered, meetings with mentor, etc.) but also and more importantly some intellectual substance as students begin to read resource material and develop their ideas. Students are encouraged to supply handouts or other visual aids where appropriate. 5%
3. September 30 & October 5 - each of these days, half the students will make a twenty-minute presentation on their research. These reports should reflect substantial engagement with bibliographic resources and should evince a refinement of the topic. 10%
4. October 21, 26, 28, and November 2 & 4 - each day one student will have thirty minutes to present his/her work in progress. In advance of the presentation date, the student will supply the other class members with a text to read in preparation. This text may be (a) an article from the student's bibliography that the student wishes to discuss in depth, (b) a detailed outline of the thesis-in-progress, or (c) a brief outline of the thesis and a preliminary draft of a sub-section of it. Students should use this opportunity to get substantial feedback on their research methods, clarify points in the bibliographic literature that trouble them, and/or elicit constructive criticism on their proposed arguments and written presentation of their ideas. The class will discuss this presentation for the remainder of the period each day. 15%
5. November 11, 16, 18, & 30 and December 2 - each day one student will have thirty minutes to present his/her work in progress. In advance of the presentation date, the student will supply the class with a working outline and a selected portion of the thesis draft. As before, students should use this opportunity for feedback on all aspects of their projects. The class will discuss this presentation for the remainder of the period each day. 15%
Preparatory Assignments: In preparation for writing the thesis proposal, all students must do the following: (a) submit the September 16 note-taking assignment, (b) schedule and attend an individual meeting with librarian Lucretia McCulley before October 6 to discuss bibliographic resources for the thesis topic, (c) submit a preliminary thesis outline by November 6, and (d) engage a spring-term thesis advisor by November 30. Additionally, depending upon the demands of each student's particular project, some may also be required to read extra chapters in Lipson, meet with the University's Institutional Review Board, or learn to use special software or equipment. All of these assignments together will count as 10% of the student's final grade.
Final Proposal: The final proposal is due before noon on Friday, December 11. It will consist of a full, detailed outline of the thesis, a bibliography in correct style sheet format, and a detailed plan of work for the coming semester. These should be accompanied by a cover sheet bearing the title of the project and the signature of the faculty advisor, showing that he/she has reviewed the proposal and approved it. 10%