Researching Kansas City

1

Honors 215:

Researching Kansas City

MWF 11-11:50 a.m., Haag 212

Fall 2015

1

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood

Honors College

Office: 219 CockefairHall

Telephone: 816.235.2291

Office hours: WF, 12:30-1:30 p.m., or by appointment

1

1

Course Overview

Researching Kansas City is an interdisciplinary undergraduate research course that fulfills the Focus C requirement and is designated a EUReka class.It invites students to investigate important issues of the past or present in Kansas City using local resources. The class will introduce students to research methods appropriate to the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences and technologies, such as archival research or field work; help students identify and pursue relevant research questions; guide students in using their research to produce academic papers; and encourage students explore ways to share their research with broader audiences.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate the ability to fulfill the objectives of Focus C and EUReka classes:

• Analyze, interpret, and/or reconstruct important events, experiences, actions, and interactions in Kansas City of the past or present

• Convey an understanding of their own values and civic duty and those of others

• Identify ethical problems through the application of ethical theory and moral reasoning

• Pose a research question about an important issue of the past or present in Kansas City

• Compile relevant sources to respond to that question using local resources

• Analyze sources using appropriate methods

• Produce academic papers that meet disciplinary conventions and contribute to scholarly conversations

Required Textbook (available at UMKC Bookstore)

Wayne Booth et al., TheCraft of Research (3rd ed., UP of Chicago, 2008)

Other readings are listed on the Course Schedule below and will be posted in the “Course Content” section of our Blackboard site.

Recommended: Read The Kansas City Star daily (available free to UMKC students at campus kiosks) and The Pitch weekly (available free to UMKC students at racks in Royall Hall dining area and Miller Nichols Library.)

Grading

Researcher’s Notebook 10 percent

Research Proposal 5 percent

Annotated Bibliography 10 percent

Research Paper 25 percent

Research Affinity Group Notes 10 percent

Advisor Report 10 percent

Presentation 10 percent

Submission Plan 10 percent

Self-Reflection Essay 10 percent

Assignments

Researcher’s Notebook (10 percent): Emulating the practice of experienced researchers and writers, you will compile a notebook that has at least ten entries. I will give you prompts for five entries, as noted on the Course Schedule. You are responsible for producing another five entries, which may include responses to assigned readings; reflections on class discussions and activities; invention exercises such as free-writing exercises or cluster diagrams; records of your Research Paper sources; and notes on the evolution of your different assignments.

I may collect your notebooks without notice, and I also will ask to see your notebook at midterm. Please be sure that handwritten entries are legible and try to type as many entries as possible. Sketches and diagrams may be produced by hand. Be sure to keep all entries in one folder, which is due on the last day of class.

Research Proposal (5 percent):Composing a formal proposal is a useful first step in any research project. In drafting your proposal, you will commit to the subject of your project, articulate the question(s) that you will pursue, identify your primary sources, indicate the methodologies or data-gathering techniques that you will use, and plan your work. This proposal also will help clarify your purposes and goals, and my response to it will ensure that you are on the right track with your project.Your two-page Research Project Proposal is due September 25 and should address the following issues:

• What question(s) about Kansas City do you want to answer and why?
• Why is this subject relevant to your academic studies and life?
• What primary sources will you need to find? Where are they located and how will you access them?
• What permissions will you need to obtain? (We will discuss this issue in class.)
• Based on a preliminary search, what four or more secondary sources do you need to locate?
• What is your timeline for meeting deadlines (see syllabus) and completing your work?
• Why should scholars be interested in your project? What is its significance?

Annotated Bibliography (10 percent): As you begin to work on your Research Paper, it is important to keep track of the primary and secondary sources that you collect. To do so, you will submit an Annotated Bibliography of ten credible sources. Your Annotated Bibliography should have two sections. The primary-source section should include the documents, interviews, observations, and other sources that are original to your project. The secondary-source section should include the scholarly works that will help you analyze your topic. Your Annotated Bibliography will be evaluated on the caliber of sources as well as your descriptions of them. It is due on October 9.

Research Paper (25 percent): In a 10-page paper, you will address an important issue of the past or present in Kansas City, using at least ten credible sources and an appropriate methodology.All students will conduct a review of scholarship relevant to their subjects. Depending upon the topic, you may review pertinent primary sources, conduct informational interviews, and contact appropriate organizations for information. The instructor will work with you to ensure that you do not need IRB determination for your project, given time constraints to obtain that determination. Once you have compiled primary and secondary sources, you will produce at least three drafts of the paper and will receive feedback from your peers. I will read the first draft of your paper and offer constructive response. I will grade the final draft of your paper, which is due on November 9, using the attached rubric.

Research Affinity Group Notes (10 percent): Early in the semester, you will be placed in a small group of peers who are working on similar topics. You will meet with your group several times in class as you develop your Research Paper, and the RAG will offer peer response to the first two drafts of your paper and your Presentation. You should keep notes about meetings and peer response that you will submit with your Research Paperon November 9.

Advisor Report (10 percent): After you have written the first draft of your Research Paper, you will ask a UMKC faculty member in an appropriate discipline to review your paper and offer feedback. You then will write a two-page report about the faculty member’s advice that is due on November 2.

Presentation (10 percent): Near the end of the semester, you will make a 10-minute presentation about your research for students in the Honors College or at a UMKC event. You should prepare a PowerPoint or Prezi that summarizes your key findings.

Submission Plan (10 percent): To pursue the possibility of sharing your research with a broader audience, you will identify at least one undergraduate academic journal that might accept your paper. In a two-page paper, you will describe the journal, note its submission criteria, and compose a query regarding submission. Your Submission Plan is due on November 13.

Self-Reflection Essay (10 percent): The final assignment of this course asks you to reflect on your work over the course of the semester in a two-page paper that will be due on the last day of class. This self-reflection should consider our learning outcomes and how well you think that you have achieved them. You may refer to or quote from your Researcher’s Notebook, Research Paper, and any other assignment to compose this self-assessment. The essay is due December 9.

Grading Scale

93-100%: A80-83.9%: B-67-69.9%: D+

90-92.9%: A-77-79.9%: C+64-66.9%: D

87-89.9%: B+ 74-76.9%: C60-63.9%: D-

84-86.9%: B-70-73.9%: C-0 – 50.9%: F

Blackboard

A copy of this syllabus is posted in our Blackboard site. (Go to course information and reminders (e.g., class cancellations, schedule changes, etc.) also will be posted as "Announcements" on our Blackboard site.

Dr. Wood’s Course Policies

Participation and Attendance: Your regular attendance and active participation are important to this student-centered class. You will be allowed two unexcused absences; your grade will be lowered by one letter for each subsequent absence. If you miss class for medical reasons or emergencies, please provide appropriate documentation. You are responsible for obtaining handouts and notes from classmates for the days that you miss.

You are expected to be prepared to talk about the assignment for each class; the reading schedule indicates the texts and pages that you should have read by that date. Being on time for class is essential; three late arrivals will count as one absence.

Electronic Usage Policy: All cell phones must be turned off during class: texting, and taking or making calls, are not allowed. One warning will be issued, and points will be deducted if you continue to violate this policy. Laptops may be used to take notes; any other use will be penalized.

Written Work: All written work for this class must be typed in 11- or 12-point font, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and use the discipline-appropriate style for formatting and citations. Please submit hard copy. Late work will not be accepted. If you have problems meeting an assignment due date, please talk to me before the deadline.

Plagiarism: Intentionally using someone’s words or ideas as your own is a serious offense in the university that can result in reprimand, suspension, and expulsion. We will review MLA rules on proper citation and documentation of sources in class. If you have further questions, please see me. If I detect plagiarism on any assignment, you will receive an F for that assignment. For more details about university policies on academic misconduct and plagiarism, go to

The Writing Studio

The staff of the Writing Studio assists all levels of writers at UMKC, including graduate students and faculty members. Consultants can help you develop ideas for your papers, articulate your thesis, organize your material, and hone your grammar skills. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the Writing Studio’s free services. You can schedule an appointment by calling 816.235.1146. The Writing Studio has two locations: the first floor of Miller Nichols Library, and the Atterbury Student Success Center.

UMKC Resources and Policies (August 2015)

Academic Calendar: Students are encouraged to review important add, drop or withdraw dates:

Academic Honesty: The Board of Curators of the University of Missouri recognizes that academic honesty is essential for the intellectual life of the University. Faculty members have a special obligation to expect high standards of academic honesty in all student work. Students have a special obligation to adhere to such standards. Academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism or sabotage, is adjudicated through the University of Missouri Student Conduct Code and Rules of Procedures in Student Conduct Matters.

(Academic units may have additional student codes of behavior to be referenced, i.e. Honor Codes.)

Academic Inquiry, Course Discussion and Privacy: University of Missouri System Executive Order No. 38 lays out principles regarding the sanctity of classroom discussions at the university. The policy is described fully in Section 200.015 of the Collected Rules and Regulations. In this class, students may make audio or video recordings of course activity unless specifically prohibited by the faculty member. However, the redistribution of any audio or video recordings of statements or comments from the course to individuals who are not students in the course is prohibited without the express permission of the faculty member and of any students who are recorded, including those recordings prepared by an instructor. Students found to have violated this policy are subject to discipline in accordance with provisions of Section 200.020 of the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri pertaining to student conduct matters.

Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and participate in classes. Advance notice of attendance policies of academic units and individual instructors should be given, and such notice should be in writing. Students should notify instructors of excused absences in advance, where possible. Students who have an excused absence are expected to make arrangements with instructors for alternative or make-up work. Such arrangements should be made in advance of the absence, where possible. Instructors should accommodate excused absences to the extent that an accommodation can be made that does not unreasonably interfere with the learning objectives of the course or unduly burden the instructor. Attendance policies shall be applied in a non-discriminatory manner.

Campus Safety: Inclement weather, mass notification, and emergency response guide:

Counseling and Health Services Available at UMKC: UMKC students may experience many challengesin their lives while attending college – stress, depression, suicidality, trauma, relationship issues, health concerns, etc. As your professor I care about your success and well-being, and want to make you aware of some helpful resources on campus. The UMKC Counseling Center ( located at 4825 Troost in Room 206, offers a wide range of supportive services to students. Appointments can be made by calling 816.235.1635. UMKC Student Health and Wellness ( located at 4825 Troost in Room 115, offers a full range of health care and promotion services. Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling 816.235.6133. The MindBody Connection ( is located in the Atterbury Student Success Center in Room 112 and offers a variety of stress-reduction services.

Disability Support Services: To obtain disability related accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) as soon as possible. To contact OSSD, call (816) 235-5696. Once verified, OSSD will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. For more information go to:

English Proficiency Statement: Students who encounter difficulty in their courses because of the English proficiency of their instructors should speak directly with their instructors. If additional assistance is needed, students may contact the UMKC Help Line at 816-235-2222 for assistance.

Grade Appeal Policy: Students are responsible for meeting the standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled. The establishment of the criteria for grades and the evaluation of student academic performance are the responsibilities of the instructor.

The University grade appeal procedure is available only for the review of allegedly capricious grading and not for review of the instructor's evaluation of the student's academic performance. Capricious grading, as that term is used here, comprises any of the following:

• The assignment of a grade to a particular student on some basis other than the performance in the course;

• The assignment of a grade to a particular student according to more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in the course; (Note: Additional or different grading criteria may be applied to graduate students enrolled for graduate credit in 300- and 400-level courses.)

• The assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the instructor's previously announced standards.

Discrimination Grievance Procedures for Students: Discrimination Grievance Procedures for Students can be found here:

Statement of Human Rights: The Board of Curators and UMKC are committed to the policy of equal opportunity, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability and status as a Vietnam era veteran. Commitment to the policy is mentored by the Division of Diversity, Access & Equity, but it is the responsibility of the entire university community to provide equal opportunity through relevant practices, initiatives and programs.

Title IX: Under the University of Missouri’s Title IX policy, discrimination, violence and harassment based on sex, gender, and gender identity are subject to the same kinds of accountability and support applied to offenses based on other protected characteristics such as race, color, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, ancestry, disability, military status, and veteran status. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources by visiting UMKC’s Title IX Office webpage ( or contacting UMKC’s Title IX Coordinator, Mikah K. Thompson (816.235.6910 or ). Additionally, you can file a complaint using UMKC’s online discrimination complaint form, which is located at

While most UMKC employees are required to report any known or suspected violation of Title IX, students may seek confidential guidance from the following campus locations:

UMKC Counseling Service
Volker Campus
4825 Troost Ave, Suite 206
Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone – (816) 235-1635 / UMKC Counseling Service
Health Sciences Campus
Health Sciences Building 1418
2464 Charlotte
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone – (816) 235-1635
(open Tuesdays, 1-5pm) / Student Health and Wellness
4825 Troost Ave., Suite 115
Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone - (816) 235-6133

UMKC Connect: Important information is available to undergraduate students in UMKC Connect accessed through Blackboard. Throughout the term, students may receive emails regarding course grades or academic performance. Students are expected to address information posted in a timely fashion. This information may be shared with the student’s Success Network made up his or her academic advisor(s) and other campus resources so that UMKC may fully support the student’s success.

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Getting Started

August 24: Introductions

August 26: “Becoming a Researcher,” “Thinking in Print,” and “Connecting with Your Reader,”

The Craft of Research(COR), pgs. 3-27

August 28: Survey Kansas City history texts and share findings

August 31: Survey Kansas City history texts and share findings

September 2: Skim “2014 Annual Review” of the Mid-America Regional Council (posted on