Honors: Introduction to Research (HON 495) Spring 2015

O (Oral) credit; WI (Writing Intensive) credit

Dr. Jon Goldberg-Hiller

Professor of Political Science

E-mail:

Office Hours: TBA

Goals

The general goal for HON 495 is to prepare Honors students for the successful completion of their Senior Honors Project/Thesis (in HON 496, the two-semester course where students work with their faculty advisor). This semester, students will pursue a topic for the Senior Honors Project, refine it, and develop it in terms of concept, research design, background, and significance. Students will also learn how to orally present their research topic.

Students in HON 495 will submit, as a final assignment, a proposal for the research to be conducted in HON 496. The aim is for students to submit their best 20 pages of written work toward completion of their proposals. This might include a statement of significance, a literature review, research design, expected results, bibliography, timeframe, and so on. Students will also practice the delivery of a public oral presentation of their proposed research projects, including questions and answers.

Methods

We take a pragmatic approach in this course with the emphasis on students working independently, together as peer advisors, and with their faculty advisors. We will have minimal lectures and we will not meet for all scheduled class sessions (see schedule). Guest speakers will discuss research and the proposal writing process. We will focus on skills of research.

Students will revise and re-write their material as an iterative process with feedback from faculty advisors, peers, and the instructor. Writing assignments will allow you to refine your topic, expand it, revise it in light of criticism, and move from abstract to proposal draft, to the final document (which you may not necessarily complete this semester). Feedback will enable you to make progress this semester.

In addition to research and writing, students will discuss and present their work, with an emphasis on developing oral communication skills. In addition to regular discussions in class, students will give a series of increasingly detailed presentations, including question and answer sessions. Students will provide peer reviews. All students are required to give a public presentation of their proposal at the end of the semester.

Requirements

Assignments are listed in our class schedule. In addition, students must attend class sessions. Tardiness is disruptive and rude. Arriving to class late or missing it altogether will negatively affect your evaluation and may lead to a “NO CREDIT” grade for the course. If you face problems, please communicate with me immediately.

Please purchase an electronic or paper copy (from an online bookseller) of

  • Booth, Wayne C, Gregory G Colomb, and Joseph M Williams. The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008.

Evaluation

This course is graded on a Cr/NCr basis. More importantly, as Honors students, you will receive a written evaluation of your work, including progress made this semester. The final written evaluation will be an important consideration in the final Honors designation awarded (or not) upon graduation.

Grades

20%Attendance and active participation (including some short assignments)

20%Short oral presentations

20%Abstract, proposal, first written draft

20%Final oral presentation

20%Final written work (minimum, best 20 pages)

Note: Earning less than 75% of the grade will result in NO CREDIT for the course.

Other Course Policies

1. No Incompletes. Following University of Hawai`i policy, please note that an incomplete (I) may be submitted for an undergraduate only when the student “has not completed a small, but important part of a semester's work if the instructor believes that the incomplete was caused by conditions beyond the student's control.”

2. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. You will fail the course at the first instance of plagiarism.

3. All cell phones and pagers must be off during class. You may bring electronic tablets and laptops. However, please do not text or otherwise engage in non-seminar activities (facebook, arranging airline tickets, etc.) during our class time.

Disability

If you feel you need reasonable accommodations because of a disability, please 1) contact the KOKUA Program at 956-7511 or 956-7612 in room 013 of the QLCSS;

And/or 2) speak with me privately to discuss your specific needs. I will be happy to work with you and the KOKUA Program to meet your access needs related to your documented disability.

SCHEDULE FOR HONORS 495: Spring 2015

WEEK / Topic / Assignments
January 14 / Introductions; Overview; Syllabus; Student presentation of likely project. /
  • Written one-page Project Statement, due before August 29th at 4 pm to
  • Check electronic syllabus and send comments about the above assignment to two students before the next class.
  • Read at least one book on your topic.

January 21 / Discussion background research; working bibliography. Library sessions.
Meet in Library 156 /
  • Read Booth, et. al, Section II (pp. 29-102).
  • Begin working Bibliography. Bring two pages to class.
  • REGISTER for SPRING SYMPOSIUM

January 28 / Zotero lessons. Bring laptops to class. /
  • Continue working on bibliography.
  • Bibliography DUE September 16
  • Write CV

February 4 / Presentation of research topics: 3 minute talk describing the significance of your research project. /
  • Draft cover letter to potential advisors due.
  • CV due
  • You should plan to be working with advisors as soon as possible.

February 11 / Discussion of writing methods. Discussion of abstracts.
VISIT BY UROP /
  • Statement of project in abstract form (300-500 words) due in class (and electronically).
  • Read Booth, et. al, Section III (pp. 103-170).

February 18 / Discussion of research methodologies /
  • Write 500 words on your chosen research methodology. Due in class (and electronically).

February 25 / Work on Annotated Bibliography. NO CLASS but meeting with Professor this week a good idea /
  • Work on Annotated Bibliography

March 4 / Oral Presentation of research Project: 6 minutes. With Powerpoint. /
  • Work on Annotated Bibliography
  • Begin working with Advisor.
  • Begin sketching ideas for poster

March 11 / Discussion of Booth, Section IV /
  • Annotated Bibliography DUE in Class
  • Read Booth Section IV (pp. 171-283)

March 18 / TBA /
  • Submit outline of Research Proposal

March 25 NO CLASS—Spring Break /
  • Work on First Draft of Proposal (20 pages minimum)

April 1 / Presentation of Research Project with Powerpoint: 10 minutes /
  • Continue to work on First Draft of Proposal.

April 8 / Presentation: Oral Presentation, 15 minutes. /
  • First Draft of Proposals Due

April 15 / Presentation: Oral presentation, 15 minutes
April 22 / NO CLASS but individual meetings with professor
April 29 / Final Proposal Due
May 6 / TBA

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