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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "HM 460"
COURSE NAME: "Research and Writing in the Humanities"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2020
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Annette Merle Bryson
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
W 3:00-5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: Senior Standing or Permission of the student's Advisor and Department
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides practical preparation for designing and carrying out a significant thesis-length research project and a brief, but sophisticated introduction to key methodologies and theoretical approaches used in humanities disciplines. Students will be guided through the processes of setting up a problem to investigate; determining what kind of sources, how many, and which sources are appropriate to use; evaluating and analyzing those sources; reviewing academic literature in the Humanities on their topics; developing a clear and well-researched thesis proposal; and formulating and writing convincing arguments.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course provides practical preparation for designing and carrying out a significant thesis-length research project and a brief, but sophisticated introduction to key methodologies and theoretical approaches used in humanities disciplines. Students will learn how to develop the research questions, materials, methodologies, and arguments of a research project, and how to use appropriate styles, structures, and techniques in drafting and revising their writing. They will also begin to prepare a possible project for their senior theses.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course students will be able to:
• formulate and evaluate research topics and questions;
• prepare project summaries, outlines, and schedules;
• identify and evaluate the relevance of primary and secondary materials;
• prepare annotated bibliographies and critical studies of relevant materials;
• explain and evaluate relevant methodologies;
• analyze and develop appropriate forms of argument;
• employ academic writing styles and techniques of drafting and reviewing texts;
• prepare chapters of a research project;
• explain and analyze course material orally and in written forms, and in individual and group contexts.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Participation | Classes will be focused on understanding, practicing, and evaluating techniques of research and writing, and on explaining, discussing, and revising your own and other students’ research and writing work. Your active involvement in class and your thorough preparation outside class are therefore essential. You will receive a grade for each class, and the average of these grades will constitute your final participation grade. The grades will be based on how sophisticated an understanding of the relevant materials you display, how successfully you undertake the relevant exercises, how critically and thoroughly you show that you reflect on the issues raised, and how clearly and attentively you respond to what others say. | 30% |
| Research Journal | You are required to keep (and hand in for my review once per week) a research journal. | 15% |
| Project | You will prepare, present, and discuss a critical study of materials and a summary, outline, and schedule of a possible project. You will receive a grade for both a draft and the final version, and a grade for your critique of another student’s submission. The critical study of materials and the summary, outline, and schedule should reflect the outcomes of our discussions of research questions, materials, methodologies, and arguments. (10% draft, 10% final, and 5% critique) | 25% |
| Chapter Portion | For the ‘Chapter Portion,’ you will prepare a research paper (approximately 15 pages) that ideally will also serve as a significant portion of a chapter for your senior thesis. This chapter portion should build on both primary and secondary sources, and in preparing it, I will guide you through the processes of preparing a first draft and revising that draft to produce a stronger final paper. You also will present this chapter portion to the rest of the class for discussion. For these discussions, each of you will also review at least one of your colleagues’ papers, preparing both a written review (for the author and for me) and an oral commentary during the discussion of her/his paper in class. (10% draft, 15% final product, and 5% critique) | 30% |
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-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This course provides practical preparation for designing and carrying out a significant thesis-length research project and a brief, but sophisticated introduction to key methodologies and theoretical approaches used in humanities disciplines. Students will be guided through the processes of setting up a problem to investigate; determining what kind of sources, how many, and which sources are appropriate to use; evaluating and analyzing those sources; reviewing academic literature in the Humanities on their topics; developing a clear and well-researched thesis proposal; and formulating and writing convincing arguments.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Week 1: Introductions
How to develop a research project
Week 2: Research questions
Week 3: Finding useful materials
Week 4: Engaging with materials
Week 5: Methodologies
Week 6: Arguments
Project preparation
Week 7: Critical study of materials
Week 8: Introduction, outline, and schedule
Week 9: Writing workshop
How to write a chapter
Week 11: Planning, drafting, and revising
Week 12: Academic writing
Chapter preparation
Weeks 13-14: Presentation, peer review, and writing sessions
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