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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 470"
COURSE NAME: "International Affairs Senior Seminar"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Seth Jaffe
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 8:20-9:40 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Senior Standing or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course exposes students to major examples of current, ground-breaking and policy-relevant political research in the field of international affairs and world politics. The course is designed to help students to synthesize the skills and substantive knowledge of their major and apply it to current issues of the practice of world politics or to significant research problems. Students will learn to organize and produce work that could be presented to governments, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, research institutes, media outlets or global firms. Students will be required to make oral presentations, employing methods of international affairs, and display familiarity with the use of qualitative and quantitative data. Students will also engage in a research project of their own, write policy briefs, and present their work.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This capstone seminar exposes students to major examples of current, ground-breaking and policy-relevant political research, methods, and models, with a special focus on the subfield of international affairs and world politics.  Moreover, the seminar (ii) is designed to help students employ and present such research in a professional way, synthesizing and applying the skills and substantive knowledge of their major to current issues of world politics, international public policy-making, or significant research problems. The seminar explores cutting-edge research in various areas of international affairs. It also offers a forum for students to develop, present, and discuss professional and scholarly projects. The first part examines research, methods, and professional techniques; the second part focuses on examples and current issues of cutting-edge research and policy analyses in world politics. In the third section of the class students present their own research papers or policy papers (“white papers”) in class based on previously circulated manuscripts, in addition to explorations of methods and examples of global political research producing and using quantitative and qualitative data. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will learn to organize and produce research that could be presented in academic contexts, and to governments, international organizations, research institutes, media outlets or global firms. Students will hereby be required to engage with cutting-edge research output; make professional oral presentations of their work; employ methods of international affairs; and display familiarity with the use of qualitative and quantitative data. Students will engage in a research project of their own, write policy briefs, and provide  research reflections. They exercise to present the work of scholars and students’ own work, which will be discussed in class in substantive aspects and in terms of presentation. Seminar participants will train and display their scholarly and professional skills.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Political Research: Methods and Practical SkillsSandra Halperin & Oliver HeathOxford University Press9780199558414 Almost corner bookstore. Two editions, one 2012, the other 2017 – either fine. Page number translations on syllabus. At library, and many old copies floating about JCU.   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Basic Methods Quiz 10%
Operationalized research question + lit review + working biblio 10%
First Draft  15%
Paper presentation 10%
Discussant role 5%
Paper memo 5%
Final Paper 30%
Participation 15%

-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:
TBA
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.
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.

SCHEDULE

NOTE: I modify the reading assignments/workshop contents year by year, frequently semester by semester, so the below is a template.

Class 1

I. Course Intro

II. Studying and Practicing International Affairs

III. Syllabus Review

IV. Topics Brainstorm

Class 2

Library search info session

PART I: CONCEPTS, METHODS, AND MODELS

Class 3

Preliminary topic research.

Class 4

I. Key Approaches to IR and World Politics Revisited

Readings: Sandra Halperin & Oliver Heath, “Political Research,” Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford University Press, 2012), pp.1-22 [Chapter 1] 

Sandra Halperin & Oliver Heath, “Political Research,” Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford University Press, 2017), pp.1-21 [Chapter 1] 

II. Issues, Methodologies, Theories, and Values in Global Political Research

Readings: Sandra Halperin & Oliver Heath, “Research Design,” Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford University Press, 2012), pp. 44-48; 53-69 [parts of Chapter 2 & 3]

Sandra Halperin & Oliver Heath, “Research Design,” Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford University Press, 2017), pp. 44-49; 54-70 [parts of Chapter 2 & 3]

Class 5

Workshop

Class 6

I. Asking Research Questions: Finding & Formulating Questions & Puzzles

Readings: Sandra Halperin & Oliver Heath, “Asking Questions: How to Find and Formulate Research Questions,” Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford University Press, 2012), pp.101-128 [Chapter 5]

Sandra Halperin & Oliver Heath, “Asking Questions: How to Find and Formulate Research Questions,” Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford University Press, 2017), pp. 82-110 [Chapter 4]

Class 7

Methodology Quiz (in class)

Class 8

I. Answering Research Questions: Components, Constructions, Hypotheses

Readings: Sandra Halperin & Oliver Heath, “Answering Research Questions: Requirements, Components, and Construction,” Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford University Press, 2012), 129-163 [Chapter 6]

Sandra Halperin & Oliver Heath, “Finding Answers: Theories and How to Apply Them,” Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford University Press, 2012), 111-145 [Chapter 5]

PART II: CUTTING EDGE ACADEMIC AND PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH

Class 9

Workshop

Class 10

Workshop

Class 11

Worjshop

Research question, lit review, + biblio due

Class 12

Workshop

Class 13

Workshop

Class 14

Workshop

Class 15

Workshop

Class 16

10 page draft due.

PART III: PRESENTING IR RESEARCH AND POLICY OPTIONS

Class 17

Presentations

Class 18

Presentations

Class 19

Presentations

Class 20

Presentations

Class 21

Presentations

Class 22

Presentations

Class 23

Presentations

Class 24

Presentations

Paper memo due

Class 25

Presentations

Class 26 final 20 pg. paper due (in class)