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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 470-1"
COURSE NAME: "International Affairs Senior Seminar"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Silvia Scarpa
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
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 aims at: 

- providing guidance to student on how to conduct research in the field of international relations and international law, by focusing on a step-by step process in which writing is thoroughly examined in all its phases, including topic selection and research question development, identification of relevant scholarly literature and drafting of a literature review, project definition, analysis, drafting and organizing sources; 

- helping them in developing and presenting their own research in a professional way to various audiences;

- exposing students to relevant examples of research in the field of international relations and international law.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the Senior Seminar, students:

- will be able to develop research projects on cross-cutting issues in the field of international relations;

- will have acquired relevant skills for effectively presenting such research to multiple audiences, including academia, diplomacy, international and non-governmental organizations, transnational corporations, and the media;

- will understand how to use qualitative and quantitative data as well as primary and secondary sources.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Research and Writing in International Relations - 3rd EditionL. Roselle, S. Spray and J. T. SheltonRoutledge9781138332317     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Topic selection, question development & abstract 5%
Literature Review % Bibliography 10%
Discussant role 10%
Daft Paper  15%
Oral presentation 20%
Class participation 5%
Final paper 35%

-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:
In class and/or virtual attendance is compulsory. Students are expected to attend classes regularly, to read assigned reading materials before each class and to contribute to class discussions in a meaningful way. They are also expected to do assigned homework. Students have at their disposal a maximum of 3 unexcused absences throughout the semester. Additional unexcused absences will be penalized with an F grade being recorded for class participation.
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

WEEK

 

DATES

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS

DEADLINES

Week 1

18 January

 

 

20 January

Introduction to the Course.

 

How to do research in international relations and international law?

 

 

 

 

Roselle et al., Chapter 1; Lieblich, p. 42-51. Homework: answer to questions 2 and 3 available at p. 32 of Roselle et al.

 

Week 2

 

25 January

 

 

 

27 January

 

Continued.

 

 

Topic selection and question development.

 

27 January at 5 pm: Briefing session organized by CoESPU.

 

 

 

Roselle et al., Chapter 2; Lieblich, p. 51-54. Homework: do the exercises at p. 44 of Roselle et al.

 

 

Week 3

1 February

 

 

3 February

 

Continued.

 

 

Scholarly literature and literature review.

 

 

Roselle et al., Chapter 3, Lieblich, p. 54-67. Homework: do the exercise n. 1 at p. 65 of Roselle et al.

 

 

 

3 February at 6 pm: deadline to post your topic, research question and abstract online and to send it to your discussant.

Week 4

8 February

 

 

 

 

10 February

 

Class discussion on topics, research

questions and abstracts-Part I

 

Class discussion on topics, research questions and abstracts-Part II

 

 

 

 

Week 5

15 February

 

 

 

 

17 February

 

 

Finding your sources, and organizing them!

 

 

 

Continued.

 

Roselle et al., ch. 11-12-13.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17 February at 6 pm: deadline to post your literature review and preliminary bibliography online at to send it to your discussant.

Week 6

 

22 February

 

 

 

 

 

24 February

Class discussion on literature review and preliminary bibliography-Part I

 

Class discussion on literature review and preliminary bibliography-Part II

 

 

 

 

Week 7

 

1 March

 

 

 

 

 

3 March

 

Class discussion on literature review and preliminary bibliography-Part III

 

 

Project definition and systematic investigation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roselle et al., Chapter 4. Homework: do the exercises at p. 82.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 8

8 March

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 March

 

Analysis and writing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued.

Roselle et al., Chapter 5. Homework: do exercise n. 3 at p. 107 of Roselle et al. Choose, however, any scholarly article included in your preliminary bibliography.

 

Choose 1 or more chapters included in Section II of the textbook and read it. Be ready to discuss in class how this reading helps you in shaping your research project.

 

 

Week 9

15 March

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17 March

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

15 March - 11:30 am-12:45 pm:Guest lecture on “Human Rights with Amnesty International Italy”. Please, sign up at[email protected]to receive the link to attend.

 

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

 

 

 

14 March at 12noon: deadline to submit PowerPoint/Prezi Presentations online and to send them to your discussant.

Week 10

22 March

 

24 March

 

 

SPRING BREAK

 

Week 11

 

29 March

 

 

 

 

 

31 March

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 March at 6 pm: Deadline to submit draft paper online.

Week 12

5 April

 

 

 

 

 

7 April

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 13

12 April

 

 

 

 

 

14 April

 

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

 

 

 

 

Week 14

19 April

 

 

 

 

 

21 April

 

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

Student presentations and discussion (2 students + discussants + general discussion).

 

 

 

Week 15

26 April

 

 

 

 

28 April

Q&A session on final papers.

 

 

Wrap-up session and conclusions.

 

 

26 April at 6 pm: Deadline to submit final papers.

 

Week 16

Final exams’ week

2 - 6 May

 

 

Feedback on final papers