COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

A Course Title
& Number INS 490: Senior Seminar
B Pre/Co-requisite(s) INS 322 and Senior Standing
C Number of credits Credit hours (3-0-3)
D Faculty Name Dr Line Khatib
E Term/ Year Spring 2017

F Sections
CRN Course Days Time Location

20328 INS 490 MW 2-3:15 (see schedule for Physics 221

group meetings below)

G Instructor
Information
Instructor Office Telephone Email
Line Khatib P230 4420 lkhatib@aus.edu

Office Hours:
MW, 12-2

H Course
Description from Offered once a year and is considered the capstone course of the concentration.
Catalog The topic of the course changes from year to year. Requires students to write a
major research paper on the seminar topic.

I Course Learning
Outcomes Upon completion of this course, a student should be able to:
Analyze central issues and evaluate perspectives in at least one of
the disciplines associated with International Studies
Apply the methodologies associated with at least one of the
disciplines associated with International Studies
Design a research project and develop a work plan with a view to
producing a research paper and an oral presentation that demonstrate
the ability to organize and synthesize information
Assess sources for their validity, accuracy and biases
Appraise the implications of coursework for career aspirations

J Textbook and
other Instructional INS495 requires students to develop an independent research project on a
Material and topic related to one or more of the core disciplines in International Studies
Resources (political science, philosophy, history, sociology, or anthropology).

The required readings have been selected with a view to guiding students
through the research process. In addition to the required readings listed in this
section, students are expected to read a considerable body of literature related
to the topic of their research project. The readings should be academic and
include theoretical texts as well as primary and secondary sources.
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The required readings are listed below and should all be read during the first
three weeks of the semester; please see details in the schedule below and
please note that all of the required readings offer important insights related to
research methodologies:

Iovino, Angela, A Guide to Writing a Research Paper for International

Affairs, Political Science and History, WID Writing Handbook Project, The
George Washington University (no date). URL:
http://widstudio.wordpress.com/wid-writing-handbook-project/a-guide- to-
writing-a-research-paper/ (link confirmed on 12 February 2015)

Matsuda, Matt & John Gillis, Writing Historical Essays: A Guide for
Undergraduates, Rutgers University, College of Arts and Sciences,
Department of History (no date). URL:
http://history.rutgers.edu/component/content/article/52/106-writing-
historical-essays-a-guide-for-undergraduates (link confirmed on 12
February 2015)

Minkoff, Scott, L., A Guide to Developing and Writing Research Papers in

Political Science, Barnard College (2012).
URL: http://www.scottminkoff.com/storage/minkoff_researchpaper_gui
de_v4.pdf (link confirmed on 12 February 2015)

Parish, Steven, M., The Student's Practical Guide: Writing Term Papers for
Anthropology (and Related Subjects), rendered into html with occasional
comments by Jim Moore (1981 with updates). University of California San
Diego. URL: http://pages.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/courses/Parish.html (link
confirmed on 12 February 2015)

Research Paper Writing Guide, Eastern Illinois University, The

Department of Sociology & Anthropology (updated 2007).
URL: http://www.eiu.edu/sociology/ResearchPaperWritingGuide.pdf
(link confirmed on 12 February 2015)

Additional helpful (re-)sources:

Ballenger, Bruce P. The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing

Research Papers (New York : Longman, 2009)

Blaxter, Loraine & Malcolm Tight, How to Research (Maidenhead,

England: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press, 2010)

Chicago Manual of Style, the (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago

Press, 2010)
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Davies, Phillips G. & Samuel J. Rogal, Preparing the Research Paper

(Cambridge, MA: Educators Pub. Service, 1993)

Davis, James P., The Rowman & Littlefield Guide to Writing with
Sources (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2012)

Denscombe, Martyn, The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social

Research Projects (Maidenhead, England: McGraw-Hill/Open
University Press, 2010)

Jesson, Jill; with Lydia Matheson & Fiona M. Lacey, Doing Your
Literature Review: Traditional and Systematic Techniques (Los
Angeles, CA: SAGE, 2011)

Lenburg Jeff, The Facts on File Guide to Research (New York, Facts on
File, 2010)

Miller-Cochran, Susan K. & Rochelle L. Rodrigo, The Wadsworth

Guide to Research (Boston, MA : Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009)
-

Rampolla, Mary Lynn, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History (Bedford/St.

Martin, 2001). Section 4 (focused on the development of thesis statements
and arguments) is available here:
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/classes/204writingworksho
p/pdfs/Rampolla2010ThesesIntro.pdf

Turabian, Kate L. (revised by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph

M. Williams, and the University of Chicago Press editorial staff), A Manual
for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for
Students and Researchers (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013)

Walliman, Nicholas & Boushmaha Baiche, Your Research Project: A Step-by-

Step Guide for the First-Time Researcher (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications, 2001)

Various handouts both general and discipline specific developed by The

Writing Center at University of North Carolina:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/

K Teaching and
The instructor will meet with students individually and in groups in order to facilitate the
Learning
research process. However, while the instructor is available for guidance, great emphasis is
Methodologies
placed on the independence of the students work.

As indicated in section L below, students are assessed on the basis of a set of submissions that
define discreet steps of the research process.
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L
Grading Scale,
Grading Scale
Grading
Distribution, and
Due Dates 94 100 4.0 A 77 79 2.3 C+
90 93 3.7 A- 73 76 2.0 C
87 89 3.3 B+ 70 72 1.7 C-
83 86 3.0 B 60 69 1.0 D
80 82 2.7 B- Less Than 0 F
60
Grading Distribution

Assessment Weight Due Date

Attendance and Participation 10%

Study/Work Plan with Specified Readings 10% Monday 13 Feb (Week

4)
Research Proposal with Annotated Bibliography 15% Wed 1 March (W6)

Draft Submission of Research Project 20% Wednesday 15 March

(W8)
Oral Presentation of Research Project 15% 17,18,19 April (W12)

Final Submission of Research Project 30% Week 16

Total 100%

M
Explanation of Senior Research Project: The key component of this course is the independent senior research
Assessments project. Consequently, the work submitted towards the research papers as well as the final
papers are weighted heavily in the assessment.

The project must demonstrate a students ability to design a research project and execute the
research in a manner that demonstrates the ability to work independently, think critically, and
employ analytical skills. The research should be founded on both primary and secondary
sources and must make active use of methodologies as well as theoretical perspectives from at
least one of the major areas of study in International Studies (political science, philosophy,
history, sociology, or anthropology).

Week 4, students submit a detailed study/work plan including exact topic to be researched
and references to the question(s) and readings you plan to cover. It should also explain your
goals for each week. The work plan should demonstrate the ability to structure the research
and writing process in a realistic manner. Pay careful attention to future deadlines when
developing the work plan.

Week 6, students submit a research proposal (1,500 words) and an annotated bibliography that
includes all identified sources. The research proposal should: (1) define the scope and goals of
the project and discuss its importance in relation to existing research/scholarship; (2) outline the
intended approach to/structure of analysis; (3) critically reflect on how the research project
relates to material and topics covered in earlier course work; and (4) address how the research
may relate to future career plans.

Your annotated bibliography should do the following:

- Summarize the main arguments of your source;
- Comment on patterns of similarity and dissimilarity between sources;
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- Write a paragraph explaining a rationale for your selection of sources.

In week 8, students submit drafts of their research papers. The draft version must be 3,000
words (not including title page or bibliography) and must be fully cited (with appropriate in-text
citations or footnotes as well as a bibliography).

Students will receive feedback on both the proposal and the draft and are expected to make
substantial revisions in light of the feedback prior to the final submission.

The final version of the research paper must be 4,000-5,000 words and is due at the end of the
semester.

The integrity of a students written work will be questioned if I have reasons to believe that
inappropriate assistance has been received or that the work has been written by another person.

Senior Research Presentation: During week 12 each student must formally present their senior
research paper to a group of fellow students and AUS faculty members. The 20-minute
presentation should focus on communicating clearly and concisely the main research questions,
thesis, methodology, and findings. Grades for the presentation will be determined by the level of
independent mastery of the material being presented, the efficient use of time, the quality of the
visual materials in support of the presentation, and the quality of responses to questions posed
by members of the audience.

As the research is progressing, I recommend that you make use of the AUS Writing Center or
that you develop writing groups with other students in INS 490. One can learn a great deal
from reading other students work and one always benefits from feedback from others.

Please note that unless alternative citation practices have been agreed with your
professor, the paper must adhere to the rules defined by The Chicago Manual of
Style: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

N Student Academic
Students must abide by the Student Academic Integrity Code as stated in the AUS
Integrity Code
Undergraduate Catalog 2014-2015, pp. 17-19.
Statement
[perhaps add any Any issues related to academic integrity will be treated according to AUS policy.
of your own course
policies] As noted above (section M), the integrity of a students written work will be questioned if there
are reasons to believe that inappropriate assistance has been received or that the world has been
written by another person.

The grade XF may be given for the course if a student does not comply with the AUS Academic
Integrity Code.
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Tentative Schedule
Note: Exam dates and due dates are set.
No make-up exams, extra assignments, or extensions of deadlines will be given.

# Dates Topic / Readings Notes

Group meeting: Syllabus and general introduction with emphasis on

1 23-25 Jan
expectations associated with the senior research project

Group meeting: Getting started on research.

Discussion of structure
and mechanics of research papers (intro, body, conclusion, transition
2 30-1 Feb sentences, structured paragraphs)

Readings:
All online research guides listed in section J above

Group meeting: Discussion of how to develop and write a research

proposal, an annotated bibliography, a thesis statements, and
literature review
3 6-8 Feb
Readings:
All online research guides listed in section J above

4 13-15 Feb Monday 13 FEB 2016: Submission of study plans

Individual feedback on study plans

5 20-22 Feb
Start work on research proposal and annotated bibliography

Work on research proposals and annotated bibliography

Monday 27 Feb Group meeting: Discuss research proposal and

annotated bibliographies with peers.

6 27-1 March Wednesday 1 March Submission of research proposal and annotated

bibliography

Readings:
Start reading sources and taking notes. Write down main arguments
and thesis of each work read.

7 6-8 March Research, writing and individual meetings as needed

8 13-15 March Wednesday 15 March: Submission of drafts of research projects

9 20-22 March Individual feedback on drafts of research projects

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Individual feedback on drafts of research projects

10 27-29 March

11 10-12 April Individual feedback on drafts of research projects

Group meeting: Senior research project presentations. You need to

attend 8 presentations; your participation in these presentations will
12 17-19 April
go towards your participation grade.

Individual meetings as needed

13 24-26 April

14 1-3 May Individual meetings as needed

15 8 May Individual meetings as needed

Submission of final senior research projects

Please note that it is crucial that you incorporate feedback from the draft
16/17 and presentation during these last weeks. As noted above, the active and
constructive use of the feedback is considered in the assessment of the
final research projects.