INTL 656 Proseminar: Research & Writing in International Studies
Fall 2016, 1 credit
348 PLC; Wednesdays 2-2:50
Office: 307 PLC; 346-3245
Office hours: 12 noon - 2 pm & by appointment
Proseminar:
Research and Writing in International Studies
This seminar focuses on the mechanics of successfully conducting research on international issues. We will cover such points as conceptualizing research topics, envisioning and conducting library and field research, and the nuts and bolts of writing a grant application, report and thesis. We will also focus on important points of grammar, syntax and just plain ‘good writing’ that students should always consider whenever they write.
Requirements: This one-credit course can only be taken P/NP. Grading for the course will be assessed on a) participation in classroom discussions; b) participation in writing (and rewriting!) as well as editing and evaluating other students' works; and c) a final essay (3-4 pp.), to be submitted on Wednesday November 30, in which you address writing problems/issues you became aware of in this course and to which you will be attentive in your future writing.
As this course takes a practical, hands-on approach, readings per se will be minimal. However, whatever is assigned must be completed prior to the class in which it will be discussed (we will have extensive discussions about the readings) -- I strongly encourage you to purchase these two books, as they will be invaluable resources for your writing in the future. The following required books are available for purchase at the U of O bookstore:
James P. Davis The Rowman & Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources 4th edition, Rowman & Littlefield, 2011
John M. Swales & Christine B. Feak Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills Third edition. University of Michigan Press, 2012
Recommended: H.W. Fowler & David Crystal A Dictionary of Modern English Usage: the Classic First Edition (Oxford World's Classics) Oxford University Press, 2010
Course Outline
Week I, September 28 Introduction to the course and to issues we shall be exploring
Readings
Davis, pp. 1-20
Swales & Feak, pp. viii-x, 1, 4-8
Week II, October 5 Experiences in the field, and making sense of them
Readings
Davis, pp. 21-27
Nigel Barley "An English Alien" The Innocent Anthropologist: Notes from a Mud Hut Penguin Books, 1986, pp. 183-190
Week III, October 12 Exploring funding possibilities
Please explore resources listed by the Graduate School and International Affairs prior to coming to class.
Week IV, October 19 Class is cancelled
Week V, October 26 Starting to write: form, style and information flows
Writing Assignment Discussed: An Intellectual History
Readings
Davis, pp. 29-31, 33-39
Swales & Feak, pp. 8-53
Week VI, November 2 Continuing to write: General-Specific (GS) flows
First draft of Writing Assignment Due
Readings
Swales & Feak, pp. 55-99
Week VII, November 9 Continuing to write: Quoting and Paraphrasing
Proofreading Assignment Due
Readings
Davis, pp. 41-52, 55-58
Swales & Feak, pp. 55-99
Week VIII, November 16 Continuing to write: Proofreading for form and style
Second draft of Writing Assignment Due
Readings
Davis, pp. 63-74
Swales & Feak, pp. 100-138
Week IX, November 23 Evaluating what we have written: Summarizing and proofreading
Second proofreading assignment due
Readings
Davis, pp. 75-79
Swales & Feak, pp. 188-227
Week X, November 30 Turning a paper into a publication; Discussion & potluck party!
Final revised version due, for those wishing feedback on it
Final essay due