PSCI 470
Senior Seminar in Political Science

Fall 20011

Dr. Jim Josefson Office Hours:

217 Flory Hall 3-5

828-5322 (o) by appointment

http://www.bridgewater.edu/~jjosefso jjosefso@bridgewater.edu

Required Texts

Lisa A Baglione, Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods CQ Press, 2011.

ISBN-10: 160871991X / ISBN-13: 978-1608719914

Course Requirements

Comprehensive Exam 20%

Portfolio 15%

Thesis Paper 5%

Annotated bibliography 10%

Literature Review 10%

Research Design 10%

Final Thesis 30%

Learning Objectives

PO8 All Political Science & IS majors will present a high quality presentation using appropriate presentation software.

PO9. All Political Science & IS majors will complete a quality original research design project

in Senior Seminar of more than 25 pages. (IG 2.3.1, 2.3.7)

PO10. All Political Science & IS majors will write an essay reflecting on a portfolio of their work in Senior Seminar. The portfolio will present documentary evidence that the student has met the skills and practice objectives for Political Science majors. The essay will explore the knowledge and values that they brought to the program; explain the concepts, authors, and projects that were most important to them; analyze these experiences in more depth by drawing connections between classes, relating their coursework to their personal beliefs and values, and planning a personal agenda of political research and/or activism; and, finally, synthesize their reflections by making plans for applying their knowledge and skills in careers and active citizenship. (IG 2.2).

Attendance and Late Policies

Students are required to attend every class. If a student misses more than 3 classes one letter grade will be deducted from his/her final grade for each class missed. This means that a student who misses 4 classes will receive a C+ if they otherwise earn a B-. Students who miss more than 8 classes will fail. Late assignments/ papers will be penalized one letter grade per day. Non-lame excuses given to the instructor prior to a class or deadline will receive more lenient consideration. You may have no more than 5 combined excused and unexcused absences before your grade will be reduced.

Plagiarism

I expect students to use citations extensively in your papers and exams (think on average 2 cites per paragraph). Do not quote from or use ideas from any published source without citation. The most common form of plagiarism I see is when students quote from sources without putting quotation marks around the quoted passage. You cannot just change one or two words from a passage and present it as your own writing even if you give a citation. You should also cite where you get information even if you are not quoting. I will vigorously prosecute plagiarism and cheating. Do not quote or cite lectures.

Thesis Proposal Stages

All stages of the thesis proposal must be completed on time or a final grade penalty will be imposed: ½ grade for each class day late. If your final thesis proposal grade is higher than the sum of your stages, you will receive your thesis proposal grade as 65% of your grade.

Comprehensive Exam

The comprehensive exam, that used to be administered in early February as part of a graduation requirement, is administered in Senior Seminar to collect data for program assessment. There will be separate exams for political science and international studies majors. Handouts will provide greater detail on the contents of the exams. The exams will be about 2.5 hours scheduled sometime in the afternoon.

Portfolio

The Senior Portfolio is an accumulation of work that the student has done over the course of the major. While students will be saving specific types of work throughout their Political Science courses, they will bring the work together and polish it for the portfolio during the Senior Seminar (PSCI 470) in the fall of senior year. Students will be graded on this portfolio, giving them an incentive to present their best work and to edit papers to deal with professor comments as soon as they get those comments back. In addition, constructing this major portfolio will help students understand how all your Political Science courses fit together around a single major theme and complete their PDP Senior Portfolio.

Because they will be completing the portfolio during the Senior Seminar in the fall of the senior year, students are responsible for making sure that they fulfill these requirements prior to the end of that semester. Professors will regularly remind students to store papers on a file on the computer network’s P drive, but it is the student’s responsibility to build and maintain the bank of work from which they will weave together their portfolio.

The required pieces of the portfolio are below, preceded by an abbreviation for the Praxis Objective they are designed to meet. Also listed are courses in which students should be looking to complete work that will fulfill the requirement, a general description of the work and a rubric that will be used to score the portfolio entry.

 PO2: Major Research Project

Course: Methods of Research and Data Analysis (PSCI 250)

Description: A significant empirical and social scientific research project that demonstrates both the ability to understand a topic (exemplified through proper research of existing ideas and thoughtful, original analysis) and the ability to communicate that understanding to others (exemplified through proper organization of the paper and a coherent, fluid writing style). Your research project should review the relevant literature on a research topic, explain and integrate the findings of other researchers, develop original research questions or hypotheses and relate them to relevant literature, design a research project, implement research designs, analyze results, and synthesize implications of findings and new research questions.

Rubric: Social Science Research Paper Rubric (out of 100 points)

Research & Literature Review 0 to 25 points

Methodology 0 to 25 points

Data Presentation, Analysis and Synthesis 0 to 25 points

Organization and Mechanics 0 to 25 points

 PO3: Other Research Paper Longer than 4000 words (about 13 pages)

Courses: Methods of Research and Data Analysis (PSCI 250)

Women and Politics (PSCI 332)

Media and Politics (PSCI 340)

Contemporary Political Thought (PSCI 401)

International Law and Organizations (PSCI 420)

The Presidency (PSCI 430)

Description: A significant research project that demonstrates both the ability to understand a topic (exemplified through proper research of existing ideas and thoughtful, original analysis) and the ability to communicate that understanding to others (exemplified through proper organization of the paper and a coherent, fluid writing style).

Rubric: Analytical Writing Rubric (out of 100 points)

Research & Explanation 0 to 25 points

Analysis and Integration 0 to 25 points

Synthesis 0 to 25 points

Organization and Mechanics 0 to 25 points

 PO4: Policy Analysis and Strategy Paper

Courses:

Introduction to World Politics (PSCI 230)

Women and Politics (PSCI 332)

Peace, War and World Politics (PSCI 335)

Contemporary Foreign Relations (PSCI 356)

Constitutional Law (PSCI 360)

The Legislative Process (PSCI 410)

Description:

You will write papers that provide policy and political advice to a real or simulated institutional audience based on your research into contemporary political issues.

Rubric: Analytical Writing Rubric (out of 100 points)

Research & Explanation 0 to 25 points

Analysis and Integration 0 to 25 points

Synthesis 0 to 25 points

Organization and Mechanics 0 to 25 points

 PO5: List of Citizenship or Global Connection Activities

Courses: To be maintained by you throughout your college career

Description: You need to keep a running list of activities that you believe demonstrate your engagement in civic life as a citizen of your community, nation and world. The list should provide the date and the type of eligible activity, such as voting, service learning, use of news media, membership activities in political parties, participation in institutions of civil society, interest groups, and the co-curriculum related to public issues.

Rubric:

90 to 100 the student demonstrates consistent engagement over time, including activities that constitute a significant cost to the student in time, resources and risk to personal convictions

80 to 90 list consists of activities that represent a coherent pattern of engagement that goes beyond those required of the student by Bridgewater College

70 to 80 list consists demonstrates activities pursued for the minimum requirements for courses, convos and PDP service learning

60 to 70 list consists of activities assigned as part of a course and/or convocation attendance to meet the minimum seven required each semester

0 to 60 list consists entirely of activities assigned as part of a course or activities that demonstrate little or no understanding of civic engagement

 PO6: Individual Presentation

Courses: Methods of Research and Data Analysis (PSCI 250)

Women and Politics (PSCI 332)

International Law and Organizations (PSCI 420)

The Presidency (PSCI 430)

Seminar in International Studies and Political Science (PSCI 470)

Description: You will give a stimulating, informative, organized, appealing, and articulate presentation using presentation software. The presentation will be judged on four criteria: knowledge and analysis, organization, graphic precision, and rhetorical presence. For each criterion, a maximum of 25 points will be awarded.

Rubric:

Knowledge and analysis is measured in the quality of the information presented and the ability to make sense of the topic, including answering any questions with elaboration. 0 to 25 points

Organization measures whether information is presented in a logical, interesting sequence that the audience can follow. 0 to 25 points

Graphic precision weighs spelling and grammatical errors and whether the graphics reinforce the presentation’s message and coherence. 0 to 25 points

Rhetorical presence measures speaker persuasiveness through eye contact, minimal reading either from notes or slides, and a clear, audible voice with precise pronunciation. 0 to 25 points

 P07: Major Research Design

Course: Senior Seminar (PSCI 470)

Description: A quality original research design project of more than 25 pages.

Rubric: Social Science Research Paper Rubric (out of 100 points)

Research 0 to 20 points

Literature Review 0 to 40 points

Methodology 0 to 20 points

Organization and Mechanics 0 to 20 points

 PO8: Senior Reflective Essay

Course: Senior Seminar (PSCI 470)

Description: The portfolio will present documentary evidence that the student has met the skills and practice objectives for Political Science majors. The essay will explore the knowledge and values that they brought to the program; explain the concepts, authors, and projects that were most important to them; analyze these experiences in more depth by drawing connections between classes, relating their coursework to their personal beliefs and values, and planning a personal agenda of political research and/or activism; and, finally, synthesize their reflections by making plans for applying their knowledge and skills in careers and active citizenship.

Rubric: Reflective Writing Rubric (out of 100 points)

Research & Literature Review 0 to 25 points

Methodology 0 to 25 points

Data Presentation, Analysis and Synthesis 0 to 25 points

Organization and Mechanics 0 to 25 points

Career Services

Part of this course is to work on preparation for careers and graduate school. Part of that is working with Career Services Resources and attending events on the Career Services schedule. Many of these are on the syllabus; all are on the Career Services Calendar of Events.

Very Tentative Course Outline

Week 1 (9/6-9/8)

Introduction

Week 2 (9/13- 9/15)

Baglinone, chapter 2

Select portfolio elements & store on P: drive

Week 3 (9/20-9/22)

Reflective essay due 9/22

Get Ready for Grad School

James Madison University, Place TBA

Thur, Sep 22 5:30-7:30 pm

A comprehensive session on what you need to do to apply and be accepted into grad school. Attend this session and then take the GRE Practice Test!

Take the GRE Practice Test!

Sun, Sep 25 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Location: JMU (location TBA)

Getting ready to go to grad school? Nervous about the GRE? Take a free practice test! A great way to find out your strengths and areas for concentrating your studies. Must register ahead of time at www.kaptest.com/enroll/GRE/22801/events.

Week 3 (9/ 27- 9/ 29)26 Noon-1:00 pm

Thesis Proposal Due

Grad School Chomp ‘n’ Chat

Student Life Conference Room, Rebecca 217

Hungry for grad school information and a slice of pizza? Join us for an informal discussion on your questions about grad school, and how to prepare for the NSVC Grad Fair. The pizza’s on us!

Grad School Fair Prep Session

Bowman 103

Tues, Sep 27 9:30 – 10:20 am

Make the most of your Graduate Fair visit! Learn how to navigate through the many graduate programs, what questions to ask, and how to use the information you gain.

NSVC Graduate and Professional School Fair

Convo on the Road!

Festival Conference and Student Center Grand Ballroom at JMU

Tues, Sept 27 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

If you are thinking about going to grad school, the Northern Shenandoah Valley Consortium Graduate Fair offers a wonderful opportunity to talk to representatives from many colleges and universities about their graduate programs. A great time to discuss pre-requisites, application processes, successful graduate candidates, and your dreams and goals. Free Shuttle Service! http://www.jmu.edu/grad/gradfair/

From Graduation to Corporation: How to Get and Keep a Great Job

Cole Hall

Weds, Sep 28 7:30 pm

Andy Teach Helps Recent College Graduates Find a Job and Excel at Their Jobs Andy Teach, a VP of network and cable research at a major television and motion picture studio in Los Angeles, has had an amazing career.

As a corporate exec, Teach read through more resumes than he cares to remember and interviewed hundreds of entry-level job candidates but only hired a select few. What was the difference between the candidates who got the job and those who didn’t? Teach shares his expertise and knowledge in this area. In today’s challenging economy, there are more job candidates vying for fewer jobs. He tells students how to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

Comprehensive Exam: September 29, 3-5

Key Employer Panel

Fri, Sep 30 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Randolph-Macon College

A rare opportunity to learn about making a career with Fortune 1000 corporations in Virginia. Meet with several recruiters from top organization who is here to tell you how to apply, get hired, and make a career within their organization. Engage in conversation over lunch and participate in a mini-career fair! Professional attire and resumes required. Free Transportation!

Week 4 (10/ 4- 10/ 6)

Baglione, chapter 3,4

Applying to Grad School? Write a Great Personal Statement!

Tues, Oct 4 9:30 – 10:30 am Bowman 103

Your personal statement that you are submitting for acceptance into grad school should enliven, enlighten, and excite! Does it? Learn how to create a dynamic composition that is sure to raise an eyebrow and bring a smile to the reviewer’s face!

The GRE Has Changed!

Weds, Oct 5 6:00 pm Bowman 109

There is a new version of the GRE as of August 2012. Find out what is different and how to study for your graduate school placement tests. KAPLAN will be here to tell you how to successfully navigate the most challenging test of your college career!

Week 5 (10/13)

Annotated Bibliography Due

Week 6 (10/ 18- 10/20)

Baglione, chapter 5, 6

Week 7 (10/ 25 – 10/ 27)

Internships!

Thurs, Oct 27 9:30-10:20 am Bowman 103

Thinking about an internship for Spring, Summer, or next Fall? Come to the informational session to learn how you can participate in an invaluable experience and get credit for it at the same time. An internship is essential to rounding out your education. Employers and grad school recruiters are looking harder at your experience outside of the classroom. Learn how to get the competitive edge through interning.

Week 8 (11/ 1 – 11/3)

Baglione, chapter 7

CONVO!! Diversity Career Fair at UVA

Weds, Nov 2 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

John Paul Jones Arena, UVA

One of the more popular career fairs in our area. Great for Juniors and Seniors! Take the advantage to network with employers who are interested in hiring outstanding candidates. Over 150 Employers expected!

ALL students welcome! Free Shuttle! Polish up that resume, break out the interview suit, and get ready to impress! For more information, go to http://www.career.virginia.edu/students/events/dcd.php

Week 9 (11/ 8 – 11/ 10)

Literature Review Due

Job Search Crash Course

Tues Nov 8, Weds Nov 9, Thur Nov 10 7:00 – 8:00 pm The Link 310

Three short sessions and you are on your way to job searching the right way! Join us for this crash course in job searching geared to get you pointed in the right direction.

Challenge Job Fair

Weds, Nov 9 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Kirkley Hotel and Conference Center, Lynchburg, VA

Employers from all over Virginia are here to meet with students of Virginia’s finest private colleges. Great for Juniors and Seniors! Take the advantage to network with over 50 employers who are interested in talking to you. ALL students welcome! Polish up that resume, break out the interview suit, and get ready to impress! Free Shuttle may be provided based on number attending.

Week 10 (11/ 15 – 11/ 17)

Baglione, chapter 8, 9

Career Exploration Day Chomp-N-Chat

Fri, Nov 11 Noon – 1:00 pm

Student Life Conference Room, Rebecca 217

Not sure what to say when you meet the alumni at Career Exploration Day? Get some great tips on how to work CED and make it a great experience!

CONVO!! Career Exploration Day

Tues, Nov 15 9:45 – 11:45 am

Nininger Gym

Network with over 50 BC alumni and seasoned professionals who are eager to share their knowledge and experience about how they transitioned from college graduate to professional. A great time to practice your professional communication skills, find internships and seek great advice. Play the Networking Game for a chance to win great prizes!!!

Week 11 (11/ 22)

Research Paper Due

Week 12 (11/ 29- 12/ 1)

Presentations

Week 13 (12/ 6- 12/8)

Presentations

CONVO! Grad School Panel

Tues, Dec 6 7:30 pm Cole Hall

A panel of experts including top university graduate school representatives and alumni who have successfully navigated the graduate school process. Ask any question you have about testing, interviewing, personal statements, applications, campus visits, interaction with professors, how they select their candidates – anything!!

Final Thesis Due Thursday, December 15, 12:30 p.m.