POSC 499 ---- Fall 2006
HONORS THESIS COLLOQUIUM
Dr. Chris Blake
Maury 207 – 568-6344 – BLAKECH@JMU.EDU
OFFICE HOURS: M 3-5, Tu 3-5, W 1:30-2:30 and by appointment

BLACKBOARD WEBSITE: Click HERE to go the Blackboard site for POSC 499

Syllabus for Fall 2006

The colloquium seeks to facilitate sustained progress in student research and writing. It provides a forum for discussing work in progress and planned work under development. The colloquium hopefully will enable students to avoid the “isolation syndrome” in which it can become hard to make progress on academic work not tied to the traditional rhythm & physicality of regular class meetings.

EVALUATION:

Your honors thesis adviser is ultimately responsible for assigning a grade for your work in POSC 499. Your adviser can consult with your readers and with the instructor of the colloquium. Your grade could conceivably be lowered on the recommendation of the colloquium instructor related to concerns regarding: attendance, participation in colloquium sessions, and timely completion of tasks assigned for the colloquium. The political science department reserves the right to terminate the thesis process for students who, in the judgment of the relevant thesis committee, have not provided sufficient evidence of their willingness and ability to complete the thesis in a timely and satisfactory manner.

PROCEDURES: 

Students are responsible for presenting and discussing their research and for discussing the research of other students in the colloquium.  Unexcused absences from colloquium sessions are not permitted. Please contact the instructor in advance if you have a conflict that merits consideration as a potentially excusable absence.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

WEEK ONE: class session on 8/30/06 in Maury G-2

• introduction to colloquium’s structure & its goals

• a very brief discussion of all students’ thesis projects

• in-class reading regarding the research & writing process followed by discussion

POSC 499B: Revised project outlines are due to the colloquium instructor & to committee members by FRIDAY 9/1/06 at 5pm.

POSC 499C: E-mail your current project outline & writing timetable to the colloquium instructor by FRIDAY 9/1/06 at 5pm.

All students: If you have not already done so, you are strongly encouraged to meet with your adviser & with your readers during the first three weeks of the semester. The department's guidelines require POSC 499A students to hold these meetings, but they’re usually useful for all stages.

WEEK TWO: class session on 9/6/06 in Maury G-2

Remember to read the handouts on argumentation & on drafting research prior to this week's class session.

• POSC 499A

  • Work on the bibliography for the project should be underway.

  • Prepare to discuss topic narrowing & the formation of potential research questions with the class today.

• POSC 499B

  • Review your existing bibliography in light of your newly revised thesis outline.

  • Prepare to discuss your revised thesis outline and research plans with the class today.

• POSC 499C

  • Create some notes to yourself regarding how your project has evolved from the official proposal through the 499B stage. Also create notes regarding what helps you to make progress & what obstacles slow your progress.

  • Prepare to discuss the above issues with the class today. (The class will have a copy of your proposal & a copy of your current project outline.)

WEEK THREE: no colloquium session this week

• All students should be working on their next deliverables:

  • POSC 499A: draft proposal & bibliography

  • POSC 499B: draft of first substantive chapter

  • POSC 499C: draft of next chapter in your existing schedule

• By the end of this week, all students should have met with their committees; POSC 499A students are required to have done so.

WEEK FOUR: class session on 9/20/06 in Maury G-2

All students: Post the existing draft of your next deliverable (in whatever state it’s currently in) to the appropriate discussion board on the BLACKBOARD site for POSC 499 by TUESDAY 9/20/06 at 5pm.

• POSC 499A: Prior to class, prepare to summarize your proposal to the class. Feel free to include questions on your mind as think about how to frame the proposal.

• POSC 499B: Prior to class, prepare to summarize how the draft you've just posted fits into your thesis.  Feel free to include questions on your mind as you think about completing this chapter draft.

• POSC 499C: Prior to class, prepare to summarize how the draft you've just posted fits into your thesis.  Feel free to include questions on your mind as you think about completing this chapter draft.

WEEK FIVE: no colloquium session this week

• All students should be working on their next deliverables due in week six:

  • POSC 499A: draft proposal & bibliography

  • POSC 499B: draft of first substantive chapter

  • POSC 499C: draft of next chapter in your existing schedule

WEEK SIX: no colloquium session this week

POSC 499A: A draft of your thesis proposal is due to the colloquium instructor & to committee members by TUESDAY 10/3/06 at 5pm.

POSC 499B: A draft of your first substantive chapter is due to the colloquium instructor & to committee members by TUESDAY 10/3/06 at 5pm.

POSC 499C: A draft of your entire thesis is due to the colloquium instructor & to committee members by TUESDAY 10/3/06 at 5pm – unless you’ve set an earlier deadline with your adviser.

WEEK SEVEN: no colloquium session this week

All students: Continue consultations with your committee & work toward your next project deadline.

WEEK EIGHT: class session on 10/18/06 in Maury G-2

All students: A completed thesis will have been posted by me to the COURSE DOCUMENTS section of our BLACKBOARD site. You are responsible for reading it prior to this week’s class session with an eye toward discussions we’ll hold in class this week:

• What is the major argument in this thesis & what evidence presented supports that conclusion?

• How does the literature review in this sample thesis explore the questions that seem central to the thesis writer?

• How does this literature review frame the substantive chapters? Is the literature review linked clearly & well to the rest of the thesis?

• What do you see as a major flaw that might limit the persuasiveness of this thesis writer's argument?

POSC 499A: Outlines and 30-work bibliographies are due to the colloquium instructor & to committee members by FRIDAY 10/20/06 at 5pm.

WEEK NINE: no colloquium session this week

• All students should be working on their next deliverables:

  • POSC 499A: draft of literature review chapter

  • POSC 499B: draft of second substantive chapter

  • POSC 499C: revision of entire thesis

WEEK TEN: class session on 11/1/06 in Maury G-2

All students: Post the existing draft of your next deliverable (in whatever state it’s currently in) to the appropriate discussion board on the BLACKBOARD site for POSC 499 by TUESDAY 10/31/06 at 5pm.

• POSC 499A: Prior to class, prepare to summarize your literature review to the class. Feel free to include questions on your mind as think about how to frame the literature review.

• POSC 499B: Prior to class, prepare to summarize how the draft you've just posted fits into your thesis.  Feel free to include questions on your mind as you think about completing this chapter draft.

• POSC 499C: You are excused from this class session, but you must arrange a separate meeting to discuss your thesis presentation.

POSC 499C: The final title of your thesis must be received by the Honors Program office no later than WEDNESDAY 11/1/06 at 5pm.

WEEK ELEVEN: no colloquium session this week

• All students should be working on their next deliverables due in week twelve:

  • POSC 499A: draft of literature review chapter

  • POSC 499B: draft of second substantive chapter

  • POSC 499C: revision of entire thesis & your oral presentation (with accompanying PowerPoint slides)

POSC 499A: The official proposal (with the signatures of your committee) is due to the Honors Program office on FRIDAY 11/10/06 at 5pm.

POSC 499C: Your final thesis is due to the colloquium instructor & to committee members on FRIDAY 11/10/06 at 5pm.

WEEK TWELVE: class session on 11/15/06 in Maury G-2

• POSC 499C students will present their theses to the colloquium and to other interested students & professors. A question-and-answer discussion will follow the presentation.

  • Refreshments will be served following the presentations.

POSC 499A: A draft of your literature review is due to the colloquium instructor & to committee members by FRIDAY 11/17/06 at 5pm.

POSC 499B: A draft of your second substantive chapter is due to the colloquium instructor & to committee members by FRIDAY 11/17/06 at 5pm.

POSC 499C: Three signed copies of your completed thesis are due to the Honors Program office on FRIDAY 11/17/06 at 5pm.

WEEK THIRTEEN: Thanksgiving break

WEEKS FOURTEEN & FIFTEEN: no colloquium sessions

POSC 499A: Meet with your thesis adviser to discuss your work &, if sufficient progress has occurred, to plan for next semester.

POSC 499B: Meet with your thesis adviser to discuss your work &, if sufficient progress has occurred, to plan for next semester.

Dr. Blake's Home Page | POSC 499 Home | Syllabus | Honors Program Website |  Other Resources

This page was last updated on: 08/28/06.
If you have comments or suggestions about this site, please send an e-mail to Chris Blake at blakech@jmu.edu.