Miyazaki International College Course Syllabus
Course Title ( Credits ) Senior Thesis I (2 credits) Course Designation for TC
Content Teacher
Instructor Anne Howard
E-mail address [email protected]
Office/Ext 304/723
Office hours Tues. and Thurs. 10-12 Language Teacher
Course Description:
Students will complete a portfolio of academic writing that addresses the required submissions for the senior thesis process (i.e. research plan, research questions, bibliography, annotated bibliography, etc.) as well as exploratory essays that are related to the student’s chosen senior thesis topic (advisor’s input required).
Students will also prepare a poster presentation on their work on the senior thesis, and present it to students and faculty.
Course Goals/Objectives:
Students will become familiar with the following topics
Narrowing a topic
Writing a thesis statement
Writing a title
Choosing adequate sources
Academic English
Writing an abstract
Making a research plan
Making a research proposal
Ethics in research and using human subjects
Diploma Policy Objectives:
Work completed in this course helps students achieve the following Diploma Policy objective(s):
DP1: Advanced thinking skills (comparison, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) based on critical thinking (critical and analytic thought)
DP3. The ability to identify and solve problems DP4. Advanced communicative proficiency in English DP5. Proficiency in the use of information technology Tentative Course Schedule
NB: This class meets once per week. There are 16 classes in the semester
Day Topic Content/Activities
1 10/2, 10/4
Topics and research questions
Active learning activities: Interactive lecture, discussion and practice of topics and research questions
DP1, DP4 2
10/16, 10/11
Topics and research questions
Draft of research question due in class Active learning activity: Peer review of research question
DP2, DP4 3
10/23, 10/18
Annotated bibliography Active learning activities: interactive lecture;
assess sample bibliography in group DP1, DP4
4 10/30, 10/25
Review: choosing appropriate sources, planning your reading, writing a bibliography
Active learning activities: group review of topics Revised research questions due
Research questions and bibliography due to advisor on November 1
DP1, DP4, DP5 5
11/6, 11/1
Research plans Active learning activities: interactive lecture, discussion of research plans
DP1, DP4 6
11/13, 11/8
Thesis statements and titles Active learning activities: interactive lecture, discussion of titles
Title, research plan, and bibliography due to advisor on November 15
DP1, DP4 7
11/20, 11/15
Research proposal Active learning activities: interactive lecture, group activity
DP1, DP4
8 11/27, 11/22
Research proposal Peer review of research proposal DP1, DP4
9 12/4, 11/29
Research ethics Active learning activities: interactive lecture and group activity on research ethics
DP1, DP3, DP4 10
12/11, 12/6
Annotated bibliography Source evaluation #3
Active learning activity: Prepare questions for Peer Panel
Research proposal due to advisor 12/15 Application to use human subjects due to TRAC 12/15
DP2, DP4 11
12/18, 12/13
Peer Panel Active learning activity: Take notes and compare in group
DP1, DP4 12
1/8, 12/20
Annotated bibliography Active learning activity: group activity DP1, DP4
13 1/15, 1/10
Final presentation Initial questions and thesis statement Active learning activity: Group discussion DP1, DP4, DP5
14 1/22, 1/24
Final presentation Development and organization
Active learning activity: Group discussion and feedback
DP1, DP4, DP5 15
1/29, 1/31
Final presentation Active learning activity: Group discussion, rehearsal, and feedback
DP1, DP4, DP5
Finals Final poster presentation. Date, time, and place TBA
Required Materials:
Materials will be provided by the instructor.
Course Policies (Attendance, etc.) ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend every class. If you must miss class, you need a note from Student Affairs to be excused from the class. If you miss class more than three times I may ask you to withdraw. Three times late is counted as one absence.
ASSIGNMENTS
Homework is due regardless of whether you were absent on the day it was assigned. If you will not be able to complete the homework because of illness or other reasons, please submit a note from Student Affairs.
Late assignments will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to refuse to accept a late assignment. Certain assignments (e.g. those requiring peer review) may not be accepted
ACADEMIC HONESTY
All work that is turned in for this course must be completely your own. The following things are not allowed:
Copying words from another source without a citation and reference.
Copying ideas or concepts from another source without a citation and reference.
Having a paper edited by another student or teacher, in or outside of the class, without permission of the instructor.
At the instructor’s discretion, the consequences for plagiarism may include receiving a zero for the plagiarized paper, or failing the course.
Class Preparation and Review
Students are expected to spend at least one hour preparing for every hour of lesson, and one hour reviewing and doing homework
Grades and Grading
Source evaluations 20%
Annotated bibliography 20%
Research proposal 20%
Other homework and quizzes 10%
Final presentation 30%
Academic Writing Rubric 2014
Organisation
Think about:
- Coherence - Structure
Lexis
Think about:
- Variety - Control
Grammar
Think about:
- Range - Accuracy
Content
Think about:
- Relevance - Supported and developed ideas
0-5
No coherence or organization, unconnected sentences which communicate little
Demonstrates minimal word knowledge
Phrases or sentences produced, but many inaccuracies make message/writing difficult to understand
A list of sentences with no logical connection and/or are irrelevant
6 Some attempt to organize information but with little connection between ideas apparent
A limited variety of vocabulary, or little control
Inadequate range of grammar used repetitively or inaccurately
Ideas lack relevance or connection, and are not developed or supported
7-8 Obvious attempts to organize information though sometimes the lack of coherence creates ambiguity
Uses an adequate variety of vocabulary with moderate control
An adequate range of grammar used, with inaccuracies that impede the understanding of sentences
Ideas are connected, relevant, but are not supported or developed
9 The writing displays a command of
organizational structure which enables the message to be followed, but displays some repetition and rigidity
Uses a wide variety of vocabulary but there are some inaccuracies in word choice and formation
An adequate range of grammar but occasionally accuracy affects the understanding of sentences
Ideas are connected and relevant. They are supported, but the support could be developed further.
10 The writing displays a coherent organizational structure which enables the message to be followed effortlessly
Uses a wide variety of vocabulary with accuracy and control
A wide range of grammar used accurately
The ideas are relevant, well supported and developed
