MEMORANDUM TO: All Senior Political Science Majors Currently Registered for POLSC 600
FROM: Sharon R. Wesoky, Chair, Department of Political Science RE: POLSC 600
DATE: September 1, 2011
Four years ago, the Political Science Department adopted a new pre-senior project course,Political Science 600, two credits, graded basis only.The purpose of Political Science 600 is to complete a senior project research proposal that is acceptable before one goes on to PoliticalScience 610 The Senior Project. The proposal must be acceptable to one’s thesis advisor and the thesis committee (comprised of the advisor and a second faculty member). Majors may complete Political Science 600 in either the spring or fall semester. It is then followed in the next semester by the project itself, Political Science 610. Political Science 600 has three principal phases and deadlines:
1. INITIAL MEETING The first meeting will occur between a major and the chosen thesis advisor. This meeting must occur by Wednesday, September 14. The purpose of the meeting is for the student to discuss the topic of the project with the advisor and to relate the relevant coursework (including junior seminar) which will enable him or her to pursue the topic.
2. INTERIM MEETING At this meeting the 600 student will submit an interim report to the primary reader. This will be due on Wednesday, October 12. The interim report should include: – A one-paragraph statement of central question. – A brief description/summary of the argument, debate, or conversation within which the comp figures. – A description/justification of the analytic methods (i.e. case study, historical, quantitative, etc.) that will move the comp from simple description to description and analysis. – A list of the major subject headings most appropriate to the research project. – An annotated bibliography of at least ten scholarly sources, representing a suitable mix of such things as books, government documents, journal articles, newspaper/magazine articles, websites, and interviews.
3. FINAL PROPOSAL The finished (final) proposal will be due on Wednesday, November 9. After the submission of the completed proposal. 600 students will participate in a proposal presentation conference with two faculty members (primary and secondary readers). This completed proposal should include the following: – A clear statement of the comp question. – An informed, supported description of the scholarly conversation into which the comp would enter or to which it would contribute, together with a discussion of the analytic techniques to be employed in the comp. – A detailed working outline of the comp. – An annotated bibliography of 25 scholarly sources, with additional nonannotated sources also listed.