Writing 109SS: Writing for the Social Sciences

Class Time and Location: TR, 8-9:15, Girvetz 2116.
Enroll Code: Section 7, 46763
Instructor: James Donelan
Office Hours: Monday, 9:30-10:30, Tuesday, 9:30-10:30, or by appointment.
Lab Meetings: The class meets on all Thursdays in Phelps 1530.

Texts:
ConnectWeb (available online)
Davis, Passage of Darkness: The Ethnobiology of the Haitian Zombie (Passages)
Cuba, A Short Guide to Writing about Social Science (Writing)

Texts are available in the UCen Bookstore.

ConnectWeb Home Page: http://connectweb.com/ucsb.asp

Course Description:
The course will allow students to refine their skills in scholarship and writing in the social sciences. Students will address the issues of evidence, interpretation, methodology, and critique in social science research as part of a longer project.

Requirements:
The course requires regular attendance, active participation in class discussion and activities, and timely completion of all assignments, including short on-line assignments, a brief essay on assigned reading (1500-1800 words), an annotated bibliography (1500 words), and a longer research project (2400-3000 words). All written assignments after the first week are due on-line through ConnectWeb. In addition, please note:

• Late assignments will result in grade reductions.
• Never submit an assignment without proofreading it carefully.
• Full participation in class involves both face-to-face discussion and electronic exchanges via ConnectWeb. Participation is a substantial part of your grade.
• University regulations regarding plagiarism will be strictly enforced.
• Chronic absenteeism or late assignments will result in failure of the course.
• Your final grade will be calculated as follows: 
• Completeness and Punctuality of Connect Assignments, 15%
• Class Participation, 10%
• First Essay, 25% 
• Annotated Bibliography, 15% 
• Final Project, 35%

3/31
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.
Reading: Passage, Foreword and Introduction; Writing, Chapter 1
Homework: 250 word statement of personal goals for the course.
In-class: Introduction to ConnectWeb and course procedures

4/5
Reading: Passage, Chapter 1; Writing Chapters 2 and 3
Homework: Short essay on methodology (See ConnectWeb for full description.)
In-class: Effective sentences; social science methodology discussion

4/7
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.
Reading: Passage, Chapters 2 and 3; Writing Chapter 7
Homework: Preliminary topic choice
In-class: Developing a topic; sentence construction; outlining

4/12

Reading: Passage, Chapters 4 and 5
Homework: Prospectus and outline for first essay
In-class: Essay structure

4/14
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.

Reading: Passage, Chapters 6 and 7
Homework: Beginning of rough draft
In-class: Thesis development; documentation

4/19
Reading: Passage, Chapter 8 and Conclusion; Writing, Chapter 8
Homework: Half of rough draft; check of preliminary materials.
In-class: Peer review; editing and proofreading

4/21
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.
Homework: Full Draft of First Essay Due in Class

4/22 First Essay Due

4/26
Film: Voodoo Secrets
In-class: Topics for the annotated bibliography

4/28
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.
Homework: Topic decision
In-class: Preliminary sources for annotated bibliography
Reading: Writing, Chapter 5

5/3
Homework: Main sources for annotated bibliography; one complete entry
In-class: Writing AB entries

5/5
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.
Homework: Annotated bibliography draft due in class.
In-class: Writing a prospectus

5/6 Annotated Bibliography due.

5/10
Homework: Prospectus for the final project; bring a hard copy to class.
In-class: Evaluating a prospectus; planning and organization

5/12
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.
Homework: Preliminary Outline
In-class: Large-scale essay structure

5/17
Homework: Detailed outline and tentative thesis
In-class: Thesis building; peer review of outlines

5/19
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.

Homework: First two paragraphs of project
In-class: Working titles; progress report

5/24
In-class: Project Conferences

5/26

Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530.

Half of rough draft; check of preliminary materials.

In-class: Peer review of drafts.

5/31
Full rough draft due—bring hard copy to class.

6/1
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1530
Last Day of Classes. Final draft due. Oral presentations of projects.