Instructor: James Donelan

Section 5, MW, 9:30-10:45,Girvetz 1112. Enroll Code: 49924 or

Section 4, MW 12:30-1:45, Girvetz 1115. Enroll Code: 49015

Office Hours: Monday, 1-2PM; Tuesday, 2-3PM

Lab Meetings: The class will meet in a computer lab on all Wednesdays in Phelps 1525.

Texts:
ConnectWeb (available online)
Davis, Passages of Darkness: The Ethnobiology of the Haitian Zombie (Passages)

Thompson, Flash of the Spirit (Flash)
Cuba, A Short Guide to Writing about the Social Sciences (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 (5-6 pages), an annotated bibliography, and a longer research project (8-10 pages). All written assignments after the first week are due on-line through ConnectWeb. In addition, please note:

• On-line assignments are due by class time on the day assigned, unless otherwise indicated. Late assignments will result in grade reductions.
• Never submit an assignment without proofreading it carefully.
• Your classmates and your instructor depend on your presence in class and your full participation. Attendance, participation in class discussion, and electronic exchanges therefore count for 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%

1/7
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.
Reading: Passage, Foreword and Introduction; Writing, Chapter 1
Homework: 250 word statement of personal goals for the course. Please email the statement to yourself as a Microsoft Word or html file, if possible.
In-class: Introduction to ConnectWeb and course procedures

1/12
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

1/14
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.
Reading: Passage, Chapters 2 and 3; Writing Chapter 7
Homework: Preliminary topic choice
In-class: Developing a topic; sentence construction; outlining

1/19

Holiday

1/21

Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.

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

1/26
Reading: Passage, Chapters 6 and 7
Homework: Beginning of rough draft
In-class: Thesis development; documentation

1/28
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.

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

2/2
Homework: Final Draft of First Essay Due in Class
Film: Voodoo Secrets

2/4
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.

Reading: Writing, Chapter 5, Flash, Chapter 1
Homework: Preliminary sources for annotated bibliography
In-class: Research methods; evaluation of sources

2/9
Reading: Flash, Chapter 2
Homework: Main sources for annotated bibliography
In-class: Writing AB entries

2/11
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.

Homework: Half of AB entries
In-class: Surveying the field

2/16

Holiday

2/18
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.
Homework: Annotated bibliography due in class.
In-class: Writing a prospectus

2/23
Reading: Flash, Chapter 3
Homework: Prospectus
In-class: Evaluating a prospectus

2/25
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.

Reading: Flash, Chapters 4 and 5
Homework: Outline
In-class: Large-scale structure

3/1
Homework: Revised outline and tentative thesis
In-class: Thesis building; peer review of outlines

3/3
Class meets in lab, Phelps 1525.

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

3/8
Homework: First half of draft
In-class: Work plans

In-class: Peer review of drafts.

3/12 Final Project Due