Writing 109SS: Winter 2008

Writing 109SS: Writing for the Social Sciences
Winter 2008

Instructor: James Donelan
Email: donelan@writing.ucsb.edu
Office Phone: 893-8329; messages only, 893-2613
Office Location: 1319 South Hall
Office Hours: Monday, 9:30-10:30AM, Tuesday, 10:00-11:00AM, or by appointment
Class Meetings: Mondays, Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525; Wednesdays, 11:00-12:15, Building 387, Room 104.
Enroll Code: 47779
Texts:
ConnectWeb, a computer program, is available online via E-commerce for $20. Purchase of the program is mandatory.
Flemons, Writing Between the Lines (Writing, for short)
Steger, Globalization: A Very Short Introduction (Steger, for short)
Lechner and Boli, The Globalization Reader (individual author and page number)
Texts are available in the UCen Bookstore. Copies of the course books will not be on reserve; please purchase them as soon as possible.
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.

Course Outcomes:
Students who complete the course successfully should be able to:

read, understand, and summarize scholarship in the social sciences
choose an appropriate topic and methodology for an extended social science research project
conduct efficient, thorough library research using electronic databases and bibliographies
evaluate and document sources properly
schedule research, writing, and editing time effectively
conduct a social science research project confidently and independently
participate in oral, written, and online exchanges among social science scholars

Requirements:
The course requires regular attendance, active participation in class discussion and activities, and timely completion of all assignments, including short on-line assignments, an annotated bibliography (1500 words), a brief essay on methodology (1800 words), and a longer research project (3000 words). 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.
Attendance, participation in class discussion, and electronic exchanges are essential to the course and count for a substantial part of your grade.
Plagiarism is a serious offense. University regulations will be strictly enforced.
Papers for Writing 109SS must be original works written specifically for this course. You may not submit essays written for other courses.
Chronic absenteeism or late assignments will result in failure of the course.
Students with disabilities may contact me to discuss special accommodations.
All assignments must be completed in order for you to receive a passing grade.
Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

Class Participation, Completeness, and Punctuality of Assignments, 15%
Annotated Bibliography, 25%
Methodology Essay, 25%
Final Project, 35%

Syllabus

Please note: Full descriptions of all writing assignments are posted on ConnectWeb. Both the assignments and their deadlines may change as the class progresses.

I. Research and Summary: Annotated Bibliography

1/7
Introduction and Logistics: Writing for the Social Sciences

1/9
Reading: Writing, Chapter 1; Steger, Chapter 1; Barber, “Jihad vs. McWorld,” 32
Homework: 250 definitions of Barber’s terms.
In-class: The requirements of social science writing; types of essays; effective summaries.

1/14
Class meets in Phelps 1525.
Reading: Writing, Chapter 2; Steger, Chapter 2; Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations?” 39
Homework: Annotated bibliography entries for two articles; please bring a hard copy to class and post the assignment to ConnectWeb.
In-class: Creation of working groups; reading and research strategies.

1/16
Reading: Writing, Chapter 3; Wallerstein, “Modern World System” 55
Homework: Annotated bibliography entry for a book.
In-class: Improving sentence style; sharpening summaries; scholarly books.

1/21 Happy Martin Luther King Day!

1/23
Reading: Writing, Chapters 4 and 5; Steger, Chapter 3;Meyer, “World Society and the Nation State” 78
Homework: Full rough draft of annotated bibliography; please bring a hard copy to class.
In-class: Introducing an annotated bibliography; peer review of drafts.

1/28

Class meets in Phelps 1525.
Reading: Writing, Chapters 6 and 7; Watson, “McDonald’s in Hong Kong” 126
Homework: Annotated bibliography due. Please post by class time.
In-class: Introduction to methodology essay assignment; method and critique.

II. Critique and Method: Methodology Essay

1/30
Reading: Steger, Chapter 4; Korzeniewicz, “Commodity…Marketing Strategies” 163
Homework: Prospectus of methodology essay.
In-class: The purpose of a prospectus; improving paragraph style.

2/4
Class meets in Phelps 1525.
Reading: Steger, Chapter 5; Stiglitz, “Globalism’s Discontents” 200
Homework: Outline and first paragraph of methodology essay.
In-class: Research methods; evaluation of sources; peer review.

2/6
Reading: Steger, Chapter 6; Mittelman, “Global Organized Crime” 235
Homework: Full rough draft of methodology essay.

III. The Social Science Research Project

2/11
Methodology essay final draft due.
Class meets in Phelps 1525.
Reading: Steger, Chapter 7; Berkovitch, “The…International Women’s Movement” 263
In-class: Introduction to the final project. Scheduling and time management.

2/13

Reading: Price, “Media and Sovereignty” 306
Homework: Prospectus for final project.
In-class: Project planning; beginning an outline.

2/18 Presidents’ Day—No Classes.

2/20
Reading: Tomlinson, “Cultural Imperialism” 317
Homework: Preliminary research and outline; revision of prospectus.
In-class: Project plans, Part II.

2/25
Class meets in Phelps 1525.
Reading: Lechner, “Global Fundamentalism” 348

Homework: Reading notes; revised outline.
In-class: Large-scale structure.

2/27
Reading: Keck, “Environmental Advocacy Networks” 423
Homework: Full outline.
In-class: Peer assessment of progress.

3/3
Class meets in Phelps 1525.
Homework: First paragraph and working thesis.
In-class: Thesis building; peer review.

3/5
Homework: Draft of first two pages; bring hard copy to class.
In-class: Working titles; progress report.

3/10
Class meets in Phelps 1525.
Homework: Full rough draft; check of preliminary materials.

In-class: Peer review of drafts.

3/12
Homework: Revision of Final Project.

3/17 Final Project Due.