Huntingdon College | Political Science | Booklist | Courses | Dates | Office Hours | Required | Special Needs | What's New?
Huntingdon
College | Political Science | Booklist
| Courses | Dates
| Office Hours | Required
| Special Needs | What's
New?
Revised 24 Oct. 2008, with explanation of pages and sections of paper, by Jeremy Lewis
The Senior Capstone is normally taken in the Fall before graduation, and is intended as the bridge between undergraduate and postgraduate study.
The culmination of undergraduate learning, it utilizes broad knowledge of the major field.
To this end, for a few weeks seminar participants engage in some classic readings to obtain a survey of the finest research in the field.
As preparation for graduate or professional research, participants prepare a research proposal and once this is approved, develop a full research paper.
In order to refine their presentation skills and to provide assessment data for the college, they also present the research findings to a college forum.
Some students will probably have developed a real interest in particular topic during their studies and take this chance to pursue it.
It is encouraged to arrive at the capstone seminar with a paper topic in mind and some preliminary research.
Learning Objectives, at the upper level:
preparation for postgraduate or professional study
critical thinking about classic articles
research and presentation skills.
development of a professional résumé, and plans for career and/or further study.
maturing in knowledge of, and use of, the political science discipline
some self-assessment data about the political science program
Expected Outcomes, at the upper level:
critical discussion of classic articles in political science
critical discussion of research paper materials
a competent résumé and a plan for career and/or further study
a competent research proposal
a competent research paper
a competent oral presentation of research
examination essays demonstrating competence in the subfields of political science. NEW
Nivola & Rosenbloom (eds) Classic Readings in American Politics (St. Martins)
Princeton Review, Crash Course for the Graduate Record Examination NEW
Plus selected professional articles from journals in the chosen subfield
E.g., For those specializing in Comparative Government or International Relations: articles usually drawn from leading journals such as Foreign Policy or Foreign Affairs.
Approximate grade formula NEW:
10% proposal
20% class participation
30% research paper
20% research presentation
20% examination
(In a research seminar of this kind, an exact formula is impractical.)
Presentations of readings and active discussion in the seminar, which will meet approximately for the first five weeks and last five weeks of the semester.
Present informally career plans and summary of applications to jobs, or postgraduate or professional schools.
Early in capstone term (or if seeking Honors, before the start of spring term) students write a full research proposal detailing what topic and subtopic they intend to explore, the scope of the project and data to be used. Finally, the proposal notes hypotheses and limitations of the project.
Students deliver a prospectus comprising an Abstract of 1-2 pages; a Bibliography of one page, and an Outline of less than one page. Later, they deliver a Literature Survey.
These elements will be graded on the basis of ABOL.
Once this is approved, the students conduct original research which may include (in addition to secondary sources) fieldwork and the use of primary data; they complete a major individual research paper of about 20-25 pages.
graded on basis of CROW: Content, Research, Organization and Writing
Typically (but it varies with the nature of the project) this 20-25 paper comprises:
about 1-2 pages of introduction to the problem or issue, the scope of the paper and the limitations of the research. For examples, how many decades covered; countries examined; or policy case studies will there be?
A literature survey of about 2-3 pages explains what scholars have previously found on the subject, and the debates in the literature. What schools of thought are there?
Three or four content sections of about 4-7 pages each (one per country; case study; or historical era; for instances) totalling about 15-20 pages
A findings or conclusions section of about 1-3 pages
sections may be signalled by headings, if it clarifies the paper for the reader
the references list should be about 1-2 additional pages of mainly good quality (academic and government) sources.
The draft research findings may be presented informally to the seminar.
The research project will be formally presented to a class or some group of faculty and students, using appropriate audio-visual techniques (such as MS Powerpoint, a web page, or a poster session.)
graded on basis of CASO: Content, Audio Visuals, Speaking and Organization
A comprehensive essay examination to ascertain competence in at least three of the four subfields of political science.
graded on basis of CIPA: the subfields of Comparative government; International relations; Public administration; and American Government, theory and law.
Each essay graded on the basis of NCOW: Narrative (argument and theme), Content (key concepts and facts), organization (paragraphs, structure) and writing
You may elect not to write on one subfield, for which you may not yet (in senior Fall term) have taken a required course.
A locally designed multiple choice test examining recall of key concepts and major facts from all four subfields.
Students are encouraged to develop a portfolio of revised essays and research projects from previous courses.
Students may be required by the college to take a standardized national test (MFAT for majors in PSC)
Behavior:
You are expected to comply with the HC Honor Code [read College's statement, August 2009, of procedure for violations] and with specific rules of decorum placed on our Requirements page above. You are also expected to comply with Huntingdon College's Code of Classroom Conduct, August 2009.
My Attendance Policy [read full details on Required page, as HC's policy has changed]:
“While school sanctioned excuses will not count against you, each unexcused absence will reduce your class participation score. I reserve the right to fail you for the course for more than [4 (TR) or 5 (MWF)] unexcused absences. I also reserve the right to reduce your letter grade in the event that high scores on tests and written work are marred by unexcused absences.”
HC's
Accommodation of Special Needs:
“Faculty at Huntingdon College make every effort to accommodate unique and special needs of students with respect to speech, hearing, vision, seating, or other possible adaptions. Please notify the Disability Services Intake Coordinator, Ms. Camilla Irvin, as soon as possible of requested accommodations.”