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carefully consider ideas for your senior research project

scout out some good sources

the paper should be different from any you have written before

Presentations of classic readings and active discussion in the seminar.

Section I: Political Culture and Traditions
1: De Tocqueville, "Equality of Condition" -- Maegan outline needed
2: Louis Hartz, "Concept of a Liberal Society." - Shane
3: Charles A. Beard, "Constitution as an Economic Document." -- Rick
4: Gordon S. Wood, "American Science of Politics" -- Maegan
5: James Madison, "Federalist 10." - Shane
6: Samuel Beer, "National idea in American Politics" -- Rick outline needed

Discuss informally your ideas for research topics, to receive helpful suggestions

Presentations of classic readings and active discussion in the seminar. [Nivola & Rosenbloom contents list]

Section II: Federalism
7: Morton Grodzins, "Federal System." -- Maegan
8: Martha Derthick, "Enduring Features of American Federalism." -- Shane
9: Alexander Hamilton, "Federalist 27 & 28." -- Rick
10: James Madison, "Federalist 39." -- Shane
11: US Supreme Court, McCulloch v Maryland (1819) -- Maegan
Section III: Political Power
12: Mills, "Structure of Power in American Society" -- Rick
13: Dahl, "On the Species Homo Politicus" -- Shane
14: Bachrach and Baratz -- Maegan

Informal presentations of student research proposals for criticism and refinement.

Begin research with a careful search of all available sources, including online databases and inter-library loan.

Present informally career plans and summary of applications to jobs, or postgraduate or professional schools.

Résumés due (one for graduate school, stressing academic honors; another for jobs, emphasizing work experience.)

Present research proposals for criticism and "ABO" grade

• Abstract (1-2 pages):
• Topic and Subtopic
• Scope of the project
• Type of data to be used
• Hypotheses and limitations of the project
• Bibliography (1 page): books, statutes, court opinions
• Outline (half page): headings and subheadings with approximate page counts for each.

• Week 7: present Literature Survey, 2-3 pages, for "L" grade
• Leading theses in literature, reviewed
• Comparison and contrast of the literature
• Gaps in the literature found
• seminar discussion of classic readings, careers, and calling continues as necessary
• Conduct original research which may include fieldwork and the use of primary data.
• Develop a select bibliography of at least a page of mostly hardcopy sources.
• Use class time for tutorials on your research.
• Research sources should include scholarly journal articles, books by university presses, official reports and data.
• Sources may of course usefully include think tank reports, court decisions, good quality survey data
• The research may also include your own carefully structured interviews or participant observation (perhaps based on an prior internship or travel experience).
• Journalism, web materials from interest groups, and other less well regulated sources should be used only selectively.
• A comprehensive essay examination to ascertain competence in the subfields of political science.

covering key concepts across the discipline of political science, utilizing some mixture of multiple choice, short answer and essay questions.

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, Content of subfield, Organization and Writing

Complete a major individual research paper of about 25 pages.

• graded on basis of CROW: Content, Research, Organization and Writing
• Grading Criteria Table

Be prepared to explain the qualities and faults of each reading.

Draft research findings presented informally to the seminar.

Develop appropriate audio-visual techniques (such as MS Powerpoint or a web page)

• web pages and Powerpoint files uploaded in advance.
• Formal Presentations of research projects (May be videotaped).
• graded on basis of CASO: Content, Audiovisuals, Speaking and Organization (includes punctuality)
• Grading Criteria Table
• The official date for the comprehensive final examination is 14:30 R 10 Dec. 2009
• Congratulations!
• Clear off all other requirements for graduation!

• Standardized national test (Major Field Assessment Test [MFAT] for majors in PSC) .
• The MFT comprises the past questions from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
• There will be two one-hour sessions of 60 difficult questions
• Questions may use concepts and terminology that are unfamiliar; you must expect to adapt what we have covered to the test questions
• Prepare with a MFT or GRE preview handbook (such as that by Princeton Review)
• Scores are scaled up from 120 questions to a 200 scale
• there are NO deductions for intelligent guessing, so be creative.
• The range of 134-174 scaled score covers almost all who take the test, with the median in most years being around 151.
• Most of our grads achieve scores in the US percentiles 33-72, with our best score in the 98th US percentile.
• Please give your best effort, and for the sake of the whole team, keep trying till the end of the exam.