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Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Research Project

Course Title: Department: Instructor: Prerequisites:

PS497 - Research Project Political Science Charles H. Scheetz, E-Mail - Vita None

Course Objective:
The objective of the course is to become familiar with research methods and resources centered toward a theme in a Political Science area, culminating in a written expression (term paper) of the student’s analysis of the issues presented by the researched facts and leading to a reasoned conclusion.

Grading:
There will be a midterm and final letter grade. The midterm grade will be based on the timely submission of the preparatory material described in the schedule below. The final grade will be the average between the midterm grade and the term paper grade. The average will be based on letter grade received transformed into the numbers of the traditional four-point scale:

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F

4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0

Term Paper Structure:
The course instructor estimates that the student will be able to meet the course objectives with the submission of a term paper approximately fifteen (15) pages in length, not including the title, table of contents or footnote pages. The term paper shall have a title page. A one-page table of contents is optional. Footnotes identifying research resources shall appear at the end of the term paper. A scholarly paper requires its author to fully disclose the sources of its contents. Any fact, opinion or idea that is not the student’s must be credited by reference to source. Acceptable sources are copyrighted books, encyclopedias, professional treatises/periodicals, and magazines; although acceptable, students are cautioned about the accuracy of information contained in Internet sources. A good paper has a variety of sources.

Term Paper Content:
In practice, the purpose of Political Science research projects is to (1) teach aspects of the selected topic to government or business leaders, (2) to advise them, or (3) to persuade them or the public into action or restraint. Therefore the student must choose whether the term paper is expository (to teach), a position paper (facts with recommendation(s)), persuasive (using researched facts to support a call to action or restraint).

Topic:
Political thought or theory, political functions, American political processes, middle-east politics, geo-politics and the United Nations are a few examples of areas in which topics can be developed. The course instructor is available to assist the student in the selection of a topic and the student is encouraged to seek such assistance; however, responsibility for the final selection and timely submission of a topic via email to the instructor is solely the student’s.

Schedule:
Deviation from the schedule will only be tolerated when extenuating circumstances exist and when discussed with the instructor (via email) prior to the due date, unless such circumstances could not reasonably be foreseen. All Due Dates are calculated from the time the student first enrolls in the course.

Assignment	Due Date
Communication of student’s topic	2 weeks
Submission of student’s list of research resources	4 weeks [Midterm grade]
Submission of completed term paper	8 weeks [Final Grade]