In fall 2019 I have office hours Mondays and Thursdays, 11-11:45 and 2-2:30 (on each of those days that classes are scheduled) and on every other Wednesday 1-2. These times are all listed on my calendar. Occasionally during times of peak demand I may also have office hours on a Tuesday or Friday, 10-3, by appointment. To see the schedule and make an appointment use this calendar. (You must be logged in to gmail or Marymount email. Scroll to the right to see future weeks.) All meetings are in my office, Rowley Hall, Room 1015. If you do not make an appointment you are welcome to drop by but I cannot promise that I will be there. If you make an appointment but then cannot make it to that appointment, please email me to let me know. Any student who makes, and then misses, three or more appointments without cancelling them in advance will be permanently banned from making future appointments.
The required textbook is: Lisa A. Baglione. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. 2019. 4th Edition. ISBN-10: 978-1506367422. Available from the campus bookstore, Amazon, and probably lots of other places also. Please have assigned readings completed by the Thursday meeting each week.
August 26
Project overview, discussion of scope, and writing review
August 29
The systematic study of politics
Read chapter 1 and 2 and How politics makes us stupid
Types of analysis assignment due September 4
September 5, 9, and 12
Reading journal articles
Read chapter 3
Topic paragraph due September 15
September 16 and 19
Finding journal articles
Read chapter 4
please bring a computer to class if you have one
September 23 and 26
Connecting writing to politics careers
Article summary #1 due September 29
September 30 and October 3
Causality
Article summary #2 due October 6
October 7 and 10
Paper organization
Article summary #3 due October 13
October 15
Literature review
October 17 – no class today
Mandatory one-on-one meetings to plan research strategies around here, as scheduled
October 21 and 24
Paper structure and evidence
Read chapters 5 through 8
Literature review due October 27
October 28 and 31
Evidence
Discussion of variables due November 3
November 4 and 7
Structured Observation
Single observation due November 9
November 11 and 14
Writing review
November 18 and 21
Draft workshop
Most peer reviews due sometime in the next week or so
November 25
Draft review and writing workshop (data: sample, another sample, link)
December 2 and 5
Presentations
Day of the final exam
Writing workshop