59.258.301
| Our Class |
Location |
CO 207 |
Time |
MW 3:00-4:15 |
|
Web |
http://faculty.uml.edu/darcus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| My Office |
North Campus |
Southwick 320 |
Hours |
By appointment |
|
|
978-934-2798 |
|
Generally available on Fridays |
|
|
South Campus |
Mahoney 106A |
Hours |
Mondays 1:00-3:00 |
|
|
|
978-943-4172 |
|
Tuesdays 4:00-5:00 |
This class is a single semester,
3-credit course required of all students in the Honors Program. It is designed to promote the application of
interdisciplinary perspectives to problems, issues, concepts, and
creations. It is a writing intensive
class with active participation requirements as well to enhance students’ oral
and written expository communication skills.
Class meetings will serve to expose students to multidisciplinary
research, and to hone their skills at critical analysis with respect to
suppositions, definitions, and evidence.
Students will develop their abilities to bring the perspectives and
skills of their own discipline outward in the popular media, as well as the
ability to apply perspectives and methods of multiple disciplines on some
common problem or issue.
Remember Karl Popper’s words of
wisdom from his 1963 Conjectures and Refutations:
We are not students of some subject matter, but
students of problems. And problems may cut
right across the borders of any subject matter or discipline.
Objectives
By the completion of the
semester students will
·
Consider research questions, methods, and findings across variety of
academic disciplines in weekly reflection papers
·
Prepare an op-ed piece on a timely topic suitable for publication in a
local newspaper or trade publication with a broad circulation
·
Prepare peer reviews of two op-ed drafts submitted for blind review by
classmates
·
Participate in a classroom debate presenting evidence on one side of a
controversial issue to be selected by the class
·
Articulate critical issues relevant to the future of work.
·
Prepare an 8-10 page paper offering multidisciplinary perspectives on a
topic of the students choice and approved by the instructor
·
Present a summary of their work (i.e., the 8-10 page multidisciplinary
paper) to the rest of the class, using appropriate oral presentation methods
and supplemented with informative visual aides.
·
Assemble a current curriculum vita suitable for use in applications for
jobs or graduate schools.
·
Be prepared to assemble an honors thesis proposal.
Grading
Grades will be based on
class participation and written work:
|
Activity |
Points |
|
Participation, including
attendance, punctuality, and professionalism, esp. contribution to
discussions |
15 |
|
Ungraded Writing: CV, Peer Reviews, Reflections |
15 |
|
Debate & summary paper |
20 |
|
Op-ed & submission |
15 |
|
Final Paper |
25 |
|
Final Presentation |
10 |
Assignments
Students are expected to
read material prior to class on the day on the week it is listed. Reflections to be completed at the end of
guest lectures will be submitted using a format posted on our website; another
commentary for attendance at the UML Student Research Symposium (4/26) or
Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Symposium (4/27 in
The op-ed piece will
meet the requirements of the publication for which it is intended. It will
present evidence from the student’s discipline and apply it to a timely
issue. A draft will be provide in
triplicate and the final version will be based on feedback from peer review
(written using guidelines to be posted on the class website). The final op-ed must be submitted to a
publication venue. If you are
submitting by e-mail you must cc me; if you are submitting by USPS, please
bring the essay, cover letter, and stamped/addressed envelope to me. The cover letter will follow a standard form
to be posted on our website.
Students will volunteer for
pro- or con- sides of a class debate.
Debate performance will be based on the level of evidence
presented. A written summary not
to exceed 5 pages will present both sides of debate evidence and a
conclusion.
A curriculum vitae
will be prepared according to guidelines provided with a final version due by
the completion of the semester. There
are no page restrictions. The criteria
for grading are based on organization and clarity. This is an ungraded but required assignment.
The final paper will
be graded based on the application and integration of diverse perspectives to
one topic with appropriate evidence, documentation, and logic, as well as
clarity of expression. The presentation
will be graded based on clarity, completeness, and use of adjunct materials to
promote engagement.
Accommodations
If you require
accommodations in any aspect of this course, please bring that to my
attention. Information will be treated confidentially. Students with a
disability must self-identify through the UML Office for Disability
Services. For more information, see their website: http://www.uml.edu/student-services/disab
Texts
There is one required book for this class:
Lipson, C. (2005).
How to Write a BA Thesis.