Senior Seminar

RPH 480

Fall 2008

Office Hours: Lyon 321

MWF: 8:00-8:50 and 10:00-10:50 a.m.

TTh:  8:00-8:20 a.m.

Fri.:   1:30-2:30

or by appointment

Phone: 698-4351

E-mail: Click on Mailbox to e-mail professor

Course Description: 

 

As a senior level seminar, this course will emphasize research and discussion.  The purpose of this course is to create a learning community that will involve each member in helping one another in his or her research project.  Each student will be responsible for teaching the rest of the class about the research she or he is engaged in throughout the semester.  This is how it will work:

In our initial meeting, each of us will indicate what research topic we plan to work on during the semester. 

We will sign up for four presentation dates. For each date we will assign readings that we want each other to read.

On the date that the readings for your project are due to be read by the rest of the seminar, you will come prepared to lead the class.  You may lead the class in a variety of ways: prepared discussion, lecture/presentation, etc.  The point is that you are helping the rest of the seminar to better understand that material AND to get ideas from the seminar members that might help you in your research.   The number of times that each person leads the class will depend upon the number enrolled in the seminar.

The goals of the course are:

In keeping with the last goal, each student will be expected to submit a proposal to an appropriate professional society or academic conference.   Check the link for Student Research at http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/groups/rph/ for some possible journals and conferences especially oriented to undergraduate work.

Attendance & Communication

Attendance is required.  You will be asked to “sign in,” by writing your signature only if you spent at least an hour preparing for the class and your initials if you did not.  If you have a good reason to be absent, leave a note, email, or voice mail.  If I am not notified by 6:00 p.m. on the day you were absent, you will have an unexcused absence.  Unexcused absences will have the following effect on your final grade:

a)                  Up to 3 unexcused absences:  no change in grade

b)                  4-5 unexcused absences: final grade lowered 1/3 of letter grade

c)                  6-7 unexcused absences: final grade lowered 2/3 of letter grade

d)                 8 unexcused absences: final grade lowered one letter grade

e)                  9 or more unexcused absences: final grade will be an “F”

You need to write a brief summary (250-300 words) on the reading for the days you miss, excused or unexcused.

Students are expected to check their First Class e-mail accounts daily (which is actually a college policy). This is the primary way we have to communicate with each other outside of class. Students are accountable for information regarding due dates, assignments, exams, etc., that are sent through First Class.

Five In-Class Presentations:

Five times during the semester you will be required to do the following:

1)   At the class session prior to the class you are scheduled to lead, either hand out or send by email a substantial reading (a journal article, chapter from a book, etc.) that is relevant to your research project for the other class members to read.  Include some questions you want us to think about or a general idea of how this reading fits in with what you have already done.

2) On the day you are scheduled to lead class, give a 35-40 minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session with the class.

3)  Have an outline prepared which you hand to me at the end of the class.

Each student is also expected to have read and be prepared to discuss the readings assigned by fellow students at each class

.

Final Paper (around 4000 words, not including footnotes, bibliography, etc.):

1) The paper should follow an accepted style such as MLA or APA, and must have a “Works Cited” page with appropriate bibliographic information. (I prefer MLA style, but if you are more comfortable with APA, you must include page numbers with internal citations.)

2) At a time to be scheduled during finals week, you will present a summary of your paper/project for the class and other invited guests.

3 You must submit your paper/project to an undergraduate journal and/or conference. If accepted, Lyon should be able to pay your expenses (or most of your expenses) to go and read the paper. 

Grading:

All graded work in this class is to be pledged in accordance with the Lyon College Honor Code.

 

Please note: Students seeking reasonable accommodations based on documented learning disabilities should contact the Office of Academic Services at 307-7332.