REM 505: Winter, 2009

Syllabus

Meetings: 8:00 - 9:30 Mondays and Wednesdays, Dean Hall 113

Instructors:

Bob Hickey
Office – Dean Hall 316, Phone 963-2178, Email – rhickey@cwu.edu
Office Hours: M/W 9:30 - 10:30 or by appointment

Bill Wood
Office – 334 Dean Hall, Phone 963-3209, Email - woodw@cwu.edu
Office Hours: T/W/Th 11:00 - 12:00 or by appointment.

Texts:

• REM 505 Coursepack (available from CWU Bookstore)
• The Double Helix by James Watson

Student Learning Objectives:

1. Develop a feasible thesis topic within the context of our program.
2. Identify the methods necessary to answer your research questions
3. Evaluate the research of others.
4. Identify possible funding sources.
5. Improve your writing skills.
6. Build a solid literature context for your thesis.
7. Write an initial thesis research proposal.
   

Course Requirements:
Grading: Based upon a total of percentage points indicated below:

Assignment #1: Initial Interest Statement 5%
Assignment #2: Thesis Critique 10%
Assignment #3: Proposal Introduction 10%
Assignment #4: Annotated Bibliography/Literature Context 10%
Assignment #5: Partial Proposal w/ revised #3 + Literature Context 15%
Assignment #6: Partial Proposal w/ revised #5 + Methods 10%
Assignment #7: Oral Presentation of Proposal 10%
Assignment #8: Complete Proposal (revised #6 + Results & Abstract) 20%
Participation 10%

Written Assignments: All written work must be typewritten and must meet the following criteria: (1) 12 point type, (2) double spaced text, (3) numbered pages, (4) stapled in upper left corner (no covers or folders of any type). Your written work will be evaluated with regard to the following: (1) full completion of all aspects of the assignment; (2) clear, logical presentation; (3) high standards of grammar, composition, punctuation, and spelling; (4) adherence to the pertinent style manual. For all assignments including revisions of previous work (# 3, 5, 6, 8), the submission is expected to include the previous assignment with the professor's editorial comments on it, so that changes can be observed. (It is OK for you to write on this.) Submissions without the prior assignment are considered incomplete and will be penalized 50%. If willing and if they have the time, thesis supervisors will be also welcomed to grade each written assignment related to the final proposal, their scores being incorporated into the final assignment grade.

Note that while all work can be submitted prior to the due date, there will be penalties for late assignments (20% per day, including weekends). Assignments are considered late if not received in hard copy form by 5 PM on the day they are due in the mailbox of the appropriate instructor.

Individual Student Meetings: As noted on the schedule, there are a number of class meetings set aside for formal one-on one meetings with individual students. There will be no class during these periods, but a scheduled time to meet with one of the instructors will be set prior to the meeting, and your attendance at the individual meeting is required. In these meetings, we will discuss your progress on the thesis proposal development, providing individual feedback and suggestions. Generally the individual meetings will be 10-15 minutes per student.

Course Policies:

1) Grade Distribution
The grade distribution is based on a scale where the total minimum number of points required to receive various grades is set as follows:

A 93-100% A- 90-92% B+ 87-89% B 83-86%
B- 80-82% C+ 77-79% C 73-76% C- 70-72%
D+ 67-69% D 63-66% D- 60-62% F <60%

2) Readings
Please complete all reading assignments on time, before the lectures on each topic. Timely completion of assignments will aid in greater comprehension and easier note-taking during lectures. Additionally, valuable contributions to class discussions (10% of your grade)generally require timely completion of reading assignments.

3) Late Assignments
All written work can be submitted prior to the due date, but late assignments will be penalized 20% per day, including weekends. Written assignments are considered late if not received in hard copy form by 5PM on the day they are due in the mailbox of the appropriate instructor.

4) Academic Honesty
Students are expected to be academically honest, as defined in the Proscribed Conduct section of the Student Judicial Code in the back of your academic catalog. Plagiarism is defined in this section as "the appropriation of any other person's work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one's own work offered for credit" (CWU Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog, 2006-2007, p. 286). Such plagiarism may range from copying entire papers to phrases within a sentence. Please properly paraphrase, acknowledge, and cite other researchers' work and ideas used in your written assignments. Failure to do so will result in a failing grade for the course.

5) Participation and Attendance
Regular class attendance is expected, as the building blocks, including peer review, around which this class is structured are essential to successful completion of the final product. Also, students will be asked to contribute to a number of in-class discussions. Attendance and participation will be computed into the participation portion of your class grade.

6) Course Alterations
The instructors reserve the right to change the schedule, readings, and exams as deemed necessary to improve the quality of your education in this course. Such changes will be kept to a minimum and will be given notice in advance.

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