English 418; Section 01:
Advanced Research and Written Communication

Fall 2000

The Facts

Office: 222 English
Office Phone: 646-2027
Email
Office Hours: Monday 2-4 and Wednesday, 3-5 and by appointment
classlist:
class website: http://web.nmsu.edu/~sbernhar/Syllabi/McNair

I am frequently in my office and you are welcome to stop by to talk or to make an appointment. I also welcome email questions.

Required Textbooks (same as for 319):

Course Description:

This course is the second semester of a two semester workshop to help McNair Scholars develop their research for publication and presentation. The course would help constitute a minor in professional communication if you decide to seek one. You must be a McNair Scholar to be enrolled. Together, 319 and 418 can satisfy the GED requirement for a second writing course.

Students will present the scientific research they have conducted during summer internships as a paper for publication, a poster presentation, and an oral presentation. Students will complete an application to present their work at a conference or symposium. Students will also research and prepare personal statements for graduate school applications. Throughout the course, students will engage in a variety of communicative tasks related to their research and careers: participating in email conversations, preparing materials for graduate school admission, and joining conversations of professionals who share the research interests of the students.

A frequent format for classes will be some time spent discussing assignments and then some time spent analyzing and critiquing samples of student writing. We will count on each other throughout the course, sometimes in small groups, sometimes in pairs, sometimes as a full class. I will give each of you careful criticism of your work and make myself available for individual conferences at your convenience. I would rather help you with your projects as you work on them, rather than evaluate them after you are finished (though I must also do that!).

We can invite guests to our class to discuss their lives as researchers and writers. If you know of someone--perhaps your mentor, someone from the university or scientific community, or a McNair Scholar who had gone on to graduate school--who might make an interesting guest for our class, please talk to me about arrangements.

 

Requirements:

• Attendance is required and missing classes will negatively affect your grade. We have only 15 class meetings, so each meeting is equal to a week’s participation. If you know in advance that you must miss a class, write a memo to me asking to be excused, either via email or hardcopy, at least one week in advance. Follow up by reporting to me in writing on what you accomplished in your absence, and by talking with students about what you missed. An absence for an important personal commitment may be appropriate if you handle it professionally.

• Bring a planner and get used to keeping track of deadlines, work commitments, goals, and milestones for projects and for your life.

• Each student will follow a schedule of work for the term, coordinated to some extent with the work of others in the class, but individualized to allow for special circumstances. Details to follow.

• Each student will participate in an online, email discussion group among students, mentors, directors, and alumni of the McNair program.

Grading:

Your final grade will be an overall assessment (letter grade) based on your work completed during the term, including evaluations of written work, oral presentations, and contributions to class. Self-initiated work can be documented through memos and included with the portfolio (attendance at meetings or lectures, special projects outside of class, continuing research initiatives with your mentor or in other situations). You will receive extensive feedback on your work, from me and your classmates. Individual assignments will be graded with a check minus (needs more work) until they are ready to receive an A or B. Work can be revised and resubmitted up until the last week of classes, but quality work must be submitted on a timely basis throughout the term to achieve a high grade of A or B. I will give you an evaluation of your progress at any time you request it--the grade I would give you if your work continued at the current level.

Late work will be graded down according to the point system below. Being unprepared for class, not attending, or not participating will negatively affect your grade. Incompletes are only given if you have passed the first half of the course and you can document illness or family crisis that prevents you from completing the work of the second half..

To receive an A in this class, you must

• Complete assigned work in a timely fashion.
• Produce a strong research report and a strong literature review.
• Demonstrate the ability to make professional presentations.

Special Notes

If you have any disabilities or special circumstances that prevent you from doing certain kinds or work, or that cause you to need more time or special adaptation, please let me know and let’s work out the arrangements. If you need special technologies, learning assistance, counseling, or support, please let’s work together to meet your needs. There are many resources on this campus to help all students be successful. If you have a disability, please let me know and visit the Office for Services to Students with Disabilities to receive a professional diagnosis (646-6840). Please let me know if you have hearing or sight problems, and let’s make accommodations in class so you can do well.

 

Assignments

Note: A draft is a complete, printed document. It may need revising, and it may have placeholders where you need to add more information or discussion. It should have rough visuals (tables, charts, etc.). A draft will change as it is revised, but it represents your first complete draft of a section or report.
 

	Points for timely completion
1. Individual plan of work for term, with dates, activities completed, activities to be completed, problems/issues, and revised abstract (Drafted by Aug 28; finalized by Sept 11).	5 points for draft 5 points for revision
2. Draft results section of your research report to share with group (Sept 18)	10 points for ontime delivery
3. Draft discussion/conclusions/implications section of your research report to share with group (Sept 25)	10 points for ontime delivery
4. Updated and revised lit review (6-8 pages with 15-20 sources by Oct 2). Graded.	10 points for ontime delivery
5. Personal statement to accompany application for graduate school with (draft by October 9; final by October 23). Graded.	10 points for ontime draft
6. Draft full research report (October 16). Graded.	15 points for ontime delivery
7. Poster presentation of your research (completed by Nov 13, or before). Graded.	10 points for ontime delivery
8. Publishable quality written report of your research (Final draft Nov 20) Graded.	15 points for ontime delivery
9. At least one formal oral presentations to the class (completed by Dec 4). Graded	5 points
10. One progress report (updated plan of work): October 30.	5 points for ontime delivery
11. Submission of written report to journal (completed by Dec 4)	10 bonus points for ontime delivery (no penalty if not completed)
12. Write-up of interview of graduate student or professor in your discipline (not your mentor or friend!). By Nov 20	15 extra points
Total points possible for timely work = 100	80-100=no effect on grade  45-75=one grade down from your average  below 45=two grades down from your average

 

 

Reading Assignments

Davis, Ch 10: Titles and Abstracts

Sept 20 Davis, Ch 4: Searching and Reviewing Scientific Literature

Sept 27 Davis, Ch 12, Ethical and Legal Issues

Oct 4 Davis, Ch 11: Presenting Data

Oct 11 Davis, Ch 13: Scientific Presentations

Oct 18 Davis, Ch 15: Visual Aids to Communication

Oct 25 Davis, Ch 16: The Slide Presentation

Nov 1 Davis, Ch 17: Poster Presentations

Nov 8 Davis, Ch 8: Style and Accuracy in the Final Draft