Undergraduate Research in Ethnic Studies (ES 191), focuses on building the skills and techniques that will enable you to move from consumers to producers of knowledge. During this course we will work through each stage of designing a research project: defining a topic area; mastering the relevant literature; honing the topic area into a research subject; developing generative research questions; and selecting appropriate methods and materials to best address those questions.


You will learn by designing a research proposal which will become a roadmap that will guide you through your Honors research project. Along the way you will use and develop critical and analytical skills that will help you to work through the common pitfalls involved in designing a research project. You will be aided by reading exemplar proposals and selected publications, and engaging in conversation with fellow Honors students and with guests who will present their research projects and discuss research design methodology.


The course objectives are:

a. to produce a formal Honors project prospectus; and

b. to develop a working relationship with a faculty mentor who will oversee and guide your work through ETHN 192 and 193 (Winter and Spring quarters).


Successful research projects will earn “Honors in Ethnic Studies” upon graduation.

A written (typed) assignment will be due each week at the beginning of class, as described below. One late assignment is allowed during the quarter, and it must be placed in my mailbox or e-mailed to me by 10AM the following Monday morning. Attendance during class meetings is mandatory.

The grade for this course will be cumulative and assigned based on the level of your effort in the course, your participation in class meetings, and the final form of your Prospectus, as follows:

50% = class attendance, participation, and written assignments;
50% = final research prospectus

• Drafts and critique groups and schedules
• Week 1 - in class excercise
• Week 2 - in class excercise
• Components of a Research Proposal
• Sample Bibliographic Entries
• Web searching tutorial
• IRB samples
• Last year's drafts

Week 1 – September 27: Introduction & Planning

• Selecting a topic
• Choosing a mentor
• Beginning to plan a research project
  Assignment: Make an appointment with me to meet before our Week 2 meeting.
• Read: Craft of Research, Chapters 1-3

Week 2 – October 4: Research Proposal Guidelines; Topic feasibility and scope

• Discuss research topic ideas
• Library resources meeting with Alanna Aiko Moore
• Asking the best questions of your research subject
• Discussion of topic areas; preparing an annotated bibliography
  Assignment: 1) Brief description of your research topic. 2) Bring copies of the description to class.

Week 3 – October 11: Research Reports and Discussion

• Choosing and mixing methodologies to address a research question
• Reading strategies
• Working well with your mentor
• Research design and methodology I:  Professor Lisa Park, qualitative data collection and analysis
  Assignment: 1) Preliminary annotated bibliography; 2) preliminary outline for Prospectus.

Week 4 – October 18: Library Resources meeting

This class will meet at Geisel Library Library Electronic Classroom (LEC), across from the bank of library access terminals to the left of the entrance.

• Hands on library work with Alanna Aiko Moore
• Writing a review of literature (historical context, recent studies, useful theory)
• Research design and methodology I: Natalia Molina, historical methodology.
  Assignment: 1) Revised annotated bibliography; 2) detailed outline of literature review.
  

Week 5 – October 25: Research Reports and Discussion

• Protecting Human Subjects
• Writing strategies
• Research design and methodology II: Ramón Gutiérrez, historical methods (cancelled due to jury duty)
  Assignment: 1) Literature review; 2) read outlines of classmates for discussion and constructive criticism in class (will include a discussion of proposed methodology/ies); 3) complete online IRB course and bring certificate to class.

Week 6 – November 1: Research Reports and Discussion

• Class research updates (brief presentations of project shape and major issues)
• Research design and methodology III: TBA
  Assignment: First draft of research prospectus. Please make a paper copy for each member of the class for distribution.

Week 7 – November 8: Research Reports and Discussion

• Revising strategies
• Research design and methodology IV: Professor Wayne Yang, ethnography, education, and youth culture
  Assignment: Critique, comments, and suggestions of first-draft proposals to be distributed in class.

Week 8 – November 15: First Drafts I - Presentation and Critique

• First draft presentations (part one - link shows group and in-class critique schedule)
  Assignment: 1) Make an appointment to meet with me during the week; 2) revisions and first group of critiques and comments for classmates.

Week 9 – November 22: First Drafts II - Presentation and Critique

• First draft presentations (part two - link shows group and in-class critique schedule)
  Assignment: Revise! Revise! Revise! Second group of critiques and comments for classmates.
  

Week 10 – November 29: Looking ahead at the Honors paper

• Developing the project: managing research and writing effectively.
  Assignment: 1) Final Prospectus due; 2) Human Subjects submission (if needed).