Schedule

Unit 1: Mining for Ideas, 1/7 – 1/13

Topics

1. Curiosity
2. Serendipity
3. Creating a Personal Archive
4. The Thesis Writing Process

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Readings and Resources
  • Irene L. Clark, Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation, Chapters 1 and 2
  • Thesis and Review Guidelines
• Blog: Introductions and Reflections

Unit 2: Beyond the Basics, 1/14 – 1/20

Topics

1. Advanced Research Methodologies
2. The Library and Its Human Experts
3. Note-Taking and Freewriting

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Readings and Resources
  • Irene L. Clark, Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation, Chapters 3 and 4
  • Other resources listed in Resources
• Exercise 1: Freewriting
• Blog: Weekly Blog Post

Unit 3: Rhetorical Strategies and Arguments, 1/21 – 1/27

Topics

1. Ideas and Influence
2. Finding a Novel Idea
3. Rhetorical Strategies
   1. Logos and Logical Fallacies
   2. Ethos
   3. Pathos
4. The Rhetorical Précis

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Readings and Resources
  • Irene L. Clark, Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation, Chapters 5 and 6
• Other resources listed in Resources
• Exercise 2: Rhetorical Précis
• Blog: Weekly Blog Post

Unit 4: Mapping Ideas, 1/28 – 2/3

Topics

1. Concept Mapping
2. Moving from Analysis to Synthesis
3. On Citations
4. Introduction to MLA and Research Tools

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Readings and Resources
  • Hugh Dubberly, “Creating Concept Maps”
  • Other resources listed in Resources
• Research Project
  • Part 1: Concept Map Draft and Annotated Bibliography Draft
• Discussion: Rhetorical Précis
• Blog: Weekly Blog Post

Unit 5: Narrowing Your Focus, 2/4 – 2/10

Topics

1. The Thesis Statement
2. Testing Your Theories
3. On Style

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Readings and Resources
  • Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams; The Craft of Research; Section II
  • Other resources listed in Resources
• Research Project
  • Part 2: Thesis Statement Draft
• Blog: Weekly Blog Post

Unit 6: Making the Connections, 2/11 – 2/17

Topics

1. Visual Presentation
2. Writing Guidelines

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Readings and Resources
  • Irene L. Clark, Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation, Chapters 7 and 10
  • Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams; The Craft of Research; Chapter 15
  • Other resources listed in Resources
• Exercise 3: Primary Source Hunt
• Blog: Reflection on the Primary Source Hunt
• Discussion: Thesis Statement Draft

Unit 7: Thesis Committee, 2/18 – 2/24

Topics

1. Choosing a Thesis Committee
2. Thesis Committee Etiquette
3. Interview Etiquette and Skills

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Readings and Resources
  • Irene L. Clark, Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation, Chapter 8
  • Other resources listed in Resources
• Exercise 4: Interview
• Blog: Reflection on the Interview Process

Unit 8: Pitching Your Thesis, 2/25 – 3/3

Topics

1. Making Your Argument Compelling
2. The Thesis Proposal

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Research Project: Part 3: Written investigation
• Blog: Weekly Blog Post

Unit 9: Revisions and Time Management, 3/4 – 3/10

Topics

1. Incorporating Feedback into Written and Visual Components
2. Your Thesis Project and Time Management

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Readings and Resources
  • Irene L. Clark, Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation, Chapter 9
  • Other resources listed in Resources
• Research Project: Part 4: Visual Presentation and Final Concept Map
• Discussion: Peer Feedback on Written Investigation

Unit 10: Next Steps, 3/11 – 3/14

Topics

1. Recap
2. Doing the Work

Tasks and Assignments Due

• Blog: Reflection on the Course
• Discussion: Peer Feedback on Visual Presentation and Final Concept Map