Spring 2019
Dr. Mario Guerrero
Email: mag@cpp.edu
Office Phone: (909) 869-3885
Meeting Time: Tu 8:30-9:45am
Classroom Location: Building 5, Room 136
Office Hours: TuTh 11:15-12:00pm; W 8:00-10:50am
Office Location: 94-316
What is this course about?
The primary activity in this course is the independent study and preparation of a senior thesis under faculty supervision. This course is the second in a year-long sequence. Students will utilize the skills they have acquired in the previous semester and the major to complete their own original research project. Major components of the course include implementing a unique research design, presenting research findings in a department-wide conference, and writing a final, comprehensive thesis paper. In course meetings, students will meet to discuss their progress but a large portion of this work is independent. As part of the course, students are expected to meet with the professor and other faculty members in advisement of their projects.
What does senior thesis really entail?
Each student is to develop a 30-to-40 page research paper that focuses on a specific aspect of political science. The project should adopt the perspective of at least one of the subfields of political science: American politics, international relations, comparative politics, political theory, public law, public administration, or political methodology. The student should ideally have completed all the core courses and at least three upper-division courses in a single subfield. Students should have already selected a topic, research question, and have developed an argument. Research design and implementation is the central focus of this semester and significant time should be devoted to it.
What books do we need?
The readings for this course are to be found in the Fall semester syllabus. No new readings are assigned for this semester.
Will I have opportunities to present my thesis to outside audiences?
There is one opportunity to present your project to external audiences. I highly recommend that you apply to present at this conference as it really is no extra work. The Cal Poly Pomona Student Research Conference is to be held on Friday, March 1 in our campus library. The application deadline is on Wednesday, January 30. At this conference, ten winners are selected from the campus by a panel of faculty judges. I am offering extra credit to attend this conference (see below).
Course Requirements
10% Class Conduct: Students are expected to behave in a respectful and courteous manner while interacting with each other and the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to penalize this portion of the grade for any inappropriate behavior.
15% Conference Presentation: The conference presentation will be graded on a number of different criteria by the faculty in attendance. The Senior Thesis Conference is scheduled during Week 10, on Friday March 29. Although you do not have to attend the entire day, the schedule will not be published until March. Please clear your schedules for this day. Failure to present at the Senior Conference results in an automatic fail. Students who do not present cannot graduate in May and must repeat this course next year.
65% Thesis: The thesis is graded based on a rubric that will be provided to you. You will be assigned an anonymous faculty member who will grade your thesis alongside myself. Our grades will be averaged to determine your final grade. The final thesis is due during Week 13, on Friday, April 26.
- Each student must turn in two hard copies of the thesis. The thesis must follow the format assigned and be velo binded. You must also turn in a digital copy on Blackboard.
Grade Appeals. The period for grade appeals begins 24 hours after an assignment is handed back. The grade appeal must be made within a week of receiving the grade. The appeal must be written and made during office hours.
Extra Credit
I am offering two opportunities for extra credit. The first is to present your work at the Cal Poly Pomona Student Research Conference. This conference is to be held on Friday, March 1 (Week 6) at the library. The application deadline is on Wednesday, January 30 (Week 2). At the conference, ten winners are selected from the campus. To earn the 8% extra credit toward your final grade, you must elect to present at one of the competitive sessions at the conference. The second opportunity to earn extra credit is to practice your presentation in class. During Weeks 7-10, I will make class time available to practice your presentation. There are only 15 spots available, sign up is available at https://doodle.com/poll/8s645xyxrmyk6suk . You can earn 2% extra credit toward your final grade for practicing your presentation.
Course Schedule
Please note the following schedule is subject to change throughout the semester:
Week 1: January 21-January 25. Welcome Back.
Class Meeting: Tuesday 1/22 (Required)
- PowerPoint: (PDF)
Week 2: January 28-February 5. Dead Week.
Cal Poly Pomona Student Research Conference Application Due: Wednesday, January 30 (Click here to submit your short application)
Week 3: February 4-February 8. Dead Week.
Week 4: February 11-February 15. Dead Week.
Week 5: February 18-February 22. Dead Week.
Submit your title and abstract for the PLS Senior Conference Program: Friday, February 22 (http://bit.ly/PLSAbstracts)
Week 6: February 25-March 1. Student Research Conference.
Cal Poly Pomona Student Research Conference: Friday, March 1
Week 7: March 4-March 8. Presentation Preparation.
Presentation Sign-Ups: https://doodle.com/poll/8s645xyxrmyk6suk
Week 8: March 11-March 15. Presentation Preparation.
Presentation Sign-Ups: https://doodle.com/poll/8s645xyxrmyk6suk
Week 9: March 18-March 22. Class Meeting.
Class Meeting: Tuesday 3/19 (Required)
Example 1 (Best Paper 2014): (PDF)
Example 2 (Best Paper 2015): (PDF)
Example 3 (Best Paper 2016): (PDF)
Format Document: (DOCX)
Week 10: March 25-March 29. Senior Conference.
Presentation Sign-Ups: https://doodle.com/poll/8s645xyxrmyk6suk
Friday, March 29: Senior Conference
Example PPT 1: (PDF)
Example PPT 2: (PDF)
Example PPT 3: (PDF)
Example PPT 4: (PDF)
Spring Break: April 1-April 5.
Week 11: April 8-April 12. Paper Writing.
Week 12: April 15-April 19. Paper Writing.
Week 13: April 22-April 26. Paper Due.
Friday, April 26: Senior Thesis due
Week 14: April 29-May 3. Dead Week.
Week 15: May 6-May 10. Course Conclusion.
Class Meeting: Tuesday 5/7 (Required)