Charles University. Winter, 2012

Independent Study Syllabus:

This course is intended to initiate your MA thesis on a topic of your choice. The requirement is to write a minimum of a 25 page research paper which can be developed into a full thesis. Grades will be based on the quality of your sources, research, writing, and an oral presentation of your work. Everyone is expected to make individual appointments according to the following timeline, to attend all the oral presentations, and to have completed the work outlined below prior to each appointment. Meetings can be scheduled in a number of places, the American Center, my office at Jinonice, the National Library, coffee shop, my apartment. Locations will be determined depending on schedules and needs.

Our first meeting will be announced in early October. This will be a session on the following:

Correct citation format from The Chicago Manual of Style

Discussion on selection of individual research topics

Development of an argumentative thesis

Avoiding plagiarism

The following week you should submit your topic either via e-mail or request an individual appointment if discussion about your proposed topic would be helpful.

Individual appointments: week of October 22:

Required: bibliography of ten sources in each of the following categories

At least one primary source

Scholarly monograph/s

Scholarly article/s

Internet sources restricted to scholarly works

Other sources, documentaries, etc. as appropriate to topic

Individual appointments week of November 5:

Discussion of sources, progress

Tentative argumentative thesis

Due the week of November12:

A rough draft of your paper to the Department Office by Wednesday, 12/14

Individual appointments week of November 19:

Return draft with comments, suggestions, discussion

Final paper due in the office the week of November 26. You may pick up your paper in the office December 3 when you will also sign up for oral your presentations in December.

INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS OR CONSULTATIONS ARE WELCOME AT ANY TIME. THE TIMELINE IS MANDATORY UNLESS YOU ARE ILL OR CONFRONT AN EMERGENCY AND CONTACT ME. ANYONE FAILING TO COME TO AN APPOINTMENT WILL BE PEANLIZED IN THE FINAL GRADE.