Course Syllabus

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Course Overview

English 202A introduces students to the types of writing that social scientists typically do in the workplace, including research proposals, literature reviews, methodologies, and grant proposals. In discussing writing and writing activities, this class will focus on some of the more common forms of social science research—among them, experiments, interviews, observations, and surveys. You will learn to formulate ideas and create coherent pieces of writing from the research you have conducted and read about. In short, this course will introduce you to a variety of writing and research strategies from which you can begin to develop your own identity as a social scientist.

Course Approach

Though you will never meet with your instructor and classmates in a physical classroom, this is still a cohort-based course and not an independent study.

This class is paced, which means that there is an established start and end date, and that you will have weekly deadlines to meet throughout the term. Like taking a course on campus, it will be important to keep up with the course work, as you will be required to participate in class discussions and workshops that have specific time frames and deadlines associated with them.

Course Objectives

The goals for this course include:

  • Becoming comfortable with a systematic approach to the writing process (e.g., developing, drafting, editing, revising);
  • Learning how to identify and explore issues and questions in the social sciences;
  • Improving critical reading skills;
  • Developing and implementing approaches to social science research;
  • Learning how to filter and synthesize collected information for use in the development of a convincing and logical argument;
  • Learning how to write ethically and responsibly, including using appropriate conventions to document a variety of sources;
  • Becoming more experienced with evaluating the work of others (e.g., through peer critique).

Textbooks

The following textbooks are provided free to students:

Required Software

This course requires you to use Microsoft Word for your formal assignments. Unless otherwise specified, files should be submitted using either the .doc or .docx file types. (In some cases, your instructor may ask you to submit an assignment as a .pdf file to preserve your intended formatting. Your instructor will advise you when to do so.)

If you do not have Microsoft Word, you should know that Penn State makes the full Microsoft Office suite, which includes Word, available to Penn State students for free.

To acquire this free version of Microsoft Office, simply login to https://office365.psu.edu using your Penn State credentials.

Course Requirements

In this class, you will complete a sequence of writing projects leading up to a final grant proposal. Completing all five major projects is required to pass this course. Final drafts will be evaluated on the basis of content, organization, vocabulary, grammar, and conventions.

Major Projects

Project 1, the Research Proposal

You are encouraged to identify an investigable topic to which you can relate your personal experience or a topic that is being discussed in classes in your major. In this proposal, you should demonstrate a preliminary understanding of the topic (via personal experience or secondary source readings), and discuss viable approaches through which you could study this topic in State College. 

Project 2, the Literature Review

You will read, summarize, and comment on articles that researchers have written about your chosen topic. You need to critique previous studies and identify a particular area or an issue that you want to explore in more detail. You also need to argue for your choice of research methods based on the literature review.

Project 3, the VoiceThread Presentation

You will deliver a 10-15 minute presentation about your project methodology using VoiceThread, an online presentation tool. This is a work-in-progress presentation for which you will receive peer feedback.

Project 4, the Methodology

This will be a detailed explanation of the methodological design of a project that addresses your research topic. Although you will not move into the data collection phase of your research project while in this class, you will produce many of the documents required for that step: a text of your research instrument, a consent form, and any other written communication that you would need to distribute to participants.

Project 5, the Grant Proposal

You will develop a proposal to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an imaginary grant designed for 202A students. This project will prepare you to explain your own interests and accomplishments in grant and other applications by requiring that you reframe your literature review and methodology for a grantor audience. You will also describe the significance of your project and develop a budget and a schedule.

Short Writings

You will be asked to complete several short writings in this class. These short writings are focused on helping you to practice the skills and plan the writings necessary for your major projects. Remember to complete each short writing thoroughly. Incomplete submissions will not receive credit.

Discussions and Peer Reviews

All discussions and peer reviews are structured asynchronously, which means you'll never have to be available at a specific time or place to participate. Instead, you'll be given deadlines by which you'll be expected to complete various parts of each discussion or review.

NOTE: Completing only part of a class discussion or peer review is considered unsatisfactory. You will not receive credit for a forum unless you complete all of its work.

Class Discussions

Each week you will post and respond to peer posts in our class discussion in response to a discussion prompt. Class discussions foster a sense of community in our class, help us to process course materials, and provide a space to rethink your work on assignments. Discussion prompts may ask you to reflect on information covered in our class reading or practice a composition strategy.

Peer Reviews

Peer Reviews offer you opportunities to practice your analytical skills by asking you to read, analyze, and provide feedback on the drafts of your classmates. They also offer opportunity for you to receive constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement that you can use to help you revise your writing.

Respectful Discourse

While a free exchange of ideas and expressions is encouraged, strive for civility and respect in all of your comments. Remember, the discussions and workshops are a space for us to work together and to grow as writers and thinkers.

Final Grade Weighting

Activity Grade Value
Project 1, the Research Proposal 15%
Project 2, the Literature Review 15%
Project 3, the VoiceThread Presentation 15%
Project 4, the Methodology 15%
Project 5, the Grant Proposal 20%
Short Writing Assignments 10%
Discussions and Peer Reviews 10%

Final Grading Scale

This class uses the LionPATH standard grading scale to determine final course grades:

Letter Grade Point Range
A 94-100
A- 90-93.99
B+ 87-89.99
B 84-86.99
B- 80-83.99
C+ 77-79.99
C 70-76.99
D 60-69.99
F 0-59.99

Tutor.com Tutoring Service

Tutor.com is a 24/7 tutoring service that provides students with assistance in coursework, test preparation, research, writing, and more for various subjects. The tutors are subject-matter experts, and each student will have personalized one-on-one sessions with them. Students can schedule their own tutoring appointments to engage in interactive sessions that include a whiteboard and chat feature. The service can be utilized on any device that has Internet access. Students are encouraged to use the service throughout the semester.

Accessing Tutor.com

  • Launch Tutor.com by selecting the Tutor.com link in the Course Navigation Menu on the left side of your screen.
  • Fill in the pre-session questionnaire and select SUBMIT.
  • You will be matched with the first available tutor best qualified to assist you, and then enter a virtual classrom with your tutor.
  • In the virtual classroom, you can use text or voice-chat to communicate with your tutor as well as the interactive whiteboard to share work and ideas.
  • You can upload files related to your assignments, including spreadsheets, presentation slides, screenshots, images and more.
  • After your session, please fill out the post-session survey to offer feedback on your experience.
  • For additional information about Tutor.com, please view the following How to Use Tutor.com at Penn State World Campus video, and read the "How It Works" guide.
  • If you have any questions or need additional help logging in, please contact studentsupport@tutor.com.

 

Deadlines

Unless otherwise specified, the work you do in this class must be submitted by 11:59pm Eastern Time on the day that it is due.

Late Policy

Projects are expected to be completed on time, as evidenced by the date stamp given to them by the Canvas dropboxes. Projects will be docked one full letter grade for each day after the due date that they are late; class discussions and weekly writing workshops cannot be made up if missed. I use this system even in the event of excusable situations, such as minor sicknesses or other unforeseen conflicts. However, any exceptions to this policy are made at my discretion. If you have conflicts, or something unexpected arises, do not hesitate to contact me, and we'll arrive at a solution together. You must hand in all major projects to pass the course.

Penn State Policy Regarding Generative Technology, Including ChatGPT

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.   

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.

Deferred Grades

If, for reasons beyond your control, you are prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, your grade in the course may be deferred at your instructor's discretion. When you are given a Deferred Grade, the symbol "DF" appears on your transcript until the course has been completed.

Note: Deferred Grades will only be given to students who have completed a majority of the course work.

Non-emergency requests for a deferred grade must be made before the beginning of the final examination period. In emergency situations, your instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's commonwealth campus.

Tech Support

If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, contact the HelpDesk.

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library. The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time when you are searching for the information you need.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity—coursework free of fraud and deception—is an important educational objective of Penn State. Academic dishonesty can lead to a failing grade and/or referral to the Office of Student Conduct.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

  • cheating

  • plagiarism

  • fabrication of information or citations

  • facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others

  • unauthorized prior possession of examinations

  • submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval

  • tampering with the academic work of other students

In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedure requires an instructor to notify a student of suspected dishonesty before filing a charge and recommended sanction with the college. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If a disciplinary sanction also is recommended, the case will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. 

Additionally, students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect oneself and others, and to maintain a civil community.

For more information on academic integrity at Penn State, please visit one of the following URLs:

Accommodating Disabilities

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. For further information, please visit Student Disability Resources website.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: See documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructor.

Veterans and Service Members

Veterans and active-duty military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

Nondiscrimination

Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. For further information, please visit the Affirmative Action Office website at https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/.

Counseling and Psychological Services

Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers residential and distance-based Penn State students non-emergency mental health services in the form of case management, community resource referrals, supportive listening, care giver support, and much more.

Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website.

Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.

TEACH Act

The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

University Emergency Procedure

In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.

In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website or the Penn State News website.

To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to the PSU Alert website. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.

Additional Policies

For information about additional policies regarding items such as Penn State Access Accounts, credit by examination, course tuition, fees, and refund schedules, and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student website.

Syllabus Subject to Change

The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.

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