This class is intended to introduce students to the basic steps involved in developing research design and writing research papers. Strong emphasis will be placed on the concrete issues of conducting research: selecting a question, finding and evaluating sources, using appropriate citation forms, building an argument supported by evidence, and writing up a research paper. Upon completion of this course, students will be better equipped to prepare a research paper in academic standards.
Prerequisite(s)
Course Code Course Name…
Corequisite(s)
Course Code Course Name…
Special Requisite(s)
The minimum qualifications that are expected from the students who want to attend the course.(Examples: Foreign language level, attendance, known theoretical pre-qualifications, etc.)
Instructor(s)
Assist. Prof. Dr. Nazlı Çağın Bilgili
Course Assistant(s)
Schedule
Wednesday 09:00-11:00; B1-7
Office Hour(s)
Wednesday 11:00-12:00; 4D-7
Teaching Methods and Techniques
-Lecture, discussion, presentation
Principle Sources
-Lisa A. Baglione, Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods, 2016: Sage.
Paul D. Leedy and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, Practical Research: Planning and Design, 2013: Pearson.
Other Sources
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Course Schedules
Week
Contents
Learning Methods
1. Week
Introduction to the course
Lecturing
2. Week
The nature and tools of research
Lecturing
3. Week
Finding a research question
Lecturing
4. Week
Student presentations on their research questions and their significance
Presentation and discussion
5. Week
Student presentations on their research questions and their significance
Presentation and discussion
6. Week
Literature Review: What is it and how it should be done?
Lecturing
7. Week
Practice to get access to library, online academic sources and databases
Lecturing
8. Week
Midterm
9. Week
Midterm
10. Week
The significance of preparing an acceptable bibliography
Lecturing
11. Week
Alternative citation forms –MLA, APA etc.
Lecturing
12. Week
Distilling your argument
Lecturing
13. Week
Writing a good introduction and conclusion
Lecturing
14. Week
Overview and final questions about the research papers
discussion
15. Week
16. Week
17. Week
Assessments
Evaluation tools
Quantity
Weight(%)
Homework / Term Projects / Presentations
3
55
Project(s)
1
45
Program Outcomes
PO-1
To identify and use theoretical and practical knowledge in International Relations.
PO-2
To express ideas and assessments about contemporary debates in International Relations.
PO-3
To acknowledge ethical and scientific responsibilities of data collection, evaluation and publication.
PO-4
To monitor and interpret published studies in International Relations.
PO-5
To use a second language at an intermediate level.
PO-6
To analyze, compare and relate different local, regional and global developments in International Relations.
PO-7
To analyze, compare and relate International Relations with theories and practices of different associate departments and their sub-fields and to offer suggestions by combining these fields.
PO-8
To present substantial knowledge for various public, private and academic career positions.
PO-9
To analyze the emergence and functions of prominent regional and local actors and to make future projections about their actions.
PO-10
To theoretically and practically examine different events and facts in International Relations and Foreign Policy and to interpret their past, present, and future through a scientific perspective.
Learning Outcomes
LO-1
Finding an interesting and important research question
LO-2
Accessing academic sources relevant to the research question
LO-3
Citing the sources in an academically accepted form
LO-4
To realize the significance of research in social sciences
LO-5
To find out the necessary parts of an acceptable academic piece and its major characteristics
