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Professor Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo
Office: HSH 213
sotelo@usc.edu
Office Hours: Thursday 10-12 pm, or by appt.
Spring 2014
SOC 495
Thursday 2-5pm
SOC 495: Sociology Honors Seminar
Course Description
This is the second semester of a year-long course that is designed to help you
conceptualize, conduct and complete a Sociology Honors Thesis paper. Only students
who have successfully completed the first semester of the course will take this class. All
students have already completed a proposal, begun the research, and written a
preliminary report about it. During this semester, students will complete the research and
finalize the honors thesis paper. You will see the final product of your efforts!
Along the way, students will complete the senior honors thesis in a workshop format,
improve skills in defining, organizing, conducting and presenting sociological research,
and in providing mutual support in the development of other people’s scholarship. Since
nearly all class participants are doing research involving in-depth interviews, part of the
class will also include instruction on how to code and analyze interview transcripts.
Note: This class is a guide to help you with research and writing dilemmas, but the
honor’s thesis is your project. As such, it is important that you devote regular, sustained
effort towards research and writing. Remember to work on your thesis regularly
throughout the semester. Strive to focus some time, effort and thought on your thesis
everyday.
Required Readings
Charles Lipson, How to Write a BA Thesis (carry over from last semester)
Rubin and Rubin Qualitative Interviewing (from last semester)
Howard Becker Writing for Social Scientists (purchase from amazon.com)
A selection of articles and papers (available electronically from USC library)
Bibliography relevant to your study
Proposals and drafts written by other students in the class
Course Requirements
The requirements are the same as last semester: Students are required to attend class
regularly, to complete an original research project, to participate in discussions of our
respective research efforts, and to come to class prepared to discuss the readings assigned
for that date. Emphasis will also be placed on regularly meeting with and seeking
feedback from the faculty mentor. Another important aspect of this class is that you will
also be engaged in discussing, reading about and providing written feedback on the
research projects of your classmates. Generosity and sustained effort are once again
required.
We are a very small class! Class participants include:
2
Xavier Audick, Evelyn Diamond, Natalie Santizo and Jessica Vidal
Evaluation
Final Thesis Paper
Class Attendance and Participation
Discussion Leader
70%
15%
15%
Class Schedule and Readings
January 16
Getting re-acquainted with the research projects and goals for the semester; updates on
research conducted over winter break; exchange of papers among class peers.
Discussion: How can we best support one another in our struggle to devote daily effort
and work on the thesis?
You have two assignments for this week:
 Read the final semester paper by one of your peers, and come to class next time
with typed commentary, outlining strengths of the paper and ideas for how it
might be improved.
 Meet with your faculty advisor and get feedback on your paper, and set up your
next appointment with this professor.
January 23
Reports on your individual meetings with the faculty mentors; Shared feedback and
discussion of the fall semester papers. During this class session, you will summarize the
paper you read, and offer your verbal and written suggestions for how the paper can be
improved. Bring 2 copies of your written feedback.
Assignments for this next week:
 Read Preface, Chapters 1, 2,3, 8 of Becker
 Spend at least 4 hours on your research and writing
Natalie Santizo will bring 5 copies of a transcript, and we will each comment on it Jan 30
January 30
Discussion of two research-based articles:
*Hanser, Amy. 2006. “Sales Floor Trajectories: Distinction and Service in Postsocialist
China,” Ethnography 7(4):461-491.
* Xiang, Biao. “Multi-scalar Ethnography: An approach for Critical Engagement with
Migration and Social Change,” Ethnography 14(3):282-299.
Assignment for this week:
 Spend at least 4 hours on your research
3

Read 1 of Xavier Audick’s interview transcripts, and come to class with written
comments on these
Feb 6
Discussion of Xavier Audick’s research; Xavier will open up the session with
presentation on his research questions, theoretical perspectives from the literature and the
interview data and court cases. The class will discuss the main themes we are seeing in
the transcript, and we will come to class having marked up the transcript with possible
codes, based on our reading (and review) of Ch 10 from Rubin and Rubin’s Qualitative
Interviewing as a guide.
Assignment for next week:
 Spend at least 4 hours on your research and writing
 Read 1 of Jessica Vidal’s transcripts (she will distribute in class Feb 6)
 Chapter 11 of Rubin and Rubin’s Qualitative Interviewing
Feb 13
Individual class reports on what themes you have been writing about for your thesis;
Discussion of Jessica Vidal’s research; Jessica will open up the session with presentation
on her research questions, theoretical perspectives from the literature and the interview
and survey data. The class will discuss the main themes we are seeing in the transcript,
and we will come to class having marked up the transcript with possible codes, and
discussion of Ch 11 of Rubin and Rubin’s Qualitative Interviewing
Assignment:
 Spend at least 4 hours on your research and writing
 Read segment of Evelyn Diamond’s research
Feb 20
Discussion of Evelyn Diamond’s research; Evelyn will open up the session with
presentation on her research questions, theoretical perspectives from the literature and
current research.
Come to class prepared to discuss these two articles:
*Guetzkow, Joshua, Michele Lamont, and Gregoire Mallard. “What is Originality in the
Humanities and Social Sciences?” American Sociological Review 69:190-212.
* Menjivar, Cecilia. 2002. “The Ties that Heal: Guatemalan Immigrant Women’s
Networks and Medical Treatment,” International Migration Review, 36(2):437-466.
Discussion of Evelyn Diamond’s research; Evelyn will open up the session with
presentation on her research questions, theoretical perspectives from the literature and
current research.
Assignment for next two weeks:
 Spend 10 to 12 hours on your research and writing
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Feb 26
CSII Community/Scholar Forum on Central American Immigration,
Featuring presentations by Professors Cecilia Menjivar and Susan Coutin
Feb 27
No Class. I’ll be at UT Austin, so use this day to work individually on your projects.
 Keep working on your research and writing
March 6
Come to class prepared to exchange 2 copies of 10-15 page middle sections of paper (this
is the part of the paper that would include data and analysis; I will read one copy and a
classmate will read one copy too)
Assignment:
Read and write comments on 10-15 page draft of the middle section of a classmate’s
thesis paper
Assignment:
 Keep working on your research and writing
 Read chapters 4-7 in Writing for Social Scientists
March 13
Come to class with typed comments on your classmate’s paper and prepared to discuss.
Discussion of chapters 4-7 in Writing for Social Scientists
Assignment:
 Over the next two weeks, prepare full draft of your paper so that you will be ready
to circulate it after spring break.
March 20
No Class—Spring Break!
March 27
No Class. I’ll be at the Pacific Sociological Associating meetings in Portland.
April 3
Come to class with 2 copies of draft of your completed thesis paper, one for me, one for a
classmate. Turn another copy into your faculty advisor.
Assignment:
 Provide editorial comments and written feedback for your classmate
 By no later than April 3, turn in a copy of your Soc Honors Thesis paper to your
faculty mentor. Tell the faculty mentor that his or her sign-off on the paper is
required by 2pm, April 17.
 Keep polishing and editing your paper.
 Read Chapters 10 in Writing for Social Scientists
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April 10
Discussion of Chapter 10 in Writing for Social Scientists.
Discussion of what should go into your oral presentation.
Assignment:
 Write “script” notes for presenting your paper in 15 minutes
 What will your powerpoint include?
April 17
First practice session of timed oral presentations; Discussion on how to make
improvements;
Due: Sign offs on your paper from faculty advisor
April 24
Final run-through of oral presentations.
Final papers due in class, 2pm.
May 1
Last day of class: Formal presentations and celebration of your Sociology Honors Thesis.
This is a day to invite friends, family, your faculty advisor. It will be festive!
Final Presentations of Honors Thesis to Friends, Family, Department of Sociology
2-3pm
Introductions & Presentations
3-4pm
Refreshments and Celebration