Soc 492: Senior Project
Syllabus 21173
Monday & Wednesday 9:00-10:20 a.m. in HGH 204
Spring 2015
Contact Information
Instructor
Tony Silvaggio
Department of Sociology
Office Hours: Mon. 1:00-2:00pm & Tues. 3:30-4:30
Other meetings by appointment
Office, Phone & Email
BSS 532
Phone Number 826-3142
avs1@humboldt.edu
Please note that this syllabus, the course Moodle site, and corresponding course materials are
derived from prior courses and the faculty who taught them. Notably Christina Martinek, Mary
Virnoche, Elizabeth Watson, Jennifer Eichstedt, and Josh Meisel in particular helped design the
course and craft the materials included here.
Course Description
Your senior project should be the capstone expression of your “sociological imagination.” You
have spent a great deal of time and energy in the last few years developing core knowledge,
skills and ethics that are central to the practice of Sociology. The senior thesis project class is
the final venue in your undergraduate experience to engage deeply in a research or action effort
and showcase your abilities as a Sociologist.
Official Catalog Description: Design and carry out original empirical research or extensive
review of literature. Proposal due in semester before enrollment to receive permission number. .
Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to demonstrate the following course learning
outcomes, as well as progress toward final department and university-related learning outcomes:
Course Learning Outcomes
 Select and use appropriate research methods and theory for given project.
 Use sociology background in a) informing and analyzing data b) approaching and
analyzing a research literature, or c) designing and developing a nontraditional creative
project.
 Drawing on sociological theory and methods, provide peers with project feedback and
editing.
 Produce a professional product in the form of a research paper, report, literature review or
other nontraditional creative project.
 Give an effective oral presentation supported with the appropriate visual technology that
communicates the essential elements of your capstone work.
 Demonstrate professionalism through a) committed peer collaboration; b) regular and
timely meeting attendance and participation; and c) preparing a resume or CV.
Department Learning Outcomes
1






Think critically about social justice efforts and inequalities in communities and
environments.
Develop a solid foundation in sociological theory.
Make linkages between empirical data and theoretical concepts.
Develop appropriate research designs and instruments to answer sociological questions.
Apply appropriate techniques to the analysis and presentation of data.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
University Learning Outcomes
While this course in many ways contributes to all the university learning outcomes, it most
centrally contributes to your ability to demonstrate:
 Effective communication through written and oral modes.
 Critical and creative thinking skills in acquiring a broad base of knowledge and applying
it to complex issues.
 Competence in a major area of study.
 Succeed in (your) chosen careers.
 Take responsibility for identifying personal goals and practicing lifelong learning.
Resources
ASA Quick Style http://www.asanet.org/Quick%20Style%20Guide.pdf
ASA Style Guide. Shelved in BSS 539. Please don’t remove from the room
Other resources are linked to the Moodle Site
Grade Components and Weight
Please note: Meeting all your deadlines and actively helping peers will bring you about halfway
to passing this class and graduating (remember you need a solid “C” or better for it to count
toward the major). By the same logic, if you merely turn in a project, you will not pass this class
even if the project is “A” work.
Point-Related Milestones
Final Written Product
Oral Presentation
Peer Collaboration
Professionalism
Total
15 points
55 points
10 points
10 points
10 points
100 points
Point-Related Milestones and Deadline Adjustments (15 points)
We will agree on series of milestones for which you will receive three (3) points each for timely
completion. Your first milestone will be the creation of a project timeline. Other milestones
might include IRB application drafts, literature review drafts, additional annotated
bibliographies, instrument drafts and piloting, methods section drafts, data collection, data
analysis drafts, and creation of presentation materials. Non-traditional products will include
other types of milestones such as segments of broadcasts or pieces of web sites. As you
complete each point-related milestone on or before deadline, you will earn 3 points out of the 15
total possible points. As with any professional deadlines, there is often some flexibility if you
anticipate and communicate. Turning in point related milestones late without communicating
2
will likely mean you will lose the points for that milestone. “Minor” adjustments (a few days)
are allowed if discussed.
Final Written Product (55 Points)
Upload your final written report to our Moodle site (.doc or docx fomat). We will grade reports
using the Senior Project Rubric linked to the Moodle site.
Oral Presentation (10 Points)
Your final presentations will be scheduled over three class meetings: the last two scheduled class
sessions and our final exam session. It should be a polished 10 to 12 minute professional
presentation to which faculty, other students, administrators & staff members will be invited to
attend. Visuals and personal appearance should be professional. Your goal is to make your
presentation engaging while conveying the central tenets of your work. Be creative. You should
personally invite faculty and friends to attend your presentation.
Peer Collaboration (10 points)
We hope you will choose to actively engage in a peer-supported senior project process. In the
past, students have said that the peer-process itself was one of the most valuable aspects of the
senior project class. We suggest that you organize peer groups either by topic or by method.
Students participating in the peer process may use scheduled class periods to meet with a small
group of two or three other students to discuss project conceptualization, research strategies,
review drafts of product sections, and run through their final presentations. We recommend that
you also use these meetings to review timelines and hold each other to deadline commitments.
You may also schedule peer meetings with an instructor during this time. Hearing instructor
comments on a peer’s project may help you further think through your own project.
To receive credit for the peer process, please ask your peer group members to fill out and sign an
evaluation form linked to the Moodle site. Be sure to confirm that a form has been submitted on
your behalf. If you are working jointly on a project, your partner is not considered your peer
collaborator for grading purposes.
Professionalism (10 points)
You are expected to attend all class meetings including the presentations of all your peers. As a
professional, you are of course expected to arrive on time. In addition, you are expected to make
active, thoughtful and respectful contributions at our meetings. Your overall class
professionalism will factor into this grade. Own your work – it’s your senior project. Make it
shine as an example of what you can do!
3
Grading Scale
A = 93-100 % A- = 90-92
B+ = 87-89
B = 83-86
B- = 80-82
C+ = 77-79
C= 73-76
D+ = 67-69
D = 63-66
D- 60-62
F = 0-59
C- = 70-72
Minimum Grade
Sociology students must earn a grade of C or above to meet degree requirements.
Estimated Outside Class Time
Students hoping to earn an “A” in this class can anticipate spending an average of 12-15 hours
each week on outside class activities: reading, writing, editing and redrafting work and helping
your peers. I encourage you to schedule and use this preparation time starting in the first week
so that you can make the most of this seminar.
Students with Disabilities
This syllabus was designed using recommended practices for creating accessible word
documents. If you have suggestions regarding improving the accessibility of this document or
other content for this class, please contact me. Persons who wish to request disability-related
accommodations should contact the Student Disability Resource Center in House 71, 826-4678
(voice) or 826-5392 (TDD). Some accommodations may take up to several weeks to arrange.
http://www.humboldt.edu/disability/
Add Drop Policy
Students are responsible for knowing the University policy, procedures, and schedule for
dropping or adding classes. http://www.humboldt.edu/~reg/regulations/schedadjust.html
Emergency Evacuation
Please review the evacuation plan for the classroom posted on the orange signs and review
http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/emergencyops/campus_emergency_preparedness.php for
information on campus Emergency Procedures. During an emergency, information can be found
campus conditions at: 826-INFO or www.humboldt.edu/emergency
Academic Honesty
Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding academic honesty:
http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/judicial/academic_honesty.php
Attendance and Classroom Behavior
Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding attendance and disruptive behavior:
http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/judicial/attendance_behavior.php
4
Soc 492 Course Schedule & Reading
Instructor Silvaggio
Class Topics
Spring 2015
Assignments
Due
Empirical Projects
Assignments
Due
Literature Projects
Week 1
Overview of Class; Review
1/19 M Project Plans; Peer Group
1/21 W Organization
Week 2
1/26 M
1/28 W
IRB
Meet in Library 121 on 1/28
for Database Orientation
IRB CITI Certification
(if required)
Project Timeline
IRB Proposal Draft, OR
Methods & Instrument (3)
Week 3
IRB Committee Chair Q&A
IRB Proposal Revision
2/2 M Review Literature Review
2/4 W Tips
Project Timeline
10 more annotations
Total 20 (3)
Draft of Literature Review
(3)
Week 4
Catch up and Peer Group
2/9 M
Check in
2/11 W
Week 5
2/16 M Career: Resume Building
2/18 W
Career: How to Work a
Room
(Data Collection)
Week 6
2/23 M
2/25 W 9-11 a.m. Employer &
Week 7
3/2 M
3/4 W
Week 8
3/9 M
3/11 W
3/16-3/20
Week 9
3/23 M
3/25 W
Week 10
3/30 M
4/1 W
Week 11
4/6 M
4/8 W
Alumni Panel
(Data Collection) How is it
going?
Share first transcripts
Peer Group Check in
Working with Qualitative
Data
Setting Up SPSS Files
10 more annotations (3)
Draft of Literature Review
incorporating at least 30
sources (3)
Literature Review Draft (3)
15 more annotations
Total 45 (3)
Spring Break
Specialized Meetings on
Data Analysis
All Data (3)
Trouble Shooting and Peer
Group Check in
Data Section Draft (3)
What do we need now?
Sign Up
for Practice & Final
Revision of Literature
Review (3)
Continue reading and
integrating sources
5
Presentations
Week 12
4/13 M Presenting Your Research
4/15 W
Week 13
4/20 M Practice Presentations
4/22 W
Practice Presentations
Week 14
4/27 M
Attend Internship Students
4/29 W Poster Session
Week 15
5/4 M
5/6 W
Finals Week
May 11-15
Attend Senior Thesis
Presentations
Attend Senior Thesis
Presentations Time TBA
Peer Evaluations Due
Final Paper Due
Peer Evaluations Due
Final Paper Due
6