PAPA 6294 (15317, 18939)
CAPSTONE B, SPRING 2013
PROFESSOR KAREN HULT
Hours: Thomas-Conner 202 T 5-6, Th 11-12, & by appt
Major Williams 537 M 1:30-3, T 1-2, W 2-3, F 1:30-2:30, & by appt
Phone: 540-231-5351 (Major Williams), 540-230-8827 (cell)
khult@vt.edu / http://www.psci.vt.edu/main/faculty/hult.html
.
Graduate Assistant Noel Gniady (lngniady@vt.edu)
Scholar site: https://scholar.vt.edu/portal/site/capb13
OVERVIEW
Capstone B builds on Capstone A’s emphasis on stating and developing a theoretically
grounded research question, crafting and employing strategies for exploring that question
conceptually and/or empirically, and drafting a concept paper and accompanying annotated
bibliography. Seminar members will continue the scholarly dialogue they began in Capstone
A by: 1) writing article-length papers for journals or for presentation at academic conferences
(e.g., APPAM, ASPA, NeCOPA, SPSA) that they identify as being appropriate; and
2) commenting on the drafts of others. Members will share their ideas and insights with the
larger CPAP community during High Table weekend in April.
SEMINAR OBJECTIVES
This seminar will enable each student:
1. To produce an article-length manuscript or conference paper and submit it to a scholarly
journal or propose it for a conference
2. To identify the foci, primary topics and approaches, and main audiences of journals
and/or conferences suitable for the manuscript
3. To write an abstract that describes the manuscript’s topic, argument, and findings
4. To present research to the larger CPAP community during High Table
5. To provide constructive oral and written feedback in manuscript development teams and
to heighten understanding of peer review process
6. To incorporate feedback in manuscript revisions to strengthen argument, organization,
and clarity of communication
READING
Most reading will be related to individual students’ manuscripts and to examinations of
scholarly journals and conversations. I have ordered one book: Wendy Laura Belcher,
Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success (Sage
2009). We will discuss a handful of common readings (indicated below by an asterisk [*]).
Most may be accessed electronically through Newman Library using a Virginia Tech account.
For writing, helpful references include:
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Anne Sigismund Huff, Writing for Scholarly Publication (Sage, 1999).
Diana Hacker, A Pocket Style Manual, 5th edition (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009).
Diana Hacker & Nancy Sommers, A Writer’s Reference (Bedford/St. Martin’s Books,
2010).
Paul J. Silvia, How to Write A Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing
(American Psychological Association, 2007).
William Strunk, Jr. & E.B. White, The Elements of Style, 4th edition (Longman
Publishers, 2000). [also updated edition, 2011, by William Strunk and William Strunk,
Jr.]
[for helpful fun] Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to
Punctuation (Profile, 2003).
[for more helpful fun] Kristen Luker, Salsa Dancing into the Social Sciences (Harvard
University Press, 2010).
“The Graduate Student Writer,” “Twenty Steps to Writing a Research Article,” and a short list
of “Common Writing Rules” also are available under “Resources” in Scholar.
SEMINAR REQUIREMENTS
1. Abstract: Each seminar member will draft an abstract of the manuscript they will be
working on through the semester; abstracts will be posted on Scholar. Abstracts should not
exceed 200 words. The abstract, like the full manuscript, will evolve over the semester.
Belcher (2009: 55) notes that social science abstracts typically include the purpose of the
study (“why you embarked on the project – often some reference to a gap or debate in the
literature or a persistent social problem”), the topic of the manuscript, its methodology (or,
more broadly, the research design), findings, and conclusions.
2. Profiles of Academic Journals: Each seminar member will write a "profile" of at least two
scholarly journals that they believe are appropriate “target” journals for their manuscripts.
These profiles will be posted on Scholar and shared with the rest of the class. Profiles
should include descriptions and analyses of the typical contents of at least one year’s issues
for each of the journals and information on formatting and submitting manuscripts.
3. Paper and Presentation: Each seminar member will write multiple drafts of an articlelength manuscript that extends, criticizes, or applies theoretical ideas to address some issue
in public administration, public management, or public policy. Early in this process, students
will select an appropriate target journal for submission of the paper (or an appropriate
academic conference to which to propose it). Manuscripts should be drafted for this journal’s
(conference’s) primary audience(s) and should be prepared following the journal’s
(conference’s) manuscript formatting requirements. Material drawn from these papers will be
presented and discussed during High Table on April 5-6, 2013. The aim by the end of the
semester will be to produce a manuscript of publishable quality (i.e., one that is suitable to be
presented at a national or regional academic conference and to be submitted to a scholarly
journal).
4. Seminar Participation: As in any seminar, participation is critical. In addition, in this
seminar, members will be commenting on others’ draft manuscripts in development teams. If
a student must miss a scheduled meeting, please let me know in advance whenever
possible.
Grades will be determined according to the following distribution:
Abstract
Journal profiles
Paper and presentation
Seminar participation
10%
10%
60%
20%
If a student must miss a seminar meeting, please let me know in advance (in person, or by
phone, e-mail, or voice-mail) whenever possible. If either campus is closed due to weather,
class will not be held. We will decide on ways to make up the missed seminar either via email or at the next seminar meeting.
The Virginia Tech Graduate Honor Code is in effect throughout the course [see
http://ghs.graduateschool.vt.edu/]. Any student with special needs or circumstances should
feel free to meet with me to discuss their situation.
Please note that all students should use their vt.edu e-mail accounts for this class as well as
for all Virginia Tech communication.
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
JANUARY 22: SEMINAR INTRODUCTION
**Post initial abstract for manuscript in the appropriate Forum on Scholar no later than noon
January 29th.
JANUARY 29: PLANNING FOR WRITING (AND RE-WRITING…), SELECTING TEAMS
 Belcher, Introduction, Weeks 1-2
 *Boice, “Which is More Productive, Writing in Binge Patterns of Creative Illness or
Moderation?” Written Communication 14 (October 1997): 435-59
 *“Reflections on the Craft of Clear Writing,” Academy of Management Review 37
(October 2012): 493-501
**Development team members post reviews of abstracts on Scholar no later than noon
February 5th.
FEBRUARY 5: ADVANCING ARGUMENTS
 Belcher, Week 3
 *Moynihan & Ingraham, “The Suspect Handmaiden: The Evolution of Politics and
Administration in the American State,” Public Administration Review 70 (December
2010 Special Issue): S229-S237
 *“Setting the Hook,” Academy of Management Journal 54 (no. 5, 2011): 873-79
**Post outline or “map” of manuscript OR draft manuscript and revision plans OR draft ms.
sections (e.g., significance, relevant literature, research design, findings) on Scholar no later
than noon February 12th.
FEBRUARY 12: CHOOSING A JOURNAL
 Belcher, Week 4
 *“Grounding Hypotheses,” Academy of Management Journal 54 (no. 6, 2011): 10981102
**Post journal profiles on Scholar no later than noon February 19th
FEBRUARY 19: JOINING THE SCHOLARLY CONVERSATION
**Development team members prepared to comment on manuscript outlines/sections
 Belcher, Week 5
 *Tummers & Karsten, “Reflecting on the Role of Literature in Qualitative Public
Administration Research,” Administration & Society 44 (January 2012): 44-86
FEBRUARY 26: NO FORMAL SEMINAR: REEXAMINING MANUSCRIPT STRUCTURING
[HULT GIVING RESEARCH PRESENTATION AT CLEMSON; INFORMAL IN-PERSON, E-MAIL, OR PHONE
APPOINTMENTS]
 Belcher, Week 6
**Post draft sections on or pose questions about role of research design/ evidence in
manuscript no later than noon March 5th.
MARCH 5: RESEARCH DESIGN, EXAMINATION AND PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE
 Belcher, Week 7
 *Haverland & Yanow, “A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Public Administration Research
Universe: Surviving Conversations on Methodologies and Methods,” Public
Administration Review 72 (May-June 2012): 401-08
 *”Research Design,” Academy of Management Journal 54 (no. 4, 2011): 657-60
 *“Crafting the Methods and Results,” Academy of Management Journal 55 (no. 1,
2012): 8-12
MARCH 12 SPRING “BREAK”
**Post draft manuscript on Scholar no later than noon March 19th.
MARCH 19 REVIEW OF PROGRESS
**Post High Table presentation drafts on Scholar no later than noon March 26th.
MARCH 26 NO FORMAL SEMINAR: NCR DRY-RUN PRESENTATIONS
[HULT IN ALEXANDRIA MARCH 26, 27]
**Development team members post comments on presentation drafts no later than noon
April 2nd.
APRIL 2 NO FORMAL SEMINAR: BLACKSBURG DRY-RUN PRESENTATIONS
APRIL 5-6 HIGH TABLE
APRIL 9 NEXT STEPS: USING AND GIVING FEEDBACK
 Belcher, Week 9
 *Fischer, “A Value-Added Role for Reviewers in Enhancing the Quality of Published
Research,” Journal of Scholarly Publishing 42 (January 2011): 226-237
 *Raelin, “Refereeing the Game of Peer Review,” Academy of Management Learning &
Education 7 (no. 1, 2008): 124-29
**Post draft manuscripts on Scholar no later than noon April 16th
APRIL 16 NO FORMAL SEMINAR
**Development team members discuss manuscript drafts on Scholar or by phone or Skype;
Hult individual appointments
**Team members post comments on manuscripts by noon, April 23rd.
April 23 INTRODUCTIONS, CONCLUSIONS, EDITING
 Belcher, Weeks 8, 10
 *“Discussing the Implications,” Academy of Management Journal 55 (no. 2, 2012):
256-60
 *Grant, “Right Your Writing: How to Sharpen Your Writing and Make Your Manuscripts
More Engaging,” The Scientist, November 2009 [also on Scholar, “Resources”]
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/27760/title/Right-your-Writing/
 Review “Setting the Hook,” “Reflections on the Craft of Clear Writing”
**Post draft manuscripts on Scholar no later than noon April 30th.
APRIL 30 NO FORMAL SEMINAR
**Hult individual appointments
**Post draft manuscripts on Scholar no later than noon May 7th.
MAY 7 FINAL THOUGHTS, LESSONS LEARNED
 Belcher, Week 12
 *Gans & Shepherd, “How Are the Mighty Fallen: Rejected Classic Articles by Leading
Economists,” Journal of Economic Perspectives 8 (Winter 1994): 165-79
 *Campanario, “Commentary: On Influential Books and Journal articles Initially
Rejected Because of Negative Referees’ Evaluations,” Science Communications 16
(March 1995): 304-25
Final drafts and evidence that manuscripts have been submitted to target journals or draft
proposals to conferences due no later than May 15th, 5 p.m.