SYLLABUS

SYG 4972 - SENIOR CAPSTONE SEMINAR

FALL 2003, UNIVERSITY PARK

Dr. Abraham D. Lavender, professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Office: DM 322B, 305-348-2247; abelavender@aol.com, (house) 305-480-0940

Purpose of Course

From 2002-2003 Course Catalogue, page 220: “Synthesizes and builds upon the major curriculum’s components of inquiry, literacy, and in-depth study. Students write a research paper and present it orally to a departmental forum. Satisfies SACS requirements in oral and computer competency”

This course is a core required course for sociology-anthropology majors, and can be taken only after successful completion of SYA 3300 (Research Methods) or an acceptable comparable course; it can not be taken concurrently with SYA 3300.

As noted above, this is not a methodology course. Students are expected to know methodology already. Rather, this course is to apply what you have already learned about conducting research, learn how to write a research project, and learn how to present a public professional and academic report. In consultation with the professor and classmates, students will pick a research project early in the semester. Students will be expected to be self-starters in conducting a research project, while gaining from discussions within the class structure. The professor will present points which should be followed or avoided in reporting research findings. PowerPoint will be taught, and will be required to present the findings of the research project during the last week of class. Students are expected to have regular attendance at classes.

Required Books

Two books are required:

(1) The Sociology Student Writer’s Manual (third edition), by William A. Johnson, Jr., Richard P. Rettig, Gregory M. Scott, and Stephen M. Garrison

(2) The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers (fourth edition), by Bruce Ballenger