Senior Writing Module Option

Students may enroll for a Senior Writing Module ILP, and one additional upper division Political Science course as a substitute for taking the Senior Research Seminar (POLS 361/2/3/4).

Goals:

1. Integrate and reflect on what you have learned in the major.
2. Demonstrate a senior level command of writing processes and skills.

Objective:

Revise, improve and expand a paper previously submitted and graded for an upper division POLS* course (*another course paper may be used only with instructor approval).

Instructions:

1. Print out the Senior Writing Module Proposal form from the Website.  (below)
   (or contact Suzanne Reinert office manager to get a copy of the form)
2. Obtain an ILP form from the Registrar’s Office.
3. Select one of your papers previously written, submitted and graded in a POLS upper division course. Make a photocopy.
4. Carefully work through completion of the Writing Module Proposal form.
5. Contact a professor you wish to work with and schedule a conference.
6. Bring Mod Proposal, your paper, and the ILP form to the scheduled conference.
7. At your conference, the instructor will review your proposal and perhaps require that adjustments be made to the time line proposal. He/she will also review the paper and may require consultation with one of the Writing Centers, and the use of additional source material. (Be sure to take careful notes concerning the professor’s expectations.)
8. The ILP form must be completed for 1 credit (graded) in POLS 371, Independent Learning Project, and must designate the mod during which the project will be completed.
9. After you have an instructor’s approval, submit completed ILP to the Registrar, and proceed to successful project completion following the plan approved at the conference.

All of the above steps must be completed prior to the mod in which the project is to be done.

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE SENIOR WRITING MODULE PROPOSAL

Name:________________________________

Anticipated Graduation:_____Month;_____Yr.

Complete this form and submit it to a faculty member for consideration prior to the mod it is to be completed.

Paper Title:__________________________________________________

Originally Prepared for which course: POLS_______ Fall/Spring, 20_____

Instructor:______________________________ Grade Received:________

1. Briefly explain why you selected this paper to revise, improve and expand:

2. Specifically, what do you propose to accomplish in the revisions, improvements, and expansion of the paper? Students are expected to:

A. consider and respond to comments on the paper provided by previous instructor, and

B. integrate into their writing project ideas/concepts from at least one other course completed in the major.

3. What is your working thesis for the project?

4. What new sources and materials in addition to those previously used, will you incorporate?

5. Proposed schedule for completion:

Semester:_________________ Mod:______________________

Revised draft to professor for comments no later than:____________

Draft back to students within 2 weeks, by:______________________

Contacts with Writing Center re?______________________________

When?__________________________________________________

6. What obstacles, conflicting demands, bad habits, or limitations will you have to deal with to complete this project in a timely manner?

Instructor/Moderator approval:___________________________________ Date:____________

Comments: