This course (re-) introduces graduate students in Hispanic Literatures and Cultures to research methods, tools and design, and professional issues at large. The course provides a hands-on approach to conducting, writing and publishing research. Its main focus will be the development of a research proposal on an original topic of the student's choice, using appropriate methodologies, materials and technologies available for research. Among the topics of discussion will be: basic issues of writing; designing, editing and presenting research, on-line research resources and the job search. Particular emphasis will be placed on familiarizing students with the professional norms and formats for the abstract, the grant and research proposal, the dissertation prospectus, the curriculum vitae, professional ethics and the job search.

REQUIRED TEXTS
Booth, Wayne C et al. The Craft of Research. U Chicago P, 2nd. Edition, 2003. Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. The Modern Language Association of America, 2003 Showalter, Elaine et al. The MLA Guide to the Job Search. Modern Language Association of America. 1996. Punch, Keith F. developing Effective Research Proposals. Sage, 2000 (optional at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble) *Text files on Course Webpage, CD and box in HH 298 . Modern Language Association. www.mla.org See: MLA Bibliography; PMLA, Publications, Professional Resources,MLA Newsletter;MLA Job Information List ( with SPPO access number). The Graduate Handbook. Department of Spanish & Portuguese, OSU, 2004-05. OSUGraduate School Handbook. The Ohio State University, 2003-05. OSU MainLibrary, OSCAR & OHIO LINK: Electronic Research Data Bases

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION
(subject to minor modification)

1. The Research Proposal - Develop and complete a research proposal on an original topic following the format of the Department’s Candidacy Examination (see Grad Handbook [SPPO] 35-36). A finished working draft of your complete proposal must be turned in the 8th week (May 19nd) to allow time to refine it during the final weeks of the quarter. The final version is due on the last day of class (June 2). Preliminary stages of the research project, such as the abstract, the literature search and the CV will be due on earlier dates according to the course calendar. The proposal may be written in either Spanish or English. (60%)

2. The Job Search – Develop and complete your own CV and Cover Letter for a current job application in your field from the MLA Job Information List or an announcement. (20%)

3. Weekly assignments such as critiques, research sources, issues, etc. and Participation. ATTENDANCE is required, but it is not sufficient. By class participation I mean taking an "active" role in the class, particularly in a course that is, to a large extent, a research workshop. No incompletes. In cases of fuerza mayor documentation must be presented. (20%)



Schedule, Readings, Assignments (803 SP 2005) (subject to minor modification)
(*=on-line 803 webpage or in ‘caja’ or CD HH 298)

Week 1 (MARCH) [ top ]

Tues March 29 Introduction to Research Methods and Professional Issues

Thurs 31 The Research Proposal (I) Skim the Booth, Craft of Research to familiarize yourself with all its valuable topics. Read: Booth: Preface, Prologue & Ch. 1 (to page 33); Make a Checklist of Who are your Readers?, Booth, pp. 32-33. Read: Moxley, "If Not Now, When?" * Assignments Due: a) Talk to your Advisor about tentative research topics and specific reading suggestions. Submit 1 paragraph summary of your consultation. Turn in your Curriculum Plan (See SPPO GradHandbook or equivalent (list of courses + areas of specialization + expected dates for exams, etc.)


Week 2 (APRIL) [ top ]

The Research Proposal (II): The Literature Search

Tues. April 5 - Research: OnLine and Electronic & Library Resources Presentation by Prof. Edward Riedinger, Latin American Reference Librarian, HH. 046. Read: Booth.Part II, ""Asking Questions, Finding Answers, Using Sources", pp. 37-107 . Read: "Online Resources for Laitn American Studies, Spanish, and Portuguese (LASP) by Prof. Reidinger. Assignment Due: Submit a short list of 2 or 3 tentative topics for your research proposal. Give at least two relevant secondary references for each topic, including at least one item for an online source such as JStore, Project Muse, Utlanic or Cervantes Virtual. Use MLA format in Gibaldi, Handbook….

Thurs. April 7 - The Research Proposal : Review of the Literature (III) Read :Locke, Spirduso and Silverman, "Reviewing the Literature: Finding it First" * Read: MLA Handbook 1.1-1.4.6 (pp. 1-22 .). Assignment:Due: Turn in your Curriculum Vitae ("as is"). Write one or two preliminary paragraphs about a tentative research topic (or two) for your proposal that includes information about cultural area, or period, texts or genre(s), author(s), work(s), theoretical issue(s) or framework to be explored. (1-2 pp.)


Week 3 [ top ]

Tues. 12 - Defining your Topic & Review of the Literature Component - Group Discussion of Topics and Sources. Review of results from Week 2 assignments. Assignment Due: Overview of the Research Proposal. -Read Punch, "Readers, Expectations and Functions" *
Assignment: First Steps: Read Punch, "Getting Started" Try writing a draft of a "Two Pager" or an "Idea Paper" of your research topic.
Discussion of Problems

Thurs. 14 –The Research Arguments/Questions, Making Claims, Framing Arguments Read: Booth: Part III, "Making a Claim and Supporting It" Assignment Due: Using your "Two pager’ or your "Idea Paper’ Think about questions 1-5, p.115 (Ch. 7) Write out the short answers to:What are your Claims? p. 127 (Ch. 8) Write out short answers to: What are your reasons? What is your evidence? (Ch. 9) writing the abstract. "Writing an abstract" Handout


Week 4 [ top ]

Tues. 19 – The Research Proposal (IV): Questioning your arguments
Read Booth, Chaps. 10-11, pp. 151-181 – Assignment : Using your "Two pager’ or "Idea Paper’ Write out answers to sec.10.1, questions about your arguments, pp. 152-154 . From there try expanding your first short draft to short draft proposal, 4-6 pages using Ahern, Guidelines (handout) and/or Spanish Graduate Handbook proposal guidelines.

Thurs, 21 – Preparing to Draft
Discussion of Issues and Problems from Tuesday exercises Read: Booth, Part III, Chap. 12, 185-207, Planning and Drafting" Assignment: Submit your written ‘Two Pager" and your lst Short Draft.


Week 5 [ top ]

Tues. 26 – Consultations and Revising (V)
Meet with me on Mon. April, Tues. 26 or Wed. 17 for discussion of your drafts and first version of your bibliography Read Booth, Part III, Chaps. 13 & 14, "Revising Organization, Arguments, Introductions & Conclusions" pp. 208-240.

Thurs. 28 – MidPoint: Common Problems
Bring 3 copies of revised abstract and first draft of Research proposal for peer discussions with first version of bibliography for peer exchange Group discussion: Apply Punch, "Checklist" (pp. 115-117, Appendix 2) to aid in proposal development through group discussion and feedback. Identify Strong points and Weak points of draft proposals and suggest revisions. Collective Discussion: What are the common problems? Where do I go from here?


Week 6 (MAY) [ top ]

Tues. May 3 - The Research Proposal (VI). On Grants and Funding.
Read: *Pope, "Why Scholarship?"; *Ruderman, "How to Find a Find." Assignment Due: a) List two internal and two external grant sources (consult with the OSU Graduate School [2nd fl. University Hall] and the most recent September issue of the PMLA).Submit 4 copies of abstract of Research Proposal Discussion of Funding Sources and Grant Strategies

Thurs. May 5 - Review of Archival Research, Field Work and Interviews in terms of grant and research proposals.
Assignment. Write 250 words in reply to : What archival, field work or interview pertains to your project? How and when to do it? How to integrate it?
Work on revising expanded proposal and bibliography.


Week 7 [ top ]

Tues. 10 - The Curriculum Vitae and the Job Search (I)
Read: MLA Guide to the Job Search 1, 2, (3), 7; A, C, D; *Gleckner, "A Taxonomy of Colleges and Universities", *Moore, "Timing A First Entry onto the Academic Job Market"; *Broughton, Walter and Willian Conlogue. "What Search Committees Want." Profession 2001, 39-51.* Sun, Lulu C.H. and Maureen M. Hourigan. "The MLA Job Information List: The Perils of Not Paying Attention." The Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association. V. 33, 2 (Spring 2000) 79-93.

Assignment Due: Prepare a brief statement of career goals (1 paragraph). Bring 4 copies draft Curriculum Vitae and draft Cover letter for a job application ; prepare a brief statement of career goals Workshop Discussion of Job Search Issues: Career Goals, Sample CVs and cover letters

Thurs. 12 - The Job Search- II - Interviewing *Durand, Alain-Philippe. "Understanding and Negotiating the Telephone Interview." ADFL Bulletin, Vol. 34, No. 1, Fall 2002. 47-50.; *Stivale, Charles. "The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Interviewer." ADFL Bulletin, Vol. 34, No. 1, Fall 2002, 41-46;*Stivale,C. "Best Feet Forward: Some Moves for the Campus Interview." ADFL Bulletin. Vol. 36, No. 2, Winter 2005, 51-58.

Assignment: Submit revised Curriculum Vitae and cover letter Workshop Discussion of Job Search Issues: Ethics and Interviews, including Telephone


Week 8 [ top ]

Tues. 17 - Revising your 2nd Draft of Research Proposals: Consultations and Solutions
Assignment Due: Submit second draft of (core) research proposal (points 2-4 of Grad. Hbk.). con.
Meet with me individually for consultations.

Thurs. 19 - Research Journals and Scholarly Publishing :Where and When to Publish?
Read: *Budd, "On Writing.Scholarly Articles", *Gibaldi, Scholarly Publishing, "MLA Committee", "The Future of Scholarly Publishing," *Olson, "Publishing Scholarship in Humanistic Disciplines."*

Assignment Due: Prepare short answers to the following: What are the "best" journals in your field and why? List 3 where you would like to see your first major research article published (as a ABD or as Assistant Professor). What are their submission policies? What style format do you need to use? (you may attach a photocopy in addition to a 3-5 line summary). What paper or item do you have that might be ready to submit as an ABD for tentative publication before the job search? Bring 3 copies of that paper (revised course paper,MLA style), for exchange for blind review by peers.


Week 9 [ top ]

Tues 24 – From Paper to Article: Evaluation
Read Booth, Part IV, Chap. 16, "Revising Style: Telling Your Story Clearly.", 263-282, *Running, Thorpe."A Primer for Writers of Critical Articles";* Cook, "Loose, Baggy Sentences."

Assignment due: Write a short reader’s report on the article you have received. Identify the major claims (thesis) of the article b) arguments and evidence presented and c) a list of positive and negative observations about the article and your recommendation for improvements and evaluation in terms of 1) acceptance for publication; 2) accept with revisions; or 3) rejection.

Thurs. 26 – Documentation: Preparing the Bibliography or Works Cited Review Gibaldi, MLA Handbook, Chaps. 5 & 6 on Documentation.
–The Ethics of Research, Plagiarism , Copyright and Fair Use
Read: *Gibaldi, MLA Handbook, Chap. 2 "Plagiarism, 65-75; Booth, "The Ethics of Research" (285-288; MLA Statement on Professional Ethics at MLA webpage. Gordon, Andrew Steven, "A Translation and Interpreting Primer for Foreign Language Ph.d’s. ADFL Bulletin, Vol. 32, No 1, Fall 2000, 50-54.

Collective discussion

Individual Consultations on Research Proposals


Week 10 (JUNE) [ top ]

Tues. 31 - May The Research Proposal (V) – Oral Reports & Final Versions Oral Reports on Final Versions and Issues – Group One
Read: * Kronik, "‘My Teaching and My Work’", *Pederson, "Teaching Tolerance."
Submit final abstract of proposal: Oral commentary on problems and solutions

Thurs. 2 - June Submission of Research Proposals Oral
Reports on Final Versions and Issues – Group Two

Assignment Due: Submit Final (and complete) version of Research Proposal


Citas citables (mis negrillas):

"The sorts of activities that constitute a research paper--identifying, locating, assessing, and assimilating others’ research and then developing and expressing your own ideas clearly and persuasively--are at the center of the education experience. [. . .] Research increases your knowledge and understanding of a subject" (Gibaldi, MLA Handbook 2).

"The typical issue of a scholarly journal in language and literature is devoted primarily to articles containing new research and original interpretations of texts and data" ( Gibaldi, MLA Style Manual 5).

"The research proposal [. . .] identifies the problem under consideration, analyzes its relevance to the field and the discipline at large, and proposes a methodology for its investigation" (Graduate Handbook, SPPO, 37).

"The dissertation is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student’s area of specialization" (Graduate School Handbook ).

"The dissertation is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the candidate’s area of specialization. It should demonstrate knowledge of the field of study, an ability to work independently, and the capacity to make an original contribution to the area of specialization, supported with appropiate critical discourse" (Graduate Handbook, SPPO).


REFERENCES - *= secure link on syllabus for downloading

Profession and ADFL Bulletin
The Academic’s Handbook. Ed. A Leigh De Neef and Crawford D. Goodwin. Durham: Duke UP, 1995.
*Broughton, Walter and Willian Conlogue. "What Search Committees Want." Profession 2001, 39-51.
*Budd, Louis J. "On Writing Scholarly Articles." The Academic’s Handbook, 249-62.
The Chicago Manual of Style: the Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers 14th ed. U. Chicago P. l993.
Cook, Claire K. Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing. Houghton Mifflin, 1985.
*Cook, Claire K. "Loose, Baggy Sentences." In Moxley, ed. 235-60.
Davis, Gordon B. and Clyde A. Parker. Writing the Doctoral Dissertation: A Systematic
Approach. 2nd. Ed. Barron’s Educational Series, 1997.
"The Selection of an Advisor and a Dissertation Committee"; "Working with an Advisor and a Dissertation Committee", 113-122, in Davis and Parker, 43-48 and 113-122.
Day, Abby. How to Get Research Published in Journals. Hampshire: Gower, 1996.
*Durand, Alain-Philippe. "Understanding and Negotiating the Telephone Interview." ADFL Bulletin, Vol. 34, No. 1, Fall 2002. 47-50.
*Gordon, Andrew Steven, "A Translation and Interpreting Primer for Foreign Language Ph.d’s. ADFL Bulletin, Vol. 32, No 1, Fall 2000, 50-54.
Locke, Lawrence F, Waneen Spirduso and Stephen Silverman. Proposals that Work. 4th ed. Sage Publications, Inc. Thousands Oaks, London, New Delhi: 2000.
*Locke, Spirduso and Silverman, "Review of the Literature: Finding it First", pp. 63-77.
Lunsford, Andrea and Robert Connors. The New St. Martin’s Handbook. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1999. (Short selections on Online Sources; Quoting, Paraphrasing and Plagiarism, Multilingual Writers, Understanding Preposition and Prepositional Phrases)
Miller, Casey and Kate Swift. The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing.2nd ed. Harper and Row, 1988.
MLA Directory of Periodicals: A Guide to Journals and Series in Languages and Literatures. 1993-95, 7th ed. Modern Language Association of America, l993.
*Moore, David Chioni, "Timing a First Entry onto the Academic Job Market: Guidelines for Gradute Students Soon to Complete the PhD" Profession 1999, 268-274.
Moxley, Joseph M., ed. Writing and Publishing for Academic Authors. Lanham: U Press of America, 1992. 2nd. ed. 1997 is modified.
*Moxley, Joseph M. "If Not Now, When?" In Moxley, 1st ed. 3-13.
*Olson, Gary A. "Publishing Scholarship in Humanistic Disciplines: Joining the Conversation." In Moxley,. 49-69.
PMLA Publications of the Modern Language Association of America. Particularly the Directory/September issues.
*Pederson, Bettina Tate. "And That I Should Teach Tolerance." Profession 2001. 161-166.
*Pope, Randolph. "Why Scholarship?" Profession 1997. New York: MLA, 1997,152-8.
*Punch, Keith F. Developing Effective Research Proposals. London: Sage, 2000. (optional at SBX) Selected chapters
*Ruderman, Judith. "How to Find a Find and Catch a Catch: Writing the Winning Grant Proposal." In Moxley, 181-203.
*Running, Thorpe. "A Primer for Writers of Critical Articles: An Exasperated Reader Points Out Common Problems that Should Be Avoided." Chasqui 20.1 (1991): 164-69.
"The Future of Scholarly Publishing". MLA Ad Hoc Committee on the Future of Scholarly Publishing. Profession 2002, 172-185. . Online at the MLA web site.
*Stivale, Charles. "The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Interviewer." ADFL Bulletin, Vol. 34, No. 1, Fall 2002, 41-46
*--------------------. "Best Feet Forward: Some Moves for the Campus Interview." ADFL Bulletin. Vol. 36, No. 2, Winter 2005, 51-58.
*Sun, Lulu C.H. and Maureen M. Hourigan. "The MLA Job Information List: The Perils of Not Paying Attention." The Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association. V. 33, 2 (Spring 2000) 79-93.
Vásquez, Mary S. "La palabra en el tiempo. La publicación académica, protocolos y estrategias." Presentación, SPPO, Graduate Student Conference, Abril-set. 2004. Ms. enviado por e-mail.