CALS 480

Chicano and Latino Studies: Senior Seminar

Spring 2002

204 Nicholas Hall; Tuesday 4-6:40
Instructors: Dr. R.E."Ray" Castro and Ms. Suzel Bozada-Deas
Office: NH 212, 664-3039
Office Hours: M 12-1:00, W 9-10 and by appointment

Course Description:

This course, required by all CALS graduating seniors, serves as the capstone or overall completion opportunity for students ending their study in the major. As such, this course offers students a glmpse back at the issues studied during the last few years. The goal of this course is to provide students with a reflective mode that focuses on the research process and specific areas of learning. To accomplish this goal, the strategy will be to plan, prepare and complete a senior thesis or portfolio project which constitutes a major research effort of publishable quality. This means that all course activities will be related to the completion of the senior paper or project. In addition, students will be asked to share the nature of their thoughts and ideas as they work o the topics and research work related to thrie papers/projects. The early part of the semester will be dedicated to reviewing the nature of research, the parameters of Chicano Studies research issues, information literacy (See CALS 400/458), and the mechanics of a thesis paper or portfolio project; the later part will be utilized to give feedback to students both at the group and individual levels regarding progress toward completion of their papers/projects. Students will be asked to present their research findings (i.e. papers or projects) with the entire class group and a panel of faculty during the final sessions of the course. Paper or project? The decision is ours, but try to suspend your decision until you understand the expectations of each. Note: Guidelines for the research paper and the portfolio project will be provided in class.

Course Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. understand the research process as practiced in arts, literature and the social sciences
  2. identify, discuss and analyze salient research issue in Chicano Studies, and
  3. demonstrate information literacy and the capablility to organize, plan and prepare a major research paper of portfolio project.

Mode of Student Evaluation:

  1. Oral and Written Presentation of Reearch Paper/Project Topics (10%)
  2. Individual Student Meetings: Paper/Project Strategy (20%)
  3. Detailed Outline of Papers or Projects (20%)
  4. Individual Student presentations of Research Findings (20%)
  5. Final Research Paper/Project (30%)

Reading Assignments

The reading assignments for this course will be generated by each student in consultation with the instructors. Occasional reading assignments will be distributed in class.

Weekly Assignments

1/29 Introduction and Overview of Course, Nature of Thematic Research and Information Literacy

2/5 Mechanics of a Thesis Paper or Portfolio Project; Research Issues in Chicano Studies

2/12 Oral and Written Presentation of Topics/Interests

2/19 Indivdual Student Meetings; Research Paper/Project Strategy (Group A)

2/26 Indivdual Student Meetings; Research Paper/Project Strategy (Group B)

3/5 Work Session (No class. The instructors will be available for individual student meetings if needed.)

3/12 Oral and Written Detailed Outlines of Papers/Projects (Group A)

3/19 Oral and Written Detailed Outlines of Papers/Projects (Group A)

3/26 Responses to Outleines (Total Group)

4/2 Spring Break

4/16 Individual Student Meetings or Work Session (no formal class meeting)

4/23 Individual Presesentation of Research Findings (pt. 1)

5/7 Individual Presesentation of Research Findings (pt. 2)

5/14 Individual Presesentation of Research Findings (pt. 3)

5/14 Individual Presesentation of Research Findings (pt. 4)

5/21 Due: Final Paper/Project @ 7:00 pm in NH 212!