Honors Program

Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Spring 2011

HONR 101 1 credit

Prerequisites:

3.5 GPA, 15 Honors credits, HONR202 and HONR302

Instructor:

Dr. Jason K. Swedene
Office location and phone number: Arts Center 223 (phone: 635-2122)
e-mail:

student hotline for school/ class cancellation: 635-2858

Office Hours:

Monday	3:40–4:10 pm
Tuesday	8:45–10:45 am 3:40–4:10 pm
Wednesday	3:40–4:10 pm
Thursday	3:40–4:10 pm
Friday

and by appointment

Required Texts:

None, except as required for your project.

Course Description:

A major written work based on independent research or creative effort to be carried out under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. Research intended to be widely interpreted and may include, but is not limited to, experiments, analysis of existing data, and a summary and integration of already completed but dispersed research. Students will make a formal presentation of their findings to the Honors Council, the thesis supervisor, junior/senior Honors students, and others in the spring of their senior year.

Course Goals:

To fulfill all assignments leading up to the April 2010 thesis proposal, which include the following:

A. Becoming comfortable with honors thesis policy as noted in the Honors Handbook and Website

B. Finding a topic

C. Conducting a literature review

D. Identifying a thesis adviser

E. Developing a viable thesis

F. Becoming comfortable with the style manual appropriate for your discipline (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style, APA, MLA, etc.)

G. Writing a proposal, which contains a sufficient list of sources, which demonstrates your knowledge of the topic, and which enumerates what will be accomplished in the finished product (i.e., the 2010 thesis).

H. Designing a ten minute power point (or acceptable alternative) presentation to be delivered to the Honors Council.

I. Having your proposal approved by your honors thesis adviser and the Honors Council.

Course Objectives:

At the conclusion of HONR 401 students will:

1) develop and defend a successful honors senior thesis proposal.

2) enter into your summer and senior year with the knowledge and direction required to complete the written document and oral defense of the senior thesis in April of 2011

Grading Scale and Policies:

Students who meet or exceed all the course requirements will receive an A for this course. Students who meet or exceed all but one of the requirements will receive a B. Students who meet or exceed all but two of the requirements will receive a C. Students who meet or exceed all but three of the requirements will receive a D.

Final grades are converted to letter grades using the scale (below).

97-100 (A+) 93-97 (A) 90-93 (A -) 87-90 (B +) 83-87 (B) 80-83 (B-)

77-80 (C+) 73-77 (C) 70-73 (C -) 67-70(D+) 63-67 (D) 60-63 (D -) 0-60 (F)

Ground Rules:

1) You must attend class regularly and participate in all class activities. You may lose considerable grade points of up to 3 percentage points per class for excessive unexcused absences above beyond two. Please let me know via e-mail if you plan to miss a class.

2) All assignments for a given day must be done before class.

3) Offensive language in class is strongly discouraged in favor of, let’s say, more intellectually refined ways of saying the same thing.

4) Cell phones must be turned off for all class and lab sessions. If a student is caught texting or if a cell phone rings, that student will be docked one point from his or her final average. The same applies for unauthorized laptop use.

Policies and Procedures:

Attendance: You must attend class regularly and participate in all class activities. You may lose considerable grade points of up to 3 percentage points per class for excessive unexcused absences above beyond two. Please let me know via e-mail if you plan to miss a class.

HONOR PLEDGE

As a student of Lake Superior State University, you must adhere to the Student Honor Code. You will refrain from any form of academic dishonesty or deception such as cheating, stealing, plagiarism or lying on take-home assignments, homework, computer programs, lab reports, quizzes, tests or exams which are Honor Code violations. Furthermore, you understand and accept the potential consequences of punishable behavior.

IPASS (Individual Plan for Academic Student Success):

If at mid-term your grades reflect that you are at risk for failing some or all of your classes, you will be contacted by a representative of IPASS. The IPASS program is designed to help you gain control over your learning through pro-active communication and goal-setting, the development of intentional learning skills and study habits, and personal accountability. IPASS is located in the KJS Library, Room 106, (906) 635-2887 or x2294 on campus, or email if you would like to sign up early in the semester or if you have any questions or concerns.

The Americans with Disabilities Act & Accommodations:
In compliance with Lake Superior State University policy and equal

access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are

available to students with disabilities. Students who desire such

services should meet with professors in a timely manner, preferably

during the first week of class, to discuss disability-related needs.

Students are eligible to receive services after they are registered

with Disability Services. Proper registration allows Disability

Services to verify the disability and determine individual reasonable

academic accommodations. Disability Service is located in the KJS

Library Room 103, 906-635-2355 (from on campus – 2355).

Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the

impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss specific

needs.

Course Topics and Readings:

Assignments correspond to the course goals:

A. Becoming comfortable with honors thesis policy as noted in the Honors Handbook and Website

B. Finding a topic

C. Conducting a literature review

D. Identifying a thesis adviser

E. Developing a viable thesis

F. Becoming comfortable with the style manual appropriate for your discipline (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style, APA, MLA, etc.)

G. Writing a proposal, which contains a sufficient list of sources, which demonstrates your knowledge

of the topic, and which enumerates what will be accomplished in the finished product (i.e., the 2011 thesis).

H. Designing a ten minute power point (or acceptable alternative) presentation to be delivered to the Honors Council.

I. Having your proposal approved by your honors thesis adviser and the Honors Council.