Academic and Professional Writing in International Relations and Politics - ZIP 2100-MON-APW-ZIP
This course will provide practical experience in developing the research, writing and editing skills required for successful careers in international relations broadly defined.
While especially well-suited for Masters’ and PhD students seeking academic careers, the course will also benefit those aspiring to internationally focused positions in government, international non-governmental organisations or the private sector.
Classroom sessions will be based on case studies drawn from various areas of international relations, involving both policy-oriented and theoretically based approaches. Assessment will be based primarily on students researching, writing and editing scholarly articles, policy briefs and/or opinion pieces in English to standard approaching suitability for publication.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Students who pass this course will be able to:
1. Understand and develop the skills and competencies required for successful research, writing and editing in international relations and political science
2. Identify and critique effective academic and professional writing on diverse topics in international relations and political science
3. Understand and apply the different kinds of writing styles required in three key contexts of contemporary international relations: academic scholarship; policy analysis and advice; and public engagement
4. Gain practical experience in enhancing their research and writing skills in these different contexts by preparing scholarly articles, policy briefs and opinion pieces in English
Assessment criteria
Assessment items and workload per item (%):
1 Op-ed or scholarly article review (800-1,200 words) - 20%. Due date - 15 May 2020
2 Research proposal or literature review (1,000-1,200 words) - 20%. Due date - 27 May 2020
3 Scholarly article or policy brief (2,500-3,500 words) & associated presentation - 60%. Due date - 5 June 2020 (draft); 19 June 2020 (final)
Practical placement
n/a
Bibliography
Seminar 1 22 April
Introduction: Different kinds of academic and professional writing
Suggested readings
David Thunder, “Back to Basics: Twelve Rules for Writing a Publishable Article,” PS: Political Science and Politics 37, 3 (July 2004), pp. 493-95 http://www.cs.nott.ac.uk/~pszga/tips/twelve_rules_for_writin_a_publishable_article.pdf
Seminar 2 29 April
Key features of successful academic writing
Suggested readings
Shunji Cui and Barry Buzan, “Great Power Management in International Society,” The Chinese Journal of International Politics 9:2 (2016): 181-210 https://doi.org/10.1093/cjip/pow005
G. John Ikenberry, “The end of liberal international order?” International Affairs, Volume 94, Issue 1, January 2018, pp 7–23, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iix241
Jack S. Levy and William R. Thompson, ‘Balancing on Land and at Sea: Do States Ally Against the Leading Global Power?,’ International Security Vol. 35, Number 1 (2010): 7-43, https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/Balancing_on_Land_and_at_Sea.pdf
Andrew Moravcsik, “Taking preferences seriously: a liberal theory of international politics,” International Organization, 51, 4 (Autumn 1997), pp. 513–53, https://www.princeton.edu/~amoravcs/library/preferences.pdf
Seminar 3 6 May
Key features of successful public commentary, popular writing and opinion pieces
Suggested readings
Anne Applebaum, “A Warning from Europe: The Worst is Yet to Come,” The Atlantic, October 2018
John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt. “The Case for Offshore Balancing: A Superior U.S. Grand Strategy,” Foreign Affairs, July/August 2016
Andrew Moravscik, “Europe is still a superpower,” Foreign Policy, April 13, 2017
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, “Is the Indo-Pacific eclipsing Asia-Pacific?” Bangkok Post, 2 August 2019 https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1722875/is-the-indo-pacific-eclipsing-asia-pacific-
Seminar 4 13 May
Key features of successful professional and policy-oriented writing
Suggested readings
Saskia Brechenmacher and Thomas Carothers, “Defending Civic Space: Is the International Community Stuck?” Working Paper, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2019 https://carnegieendowment.org/files/WP_Brechenmacker_Carothers_Civil_Space_FINAL.pdf
Laura ffrench-Constant, “How To plan, write and communicate an effective Policy Brief: Three Steps to Success,” https://www.researchtoaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/PBWeekLauraFCfinal.pdf
“Transnational Organised Crime as a Threat to New Zealand’s National Security: An Evaluation of Policy Settings and Capability,” Model policy brief submitted by a Master of Strategic Studies student, Victoria University of Wellington, 2018 (copies to be distributed to class)
Seminar 5 20 May
Effective research and argument in scholarly writing
Suggested readings
Jeffrey W. Knopf, “Doing a Literature Review,” Political Science & Politics, Vol. 39, No. 1 (January 2006), pp. 127-132 https://my.nps.edu/documents/104100049/104162922/Doing_a_Literature_Review.pdf/8e356cb7-8320-4d82-8d29-11c85cc7c6ad
“Structuring an academic 'argument' within a journal paper,” https://iuuk.mff.cuni.cz/~andrew/EAP/Structuringanacademicjournalpaper.pdf
Patrick J. McDonald, “Great Powers, Hierarchy, and Endogenous Regimes: Rethinking the Domestic Causes of Peace,” International Organization 69:3 (2015) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818315000120
Seminar 6 27 May
Originality, voice and style in academic writing
Suggested readings
John Mueller, “War Has Almost Ceased to Exist,” Political Science Quarterly, 124 (Sumer 2009) pp. 297–321 https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/25655656.pdf?casa_token=09tt0KqgDJUAAAAA:eRVONJPsf8yc40eEiPHUWyeqrWMlwsi1AwVn9LIarNLI5NxKsavzINCSqCxxtMw0mtkHEgKKQ4YNDQkOhTkIv_PpPHRNSrgIH9-tvR9UGFrgjXCxJYU
Susan P. Robbins, “Finding Your Voice as an Academic Writer (and Writing Clearly),” Journal of Social Work Education, 52:2, (2016), pp. 133-135, https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1151267
Helen Sword, “Writing higher education differently: a manifesto on style,” Studies in Higher Education, 34:3, (2009) 319-336, https://srhe.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03075070802597101?casa_token=N0n1XJYXTSwAAAAA%3A_B59cl0Lt_bDVn7iQDtUWBJe9bxenfhxekswAiPWJIRsh8zJt84xQZfgUW8Phrwl7RjTM00mNexG#.XifQ8sgzbIU
Stephen Walt, “Who are the most entertaining IR scholars?” Foreign Policy, April 28, 2011 https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/04/28/who-are-the-most-entertaining-ir-scholars/
Seminar 7 3 June
The final touches: mastering the technicalities
Suggested readings
Alexis Grant, “25 Editing Tips for Tightening Your Copy,” The Write Life, https://thewritelife.com/edit-your-copy/
Shona McCombes, “A quick guide to proofreading,” Scribbr, https://www.scribbr.com/language-rules/what-is-proofreading/
“Writing an Abstract,” https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/education/pdf/Writing_an_abstract.pdf
“Writing a Great Abstract,” International Studies Association, https://www.isanet.org/Conferences/New-Orleans-2015/Information/Abstracts
“The art of editing,” University of Leicester, https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/editing
Seminar 8 10 June
Comparing notes: student presentations and reflections
Suggested readings
George Packer, “The Enemies of Writing,” The Atlantic, January 23, 2020
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/01/packer-hitchens/605365/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: