MA seminar: American society and politics 4219-ZS134-AM

The list of research topics listed below is not a closed list - it serves only as a guide to help in choosing a project. Students are most encouraged to undertake research according to their own interests, although it should be assumed that due to the short, only two-semester duration of the seminar, students should undertake research on issues that are already familiar to them. US Society: Minorities,
The World of Ideas: and Values
Social Classes and Groups:
Conflicts and Social Problems
Civil Rights and Interpretations of the Constitution
Political Culture
Leadership in Various Versions
Political Institutions: Presidency, Congress, Supreme Court
Political Parties and Social Movements
Elections and Voting Behavior
Political Participation
Political Communication: Advertisements, Debates, Speeches
Political Media
Political Pathology: Corruption, Scandals
Foreign Policy: Diplomacy, Wars, Alliances
Foreign Policy Decision Making
Economic Development and Deindustrialization
Representation of Politics in the Sphere of Culture: Music, Film
Mythology of Politics, Political Rituals
Guns, Violence, and the Militarization of the Public Sphere

It should be assumed that most problems should be studied using social science methods. Theses, research questions, and the method of selecting materials should be useful for explaining and explaining the dynamics of the studied social and political phenomena. The qualitative approach will probably dominate, although for those who have a statistical background in their education, the use of quantitative methods is highly recommended. Students are encouraged to create their own research tools, theorize, build models and typologies in order to give their own - original - character to the research.

Every ideological perspective will be treated with respect. Students have the right, and are even encouraged, to demonstrate their own perspectives and beliefs, provided that their presence in the research is balanced and researchers are ready to subject their opinions and values to critical judgment by other participants in the seminar. Freedom of expression and seeking scientific support for them are the foundations of academic freedom

Type of course

Master's seminars
obligatory courses

Mode

Blended learning

Prerequisites (description)

The seminar is intended to lead participants to create a research project in the field of broadly understood social sciences and to culminate it in writing a master's thesis. The seminar is open to researchers who are interested in analyzing what is happening today in American society and politics, foreign and domestic. Among others: social problems, ideological disputes, interpretations of the key values of the American Creed, minorities, manifestations of racism, anti-Semitism, and civil rights, the quality of democracy, leadership, political culture, the presidency, Congress, parties and social movements, the idea of the role of the USA in the world, foreign policy, as well as all forms of political communication, advertising, debates and public rhetoric.

Course coordinators

Bohdan Szklarski

Learning outcomes

1. KNOWLEDGE:

- knowledge of the concepts of theory in the chosen field;

- learn qualitative research methods;

- learn to read scientific texts in the field of political science;

- understand the importance of science in the contemporary world;

- have in-depth knowledge of the interdependence of culture and politics;

- know advanced terminology in the field of their research, recognize complex relationships between political and social phenomena;

2. SKILLS:

- reading the results of qualitative research;

- ask scientific questions, understand the way in which science can help understand reality;

- build a research project and search for source materials and studies;

- can interpret scientific texts and take a critical attitude towards them;

- formulate their own research hypotheses;

- prepare written and oral research reports;

- write longer scientific texts;

3. SOCIAL COMPETENCES:

- are able to independently set tasks to be performed and adapt actions to them;

- prepare projects using previously acquired knowledge, which shows that learning is a continuous process;

- popularize knowledge by publicly presenting research results;

- are fluent in English to convey advanced scientific content

Assessment criteria

in the first semester, students are tasked with creating a research project (by the end of December) and then writing the first chapter of their work by mid-February. In the summer semester, the work will proceed according to a detailed plan written for the first classes in January.

At each stage of preparation and implementation of the research project, students will be asked to publicly present their achievements in order to subject them to criticism by the seminar group. In the summer semester, most classes will be in the form of individual consultations according to a previously approved schedule.

Practical placement

none

Bibliography

most of the literature will be about the methodology of social sciences and the principles of writing scientific papers. In addition, individual classes will be devoted to presenting ways of analyzing the most important problems of America today

Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb, Joseph Williams, The Craft of Research

James Lester, James Lester jr Writing Research Papers - A Complete Guide

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 4219-ZS134-AM in USOSweb