Proseminar: Subversion and Transgression in American Popular Culture 4219-ZP012
The aim of the proseminar is to learn about the necessary stages of the research process, leading to the completion and defense of the BA thesis. During the course students will learn about the basic requirements and rules of writing a BA thesis. We will discuss the methodology of conducting research, proper use of sources, how to organize the research process and eliminate potential errors (plagiarism). The planned thesis project – to be continued in the BA seminar in the following semester – will critically examine selected cases of subversion and transgression in American culture, focusing on an in-depth analysis of a selected socio-cultural phenomenon or text of culture, either contesting the existing social order or imagining ways of transgressing social norms and regulations. The aim of the course is also to familiarize students with the methodology of cultural anthropology and critical cultural studies (including gender theory, queer studies).
Type of course
proseminars
Course coordinators
Mode
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
*Students know the language, formal requirements and editing guidelines for writing a BA thesis
*Students know differences between academic and non academic texts, sources, language.
*Students understand the issue of academic honesty and have respect for others’ intellectual property.
Skills:
*Students are able to organize a basic research process leading to write a BA thesis.
*Students have skills necessary to find and evaluate primary and secondary sources.
*Students have the ability to organize research results in a coherent way to construct an effective argument.
*Students can document sources in an academic way (in Chicago Style) and avoid any traps of plagiarism.
*Can apply cultural anthropology and critical cultural studies tools and theories to analyze texts of culture
Competences:
*With the instructor’s help, students can organize a research process.
*Students can listen and respond to opinions of others in a respectful way.
*Students are prepared to work with their supervisors on their BA projects.
Assessment criteria
1) Attendance and active participation in classes: 20 points
2) Portfolio of in-semester assignments: 40 points
- Research notes
- Example of summary, paraphrasing, quoting
- Thesis
- Outline
- Bibliography
3) Sample chapter fragment: 40 points
In order to pass the course, the student must receive a minimal score of 60 points.
Grading:
90-100: 5
85-89: 4+
78-84: 4
68-77: 3+
60-67: 3
Bibliography
Critical literature will be selected according to the research interests of students.
Selected literature and online resources:
*Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Willaims. The Craft of Research. The University of Chicago Press 2008.
*Joseph, Williams. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity & Grace. HarperCollins College Publishers 1994.
*Purdue Online Writing Lab: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html
*University of British Columbia, Academic Success Centre: https://www.unbc.ca/academic-success-centre/online-writing-resources
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: