SSCI 594a Master’s ThesisSSCI 594a Master’s Thesis Syllabus Units: 2 Term — Day — Time: Spring 2018, Online Location: Online Instructor: Jennifer Bernstein, PhD Office: Remote

SSCI594aMaster’sThesisSyllabusUnits:2

Term—Day—Time:Spring2018,OnlineLocation:OnlineInstructor:JenniferBernstein,PhDOffice:RemoteOfficeHours:Tuesday10:30-12:30PTviaBlueJeans.Availablemostdaysandtimesbyappointment.ContactInfo:http://[email protected]://bluejeans.com/u/bernstjmLibraryHelp:AndyRutkowskiOffice:VKC36BOfficeHours:Tue10am-12pmandThu4:30-5:30pmPTContactInfo:[email protected],213-740-6390,http://bit.ly/andyhangoutITHelp:RichardTsungOffice:AHF146OfficeHours:ByappointmentContactInfo:[email protected],213-821-4415(office)

SSCI594aSyllabus,Page2of14

CourseDescription

Thiscourseanditssuccessor,SSCI594b,arerequiredfortheGISTM.S.degreeprogram;theyarenotapplicabletotheGISTGraduateCertificateprogram.ThepurposeofthesecoursesistoaccomplishacapstoneprojectintheSpatialSciences,culminatingstudents’experiencesatUSC/SSIandvalidatingthemasmasterpractitioners.Theprojectcanbeaspatialanalysisapplicationorresearchproject,acartographicportfolio,aGISprogrammingimplementation(e.g.webGIS,mobileGIS),orsomeothersizable,professionalstudybasedinthespatialsciencesortheirapplicationtoanotherfield.Althoughthecontentvarieswidelydependingonthesubject,allcapstoneprojectsculminateinathesismanuscriptthatuponcompletionbecomespubliclyavailableattheUSCLibrariesandontheSpatialSciencesInstitute(SSI)website.Sincetheundertakingofathesisprojectisaverypersonalprocess,bythetimestudentsgettothiscourse,progressontheprojectvariessignificantly.Somestudentsmayalreadyhavein-handawell-draftedprospectusthattheywouldliketodevelopfurther.OthersmayhavewrittenaprospectusinSSCI587,buttheyhavedecidedtotryanewtopic,andafewothersmayjustnowbeginembarkingondevelopingtheirprojectideas.ThiscourseisdesignedtohelpallofyoumoveforwardtowardsthegoalofasuccessfulthesisbycraftingaprojectthatisacceptedbythefacultyoftheSpatialSciencesInstituteandcompletingaworkingdraftofthefirstthreechaptersofyourthesisdocumentbythecloseofthissemester.

LearningObjectives

Oncompletionofthiscourse,studentswillbeableto:

• Identifydifferentstylesandqualitiesofwriting,criticallyevaluatewrittenwork,includingyourown,andimproveyourownwriting;

• Outlinethestepsoftheresearchprocess,statekeyresearchobligationsandpitfalls,anddesignacredible,meaningfulresearchprojectforyourself;

• UsetheMicrosoftOffice™softwaresuiteandmanageacademicsourcesandcitationstocompetentlyandefficientlyproducedocumentsthatmeetGISTrequirements;

• StateanddemonstratethecompetenciesthatarerequiredtoprepareaMaster’sThesismanuscriptintheGISTprogram;and

• DescribeyourMaster’sprojectsuccinctly,inwrittenandoralforms,tofaculty,mentors,andpotentialsponsors.

Prerequisite(s):NoneCo-Requisite(s):NoneConcurrentEnrollment:NoneRecommendedPreparation:StudentsmustbeenrolledintheM.S.inGeographicInformationScienceandTechnology(GIST)programandideally,theyshouldhavecompletedalltherequiredcoursesandmostelectivesbeforeenrollinginthiscourse.


CourseNotes

Asaresultofindividualstudentthesisworkexistinginvariousstagesofdevelopment,thiscourseaccommodatesbothstudentswhowillfurtherdeveloptheprospectustheycompletedinSSCI587andthosewhodidnotcompleteaprospectusinSSCI587orwanttotakeonanewtopic.Indiscussionswiththeinstructor,youwilldetermineduringthefirstweekwhetheryouwillstickwithyourSSCI587prospectusorstartthistermbyrapidlydevelopinganewprospectus.Inadditiontospecificindividualworkonthesisprojects,allstudentsinthisclasswillparticipateinseveralcommoncomponentsduringthesemester:ReadingandWriting–WewillreadintheirentiretyStrunk&White’sTheElementsofStyleandTurabianetal.’sAManualforWritersalongwithcompletedthesesfromourprogram.Otherreadingsofvaryinglengthsandstyles,includingencyclopediaentries,journalarticles,andbookchaptersareindicatedinthesyllabusandalsodecideduponindividuallywitheachstudentdependingonhisorhertopicdevelopment.Wewilldiscusspointstolearnfromthesetextsforshapingyourthesisprojectdevelopmentinon-linediscussions,smallgroupteleconferencesessions,andinstructorofficehours.ResearchMethods–WewillreadsectionsfromMontello&Sutton’sAnIntroductiontoScientificResearchMethodsinGeography&EnvironmentalStudies.Wewilldiscussmethodsinourseminarsaswenarrowdownfromprojectideastospecificworkflows.TechnicalTools–Wewilllearn/brush-uponmoderntechnicaltoolsforpublication,includingtheMSOfficesuite(Word,Excel,andPowerPoint),anditsinterfaceswithadd-insforbibliographies,equations,illustrations,andautomatedcitationtrackingtools.WewillalsobecomeawareofthedetailsoftherequireddocumentformatandcitationstyleforGISTthesismanuscripts.Communications–Thisisadistance-learningcourse,butinadeparturefromothercoursesintheGISTprogram,manyofourinteractions,listedbelowas“Seminars,”willbesynchronous(atthesametime).Schedulingoptionswillbepostedtohelpfittheseseminarsintoyourweekday,evening,andweekendavailability.AllassignmentsgivenandallmaterialstobehandedinwillstillbehandledviaBlackboard.YourinstructorwillalsocreateandmonitorBlackboarddiscussionforumsthroughwhichwecandiscussissuesandassignmentsasneeded.PleasebesurethatyoureadassoonaspossibleallemailsentfromBlackboardorfromyourcourseinstructor(s).Also,ifyoudon’tregularlyuseyourUSCemailaccount,pleasedoublechecktobesurethatmailsentfromboththeUSCBlackboardaccountsandyourinstructor’saccount(notedabove)toyourUSCaccountisforwardedtoanaddressyouuseregularlyanddoesnotgointoyourjunkmail!


Yourinstructorwillendeavortorespondtoallemailwithin24hoursofreceipt,aimingfornomorethan72hoursdelay.Intherarecasethataninstructorisoff-lineforanextendedperiodoftime,anannouncementwillbepostedtotheclassBlackboardsite.Duetotheasynchronousnatureofthiscourse,itiseachstudent'sresponsibilitytostayinformedandconnectedwithothersinourcourse.Inadditiontoemail,youareexpectedtologintoBlackboardregularlytocheckforAnnouncements.Workload–Thisisatwocredit,onesemestercourse.However,asyouwillaimtoaccomplishabouthalfofyourthesisworkinthissemesteryoushouldplantospendanaverageof10-15hoursperweekworkingindependentlyandanaverageof1-2hoursinsynchronousonlinesessionsinweekswhereSeminarsarescheduled.PeerReview–Earlyinthesemester,studentswillbepairedforreviewingandconstructivelycritiquingeachother’swork.Yourinstructorwillpairyoubasedonsimilarityoftopic,methods,and/orprogresstowardscompletion.Theexpectationisthatyouwillsharedraftsofwrittenworkwithyourpeerreviewpartneratleastafewdayspriortoanyduedate,thoughtfullyreviewyourpartner’swork,andimproveyourownwritingbasedoncommentsreceivedpriortosubmissiontoyourinstructor.FacultyReviewJuries–Threetimesduringtheterm,acommitteeofSSIfacultywillreviewstudentsubmissions.Topassthejuryreviewprocess,yourproposedprojectmustmeetthetwospecificcriteriadetailedbelow.Typically,thefacultyjurywillviewastudent’sdocuments2-3times,requestingrefinementsandrevisionseachtime,beforeapassingmarkisobtained.Thejurywillprovideyouwithvaluableadviceasyoufine-tuneyourresearchplan.Afteryoupassafacultyjury,youwillbeassignedathesisadvisorwithwhomyouwillworkforSSCI594b.FinalDeliverable–Themostimportantdeliverableinthecourseisaworkingdraftofthefirstthreechaptersofyourthesismanuscriptandanabstract,whichyouwillsubmittoBlackboardduringthefinalweekofthesemester.Toachievethisgoalwillrequireearlycommitmenttoaviablethesistopicandsustainedeffortonallassignmentsthroughouttheterm.Thepreciselengthofyourchaptersmayvarydependingonthenatureoftheprojectandonhowquicklyyouareabletodevelopandfocusyourprojectidea.AdvisorMeeting–Alsointhefinalweekoftheterm,youwillpresentashortslidepresentationtoyourassignedthesisadvisor.YoumustpresentacompleteandviableplanforfinishingthethesisbytheendofSSCI594b.

TechnologicalProficiencyandHardware/SoftwareRequired

AllcoursematerialswillbeorganizedthroughBlackboard.Themaintheoreticalconceptswillbeprovidedthroughassignedreadings.Theeditingandwritingexercisesaredesignedtoimproveyourwritingskillsasnecessaryforcompletionofthethesis.


Therearetwotechnologyrequirements:• EverystudentmusthaveacomputerwithafastInternetconnection.• Everystudentmusthaveafunctionalwebcamforusewheneverapresentationor

meetingisscheduled.Thetechnologiesthatfacilitateourcourseworkandinteractionsinclude:Blackboard(Bb)–Ifyouareregisteredforthiscourse,itwillautomaticallyshowuponBbinyourlistofavailableclassesnolaterthan12:00noonPTonthefirstdayofclasses.AllcoursematerialswillbepostedonBb,andyouarerequiredtosubmityourworkBb.Discussionforums–WewilluseBbtohostinformaldiscussionforumsrelevanttovariousaspectsofthecourse,particularlytheexercises.Thesethreadsaremainlymeantasaforumforstudent-to-studentdiscussion.Sincethesethreadsfordesignedforstudents,pleaseuseemailtoreachyourinstructorifyouhaveaquestionthatneedsanimmediateanswer.GoogleDrive–Wewillusethecloud-basedserviceGoogleDrivetoorganizeandstorematerialsforpeerreview.Asharedfolderwillbecreatedearlyinthecourseforstudentstoshareworkwitheachother.DeliverablestotheinstructorarealwaysdeliveredviaBbforgrading.Livemeetings,recordedmeetings,&presentations–BlueJeansisabrowser-basedservicethatfacilitatessynchronous,interactivesessionswithvoice/videoandshareddesktopcapabilitiesbetweentwoormorepeople;thisistheprimaryforumforourseminarsandpresentations.Inadditiontoawebcamonacomputerwithafastinternetconnection,itisusefultohaveaphone(mobileorlandline)onhandincasethereareissueswithyourcomputer’saudio.SSIserverandtechsupport–UnlikeothercoursesintheGISTprogram,studentsinthiscoursewillutilizetheSSIServeronlyforindependentthesiswork(e.g.toexploredatasetsandperforminitialanalysis).Relativetoothercoursesintheprogram,workwithGIStoolsontheserverisnotexpectedtobeamajorcomponentofactivityinthiscourse.YoucanaccesstheSSIServerat:https://gistonline.usc.edu/.Ifyouareunabletoconnecttotheserverorexperienceanytypeoftechnicalissues,[email protected](spatialunderscoresupportatuscdotedu)andmakesuretocopy(cc)yourinstructorontheemail.Pleasebesuretobespecificwithrespecttotheproblemyouareexperiencingastechnicalissuesoftenvaryaccordingtoeachthesisproject.

RequiredReadingsandSupplementaryMaterials

Thefollowingthreetextbooksarerequiredforthisclass;theseareavailablefromonlineoutletssuchasAmazon.Pleasepurchasethemimmediately.


1. Strunk,WilliamandE.B.White.2000.Theelementsofstyle.4thed.NeedhamHeights,MA:AllynandBacon.(~$7paper;ISBN-10:0205313426)

2. TurabianKateL.,WayneC.Booth,Gregory.G.Colomb,andJosephM.Williams.2013.Amanualforwritersofresearchpapers,theses,anddissertations.8thed.Chicago,IL:UniversityofChicagoPress.(~$10paper;ISBN-13:978-0-226-81638)

3. Montello,Daniel.R.,andPaulC.Sutton.2013.Anintroductiontoscientificresearch

methodsingeographyandenvironmentalstudies.2nded.LosAngeles,CA:Sage.(~$39paper;ISBN-10:1412902878)

ThefinalsupplementalreadingsincludeexistingM.S.GISTtheses,whicharefoundontheSpatialSciencesInstituteWebpageortheUSCLibrary(thelinkisalsopostedundertheReadingstabonBb).Onethatwewillallreadtogetheris:

• Holzer,Richard.2017.“EvaluatingMinneapolisNeighborhoodRevitalizationProgram’sEffectonNeighborhoods.”Master’sthesis,UniversityofSouthernCalifornia.

NotethatsupplementalreadingswillalsoincludetwoadditionalexistingM.S.theses(fromtheGISTprogramorothers)andbooksandarticlesintheresearchliteraturetobedecidedwiththeinstructordependingonyourspecificthesistopic.

DescriptionandAssessmentofAssignments

Thiscoursehasmanyassignments;eachfurthersyourprogresstowardssuccessfulcompletionyourfirstthreethesischaptersandtheassignmentofathesisadvisorbytheendofthesemester.Eachassignmentwillbeassessedquicklyandthoroughlytohelpyoumovetowardsyourgoalswiftly.Asuggestedtimetableforcompletionisprovidedinthecourseschedule.ResumeAssignment–1pt.SSIrequiresallcurrentstudentstopostandmaintainapublicresume,shortbiographyandrecentphotoonoursharedGISTStudentCommunityBlackboardsite.Withyourpermission,yourphotoandresumewillbepostedtotheSpatialSciencesInstitutewebsiteandyourresumewillbeincludedintheSSIResumeBook.Thelatteriscompiledannuallyand,alongwithourwebpresence,isusedtopromoteourprogramsandmoreimportantly,yourskills,experience,andprofessionalaspirations.Introduction–1pt.UsingaBbforumpost,youwillgiveabriefintroductiontoyourbackgroundandprofessionalaspirations,providesomeinitialthoughtsonyourthesistopic,andannouncewhetheryouintendtobuildonyouroriginal587prospectusortoworkonanewtopic.ThesisSampleDiscussion–3pts.TheclasswilldiscussonepreviouslycompletedGISTthesisinaBbdiscussionforum.Thishelpstodevelopacommonunderstandingofthesisexpectations.Youarerequiredtorespondtoseveralquestionsandcommentonotherstudents’posts.


ThesisReviews–2foratotalof10pts.Youwillreadtwopreviouslycompletedtheses(insideoroutsidetheGISTprogram),chosenbyyoufortheirrelevancetoyourthesistopic.Forthefirstthesisreviewyoucanchoosebasedonyourgeneraltopicofinterest,butforthesecondthesisreviewyouwilllocateathesisthatservesascloselyaspossibleasan“exemplar”or“model”ofwhatyouareaimingtoproduce.Youwillsubmitshortwrittensummaries,followingquestionsprovidedbytheinstructor.InitialStatementofResearchInterest(StoRI)–0pts.TheInitialStoRIisaformalstatementofyourideasaboutaresearchtopicforyourproject,writtenaccordingtoastructuredformat.Onlycompletethisassignmentifyouarewritinganewprospectus.ExpandedStoRI–0pts.ThisisamajorrevisionandexpansionofyourInitialStoRI,designedtohelpprepareyoutoquicklydraftaTopicProspectus.Onlycompletethisassignmentifyouarewritinganewprospectus.RelatedWorkInvestigation–5pts.Youwillcreateanannotatedbibliographyorganizedinsubsectionstosituateyourproposedprojectamongstexistingscholarlyorprofessionalworkandaspreparationtowriteyourdraftrelatedworkchapter.Youwillresearchtheliteraturewithguidancefromyourinstructorandthefacultyjuries.TopicProspectusorRevisedTopicProspectus–15pts.YouwilleitherturninanewprospectusoryouwillreviseyourprospectusfromSSCI587.TherevisionwillbebasedonyourSSCI587instructor’scomments,learningacquiredinyourelectiveSSCIcourses,yourSSCI594ainstructor’scomments,peerreview,andyourownadditionalresearch.MethodsOutline–5pts.ThisisadetailedoutlineofwhatwillbecometheMethodsChapter(Chapter3)ofyourthesis,completedaccordingtoastructuredassignment.Thisisanimportantdeliverableforthefacultyjuries.DataExplorationSlidePresentation–5pts.Thisassignmentrequiresyoutoacquireandexplorethedatayouneedforyourthesiswork.Asappropriatetothetypeofprojectproposed,thistaskmayincludeimportingdatasetstoArcGISorothersoftwareandcompletinginitialanalysis,programmingactivities,and/ordefiningfieldworkprocedures.Youwillprepareashortslidedeckandpresentitinaclassseminar.ThesisDraftwithRelatedWorkChapter–5pts.Buildingonalloftheinputyouhavereceivedduringthisterm,youwillcombineandreviseallofthecontentyouhavepreviouslypreparedandplaceitintotheGISTThesisformat.Inthisfirstdraftofyourthesis,youwillpayparticularattentiontotherelatedworkchapter(Chapter2ofthethesis).ThesisDraftwithDraftMethodsChapter–5pts.Buildingonalloftheinputyouhavereceivedduringthisterm,youwillprepareadraftofyourmethodschapter(Chapter3ofthethesis).


ThesisDraftwithIntroductoryChapter–5pts.Buildingonalloftheinputyouhavereceivedduringthisterm,youwillprepareadraftofyourintroductorychapter(Chapter1ofthethesis).DraftSlidePresentation–10pts.YouwillcreateandsubmittoBbadraftslidepresentationusingtheSSItemplate.Yourinstructorwillgivefeedbackinpreparationforyourendoftermpresentationtoyourthesisadvisor(seebelow“OralSlidePresentation”)DraftAbstract–5pts.AclearabstractisabsolutelycriticaltocommunicatingtheintentionforyourthesisprojecttotheentireUSCSSIandSSI-affiliatedfaculty.FinalThesisDraftwithAbstract–20pts.Youwillpolishallthepiecesandputtogetherafinalwrittenpackage,includingdraftsofyourfirstthreethesischaptersandabstractOralSlidePresentation–10pts.Duringthefinalweekoftheterm,youwilldeliveraslidepresentationofyourthesisworktodateandplansforcompletiontoyourappointedthesisadvisorviaBlueJeans.Ifschedulingallows,andatthediscretionofyourSSCI594bthesisadvisor,thepresentationmayincludeoneorbothofyourcommitteemembers.

FacultyJuryAssessments

Thefacultyjurieswillreviewwrittenmaterialssubmittedbyeachstudentandwillusethetwocriteriastatedbelowtodecidewhethertopassastudentbeforetheendoftheterm.Bothcriteriamustbemettowarrantapass.ResearchQuestion/Design–GradedPassorFail.Apassindicatesthatintheopinionofthefacultyyourresearchquestionsorprogrammingobjectivesareviabletoanswerwithinyourskillsetandthetimeframeallottedtothethesis.DataNeeds–GradedPassorFail.Apassindicatesthatintheopinionofthefacultythedatatypeandqualitythatyouneedtoimplementtheresearchdesignareavailableorcanbeacquiredwithareasonableexpenditureoftimeandeffort,andthusthatyourproposedprojectisfeasible.

Grading

ItisimportanttonotethatthefinaltypeofgradinginathesiscourseisdifferentfromthetypeofgradingnormallyassignedbytheUniversity.AnIn-Progress(IP)gradeisautomaticallyassignedforSSCI594a;thisconvertstoPassing(P)whenSSCI594b(andifnecessarySSCI594z)is/arecompleted.ItispossibletodropfromSSCI594abythedrop/adddateandreceiveatuitionrefund.However,inSSCI594aafterthedrop/adddatethereisno“W”graderecordedifastudentdropsthecourse.Instead,anIPgradeisrecordedandstudentsincurarequirementforongoingregistration.AlthoughallstudentsinSSCI594areceiveanIPgrade,studentworkinSSCI594aisgradedonalettergradescale.Studentsshouldutilizethisadherencetostandard


SSCI594aSyllabus,Page10of14gradingprotocolsasasignal,throughoutthesemester,astowhethertheyare“ontrack”towardssuccessfulcompletionofthethesis.StudentswhodonotsuccessfullypassafacultyjuryduringtheSSCI594atermwillnotbeassignedathesiscommittee.Inthiscase,thesuccessorSSCI594bmustbeusedtoestablishthisprerequisitebeforeproceedingwiththecapstoneprojectitself.Insuchacase,additionalsemesters(i.e.,SSCI594z)willmostlikelyberequiredtocompletetheproject,delayingtheultimategoalofobtainingtheM.S.degree.

GradingBreakdown

Carefulplanningandaserious,consistentcommitmentwillberequiredforyoutosuccessfullynavigatethevariousdeliverablesinthisaswithyourotherGISTcourses.ThefollowingtablesummarizestheSSCI594acourseassignmentsandtheirpointdistribution.Useyouraccumulationofpointsasanindicationofyourprogressthroughthiscourse.

Assignments Number TotalPoints(%ofGrade)

ResumeAssignment 1 1Introduction 1 1ThesisSampleDiscussion 1 3ThesisReview 2 10InitialStoRI 1 0ExpandedStoRI 1 0ProspectusorRevisedProspectus 1 15RelatedWorkInvestigation 1 5MethodsOutline 1 5DataExplorationSlidePresentation 1 5FirstProposalwithDraftRelatedWorkChapter 1 5ProposalwithDraftMethodsChapter 1 5ProposalwithRevisedIntroductionChapter 1 5DraftSlidePresentation 1 5DraftAbstract 1 5FinalProposalwithAbstract 1 20OralSlidePresentation 1 10Totals 18 100

AssignmentSubmissionPolicy

AssignmentswillbesubmittedforgradingviaBbusingthedatesspecifiedintheCourseSchedulebelow.Unlessotherwisenoted,allassignmentsareduenolaterthan11:59pmPTontheSundayattheendoftheweekinwhichtheyarelistedonthesyllabus.Youarefreeandencouragedtosubmitassignmentsmorequicklythantheminimumdeadlinesinthecourse


schedule.TwoknownexceptionsaretheFinalThesisProposal,whichisduenolaterthan5pmonthelastdayofclassesasnotedontheCourseSchedulebelowandtheOralSlidePresentation,whichyouwillpresenttoyour594badvisoratamutuallyagreedupontimeduringthefinalweekofclasses.

AdditionalPolicies

Finally,itisimportanttonotefromtheoutsetifthewrittenthesisproposalisnotsubmittedby5:00p.m.onthelastdayofclasses,thestudentmaynotobtainathesiscommittee.Thisislikelytoresultinadditionalsemestersofthesisworkanddelayingand/orfailinggraduationwithanM.S.degree.

HowtoReadandUsetheCourseSchedule

StudentswhodidnotcompleteaprospectusinSSCI587orwhowanttostartagainonanewtopicwillstartfromtheverybeginningoftheassignmentschedulewiththeInitialStatementofResearchInterest(StoRI)andtheExpandedStoRI.StudentswhowillfurtherdevelopaprospectusfromSSCI587willstartbyrevisingtheirSSCI587prospectuswiththeSSCI594ainstructor’sguidance.ForstudentsworkingfromtheirSSCI587prospectus,theInitialStoRIandExpandedStoRIarenotrequired.Ineithercase,theassignmentdeadlinesinthecoursescheduleshouldbereadasaminimumsetofexpectations.AllassignmentswillbepostedatthestartofthefirstweekofclassesonBlackboard.Studentsarefreeandencouragedtosubmitassignmentsmorequicklythantheminimumdeadlinesinthecourseschedule.


CourseSchedule:AWeeklyBreakdown

Topic ReadingsandAssignments Deliverables/DueDates

Week11/8

Introduction:Introductiontothecourseandtotheresearchprocess.OnlinediscussionofexpectationsfortheGISTThesis.

Montello&Sutton,Ch1Holzer(2017)thesis

Resume;Introduction;ThesisSampleOnlineDiscussion

Week21/16**Monday,1/15isauniversityholiday

Guidelinesforwritingwell:DiscussionofcommonwritingpitfallsandtheuseofMS-Officewritingtools.Discussionofyourthesisprojects.AttendSeminar#1.

Strunk&White,allTurabianetal.,Ch1Montello(2001)

InitialStoRIorProspectus

Week31/22

Thinkingaboutresearch:Systematicprocessestodevelopandfocusyourresearchquestions/objectives

Turabianetal.(2013),Ch2-4Montello&Sutton(2013),Ch2GISTThesis

ThesisReview#1

Week41/29

Presentingatopic:Howtowriteagoodreportincludingdiscussionofpitfallsinlong-formwritingandtheuseofreferencingtools.Furtherdiscussionofyourthesisprojects.AttendSeminar#2.

Turabianetal.(2013),Ch5-9

ExpandedStoRI/RelatedWorkInvestigation

Week52/5

Improvingareport:Keyideasabouttheprocessandimportanceofrevisioninwriting.

Turabianetal.(2013),Ch10-14GISTThesis

ProspectusorRevisedProspectus

Week62/12

Scientificcommunication:Understandingofthestructureofscientificreports,including“whatgoeswhere”intheGISTThesis.

Montello&Sutton(2013),Ch3

ThesisReview#2Note:FacultyJuryReview

Week72/20

Citationsandreferences:CarefulreviewoftheGISTcitationrequirementsandthesisformatguidelinesandtemplate.Discussfeedbackfromfacultyjury.AttendSeminar#3.

Turabianetal.(2013),Ch15,17-19GISTThesisStyleGuideGISTThesisTemplate

ResearchDesign/MethodsOutline

Week82/26

Gettingstartedwithresearch:Differenttypesofdataandhowtogatherdataifrequiredforyourproject.FromWeek8onworkwillbehighlycustomizedtoyourproject.

Montello&Sutton(2013),Ch4-7

ReportonDataExploration

Week93/5

Engagingsources:Tipsonhowtodevelopandstructuretheliteraturereview

Turabianetal.(2013),Ch4

ThesisDraftwithRelatedWorkChapter(Chapter2)

3/12**3/11-3/19isSpringRecess


StatementonAcademicConductandSupportSystems

AcademicConductPlagiarism–presentingsomeoneelse’sideasasyourown,eitherverbatimorrecastinyourownwords–isaseriousacademicoffensewithseriousconsequences.PleasefamiliarizeyourselfwiththediscussionofplagiarisminSCampusinPartB,Section11,“BehaviorViolatingUniversityStandards”policy.usc.edu/scampus-part-b.Otherformsofacademicdishonestyareequallyunacceptable.SeeadditionalinformationinSCampusanduniversitypoliciesonscientificmisconduct,http://policy.usc.edu/scientific-misconduct.SupportSystemsStudentCounselingServices(SCS)–(213)740-7711–24/7oncallFreeandconfidentialmentalhealthtreatmentforstudents,includingshort-termpsychotherapy,groupcounseling,stressfitnessworkshops,andcrisisintervention.engemannshc.usc.edu/counseling

Week103/19

Researchdesign:Differentstructuresofresearchdesignstobetterunderstandthecontextofyourownresearchdesign.


Note:FacultyJuryReview

Week113/26

Sampling:Introductiontotheoryandformsofsamplingifrequiredforyourproject.AttendSeminar#4todiscussprogress.


ThesisDraftwithMethodsChapter(Chapter3)

Week124/2

Analysis/Validation:Basicintroductiontoanalysis,datadisplay,anddatavalidationifrequiredforyourproject.

Montello&Sutton(2013),Ch10&12

ThesisDraftwithIntroductionChapter(Chapter1)

Week134/9

DataDisplay:TipsforeffectivepresentationsVideoonScientificPresentations

Montello&Sutton(2013),Ch11Turabianetal.(2013),Ch26

DraftAbstractNote:FacultyJuryReview

Week144/16

Ethics:Overviewofethicsinscientificresearch.PrepareInstitutionalReviewBoard(IRB)applicationifrequiredforyourproject.


DraftSlidePresentation

Week154/23**Friday,4/27isthelastdayofclass

FinalWriting:Reviseandpulltogetherallthedraftchaptersintoonefinalsubmission.

ThesisdraftwithFirst3ChaptersandAbstractDueat5:00p.m.onApril27,2017

FinalExaminationPeriod

OralSlidePresentation:YouwillreviseandthenpresentyourslidestoyourSSCI594badvisorand/orfullcommittee.

TobescheduledwithyourSSCI594bthesisadvisorduring4/30-5/4


NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline–1(800)273-8255Providesfreeandconfidentialemotionalsupporttopeopleinsuicidalcrisisoremotionaldistress24hoursaday,7daysaweek.www.suicidepreventionlifeline.orgRelationshipandSexualViolencePreventionServices(RSVP)–(213)740-4900–24/7oncallFreeandconfidentialtherapyservices,workshops,andtrainingforsituationsrelatedtogender-basedharm.engemannshc.usc.edu/rsvpSexualAssaultResourceCenterFormoreinformationabouthowtogethelporhelpasurvivor,rights,reportingoptions,andadditionalresources,visitthewebsite:sarc.usc.eduOfficeofEquityandDiversity(OED)/TitleIXCompliance–(213)740-5086Workswithfaculty,staff,visitors,applicants,andstudentsaroundissuesofprotectedclass.equity.usc.eduBiasAssessmentResponseandSupportIncidentsofbias,hatecrimesandmicroaggressionsneedtobereportedallowingforappropriateinvestigationandresponse.studentaffairs.usc.edu/bias-assessment-response-supportTheOfficeofDisabilityServicesandProgramsProvidescertificationforstudentswithdisabilitiesandhelpsarrangerelevantaccommodations.dsp.usc.eduStudentSupportandAdvocacy–(213)821-4710AssistsstudentsandfamiliesinresolvingcomplexissuesadverselyaffectingtheirsuccessasastudentEX:personal,financial,andacademic.studentaffairs.usc.edu/ssaDiversityatUSCInformationonevents,programsandtraining,theDiversityTaskForce(includingrepresentativesforeachschool),chronology,participation,andvariousresourcesforstudents.diversity.usc.eduUSCEmergencyInformationProvidessafetyandotherupdates,includingwaysinwhichinstructionwillbecontinuedifanofficiallydeclaredemergencymakestraveltocampusinfeasible.emergency.usc.eduUSCDepartmentofPublicSafety–UPC:(213)740-4321–HSC:(323)442-1000–24-houremergencyortoreportacrime.ProvidesoverallsafetytoUSCcommunity.dps.usc.edu


ResourcesforOnlineStudents

TheCourseBlackboardpageandtheGISTCommunityBlackboardpagehavemanyresourcesavailablefordistancestudentsenrolledinourgraduateprograms.Inaddition,allregisteredstudentscanaccesselectroniclibraryresourcesthroughthelinkhttps://libraries.usc.edu/.Also,theUSCLibrarieshavemanyimportantresourcesavailablefordistancestudentsthroughthelink:https://libraries.usc.edu/faculty-students/distance-learners.Thisincludesinstructionalvideos,remoteaccesstouniversityresources,andotherkeycontactinformationfordistancestudents.

Documents

SSCI 594a Master’s ThesisSSCI 594a Master’s Thesis Syllabus Units: 2 Term — Day — Time: Spring 2018, Online Location: Online Instructor: Jennifer Bernstein, PhD Office: Remote