The Structure of our Semester
If I were to break this class into conceptual chunks, over the semester, it would map to what I see as the six elements every research project must contain. These are: Topic, Question, Objects, Lenses, Method, and Presentation. We will spend a great amount of time on these elements this semester, but for now, here is a “cheat sheet” explanation of each:
How Classroom time will work
This semester, I will be breaking down class time in "chunks" related to Introductory material, research practices, theory and method lectures, in-class writing workshops, visits from Seniors, and digital tools workshops, as follows:
Not to worry: you'll always know what is due, when, by looking at the due date calendar.
GLS Research and Comparative/Cross Thinking
I want to say a final thing regarding GLS research projects, which is that in some way, they should all engage the notion of the global. To me, "global" means comparative or cross-thinking. Generally, this involves at least one of the following:
- Topic: what is the general subject you wish to research?
- Question: what about your topic interests you? Why should it interest others?
- Objects: what specific cases, historical moments, geographical regions, or social groups most intrigue you, with regard to the question you raised, above? (Note: you may want to think of objects as subsets of your original subject, above.)
- Lens: whose theoretical work will inform and influence you as you consider your questions vis a vis your objects?
- Method: precisely what original work will you be doing as part of your research, how will you do it, when, where, with whom, and why?
- Presentation: how, when, and where do you plan to deliver the findings or results of your original work to your audience?
How Classroom time will work
This semester, I will be breaking down class time in "chunks" related to Introductory material, research practices, theory and method lectures, in-class writing workshops, visits from Seniors, and digital tools workshops, as follows:
- Introductory lectures & workshops: Intro to the 6 Elements, above (6 classes)
- Research lecture & tools workshop: Doing Online Research with Google Scholar, Ebrary, NYU Library, and RefMe (1 class)
- Digital tools workshop: Using Evernote, Feedly & Pocket (1 class)
- Theory lectures and discussions: Theory topics to be voted by class (4 classes)
- Methods lecture & workshop: Traditional and Creative Methods (2 classes)
- Writing Workshop: Intellectual Autobiography (2 classes)
- Presentation lecture & workshop: Making Language Visible and Images Readable
- Visit from my CCCP Seniors to discuss Creative Methods and Display: (1 class)
- Writing Workshop; Reader Reports and Close Readings (2 classes)
- Writing Workshop: Developing your Personal Syllabus (2 classes)
- Project Management tools: Using Trello and ToDoist (2 class)
- Mandatory private office hour meetings to work on material (2 classes)
- Student presentations (2 classes)
Not to worry: you'll always know what is due, when, by looking at the due date calendar.
GLS Research and Comparative/Cross Thinking
I want to say a final thing regarding GLS research projects, which is that in some way, they should all engage the notion of the global. To me, "global" means comparative or cross-thinking. Generally, this involves at least one of the following:
- Thinking across cultures
- Thinking across histories
- Thinking across academic disciplines
- Cross-cultural research might involve comparing national practices, but it could also involve geographical regions within a nation, or compare groups organized by language, religion, age, subcultural practices, etc.
- Cross-historical research tends to involve different chronological time periods, but it could also compare accepted versus contested histories or views of events, populations, etc.
- Cross-disciplinary research tends to contrast views of a phenomenon using different academic fields (e.g. art history and biology; musicology and political theory, etc.), but it could also take the form of “research through practice” or a “creative thesis” in which the researcher creates a film, exhibit, piece of writing, music, advertising campaign.