Weekly reading assignments are listed below. Since our classes are very participatory, complete the readings prior to the class for which they are assigned. Books are available in the Harvard Coop. All materials are also on reserve in the Lamont Library. As you read each selection, try to accomplish the goals listed in the first paragraph of the syllabus. You should try to bring at least one new researchable idea to class each week. We will sporadically ask you for (oral) descriptions of these and will then very likely ask questions such as: How would you do that? What makes that an interesting question? Is it an important question? What contributions would this question make to the scholarly literature? Could you design a feasible research project to provide reliable answers? You should be able to provide a complete and concise answer in a minute or two.
You are also responsible for four assignments: (1) At the first class meeting you will be given an article that is an example of qualitative political science research. By the next class meeting you will have to write 1-2 paragraphs (half a page) on how you would go about verifying this article's findings and claim if you had a summer and $3,000 to do it. In class we will ask some of you to present and defend your approach. (2) By Week 3 (2/24), you should bring to class two copies of a qualitative empirical article from a political science journal (or relatively self-contained book chapter) you are willing to defend. You will receive a copy of someone else's article Week 3 and, by Week 4, you should hand in two copies of a 3-5 page typed methodological critique of the article you were assigned. You will receive a critique of the article you brought and should prepare a 3-5 page typed response by Week 5. (3) A 1-3 page report on a short research project is due the week after spring break (detials to be provided later). (4) A research note (15-20 pages) is due 5/9 at 4pm (about which more later). We encourage you to coauthor the research note with another member of the class. Class presentations during the last month of the semester will be based upon the research notes students have written.
No incompletes (you'll thank us!). Final papers are due 5/9; papers turned in late will be judged according to proportionately higher standards. Grades will be based on class and section attendance and participation (60%), written assignments (65%), and research note (75%).
We will approximate this course outline, but we will modify it during the semester to include discussions of models relevant to your research.