Senior Sequence

Week

Date

Class Agenda

Readings
& Assignments (%value)

9/24   

Describe Assignment 1
1) Overview of course objectives,requirements, web site, (2) Types of research opportunities available throughthe Grand Challenges Database, (3) Internship opportunities and requirements.

A1: Internship Task: fill out application during the first class

1

Sept. 29

Describe Assignments 2 & 3  
*Creating/managing a research project (getting oriented to key literature, projects, people and places).
*The challenges of conceptualization, theory-building, and good research; Review the Research Guide on the class web site(Selecting a Topic: 7 Steps)

Reading: Robson2002 (ch. 1); Hunt(1-3); Robson 2007 (chs. 1-3)
A2: Register to class web site; begin on-line research portfolio , select AOC (2%, due 9/30/09). See Tutorial Screencasts on this website for instructions

Oct. 1

Panel Presentation: Making Research Matter –Lessons from a seasoned professor and two beginning research scholars:
Professor Oscar Romo; Nathan W.Weaver-olson and Kim Roeland

Robson 2002 (Appendix B)

2

Oct. 6

*Overview types of research(basic/applied/ action).
*Research Designs: Evaluation, Action and Change.
*Six different ways to find out about behavior (methods).
*Managing files and references right from the beginning (Endnote, Outline Organize)

Reading: Robson 2002 (ch. 2); Yin (chs. 1-4); Robson 2007 (chs. 4-7)

Oct. 8

Presentations by Rebecca Hyde andTracy Huges:
Tracey Hughes is the GIS Coordinator with the SS&H Library atUCSD, phone: (858) 534.1266,   .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Rebecca Hyde is a UCSD Librarian responsible for US Gov’t Info as wellas Urban Studies and Planning, phone: (858) 534-4175, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Reading: Robson2002 (ch. 3)
A3: Turn in topic selection and team formation exercise (10%, due 10/8/09)   

3

Oct. 13

*Describe Assignment 4
Formation of Student Workgroups byAreas of Concentration
Students select their RTs and form groups. Much of the class will be dedicated to "breakout sessions" (smaller meetings among thestudents within each AOC), which will be facilitated by the professor andTAs. .
*UCSD’spolicy on integrity of scholarship;human research protection protocols.

• Reading: Sample proposals and SRPs from the archives (on the class website—in the ResearchGuide under Writing/Formatting Tips)

Oct. 15

GroundworksPresentation:by Leslie Reynolds, BoardDirector, and
Liz Faddis,Executive Director. Leslie and Liz. Groundworks aims to “bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement, and management of the physical environmentby developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses,and organizations to promote environmental, social, and economic well-being”.

4

Oct. 20

*Describe Assignments5 & 6
SciVee Tutorial: Ken Liu, V.P.Business Development—SciVee .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 858-722-0912 will give anoverview of SciVee and the use of the synchronization application you’ll needto know to create your proposalcast in the Fall and postercast in the winter

A4: Upload proposal abstract, key terms, significance; finalize your membership in astudent-mentor research team (2%, due 10/20/09)

Oct. 22

*Methods of data collection:Interviews, Surveys and Questionnaires (on the craft and science ofinterviewing, including how to prepare good questions, confidentialityissues, note taking, transcribing, and more).
*Plagiarism: What is it? How to avoidit!
Guest presentation by Roger Showley from the San Diego Union Tribune(Roger has been featuring the work of Senior Sequence students in hisnewspaper column for over 7 years)

Reading: Robson2002 (chs. 4-5);Yin (ch. 5);Robson 2007 (chs. 8-9, 11-12)

5

Oct. 27

*Relationship of research design andmethods
*Recording, managing and analyzing data
*Defining your “object of study,” “unit of analysis,” “spatial and temporalscale.”

Hunt (chs. 4-7); Robson 2007(chs. 13-14)

Oct. 29

*Describe Assignment 7,8 & 9
*The components of an effectiveresearch proposal
Student-mentor research teammeeting
Students discuss their Research Team’s thematic agenda. Much of the classwill be dedicated to "breakout sessions" (smaller meetings amongthe students within each AOC), which will be facilitated by the professor andTAs.

A5: Turn in firstdraft of proposal.Upload SciVeeProposalcast (to be evaluated and commented upon by fellow students); updateyour research portfolio; finalize your membership in a student-mentorresearch team (30%, due 10/29/09)
A6: Internship Task: Contract due in USP Office, SSB315 (2%, due 10/29/09)

6

Nov. 3

Nico Calavita: Affordable Housing and Community Development
Life as an engaged scholar in thefield of urban and regional planning. ProfessorCalavita is a renown expert on affordable housing policy and communitydevelopment.

Robson 2007 (Appendix B)

Nov. 5

TraceyHughes is the GIS Coordinator withthe SS&H Library at UCSD, phone: (858) 534.1266,   .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)She will give a presentation aboutspatial literacy.

A7: Uploadyour evaluation of your team members’ draft proposal and proposalcast (2%,due 11/05/09)

7

Nov. 10

Dealing with data (quantatitive andqualitatative)

Nov. 12

No class meeting (go to your one-on-one meeting with the professor or TA). See sign up schedule.

8

Nov. 17

No class meeting (go to your one-on-one meeting with the professor or TA). See sign up schedule.

Nov. 19

Research Team presentations (ethics offield research, managing stress)

A8: Turnin final copy of proposal.Upload final copy of proposal (40%, due 11/19/09) 

9

Nov. 24

*Describe Assignment 10

A9: InternshipTask: Progress Report due in USP Office, SSB 315 (2%, This form should beturned in after you complete 50 hours – No Later than 12/3/09)

Nov. 26

NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Holiday)

10

Dec. 1

Shifting gears from proposal-writingmode to thesis-writing mode. What goes into an SRP? (Introduction, LiteratureReview, Research Strategy, Findings and Analysis, Conclusion)

Dec. 3

Last day social/ pizza party.Knowledge networking in anticipation of the holiday break. Time managementissues (keeping the momentum).

A10: Uploadyour Transition Plan (shifting gears from proposal writing mode to thesiswriting mode) (10%, due 12/3/09)