FACULTY

Dr. David Kahn
TV-Radio-Film-Theatre

Office Hours:
T/R 12:00-3 PM
HGH 110;
924-4540
dkahn@email.sjsu.edu
FAX 924-4543

RESOURCES

SJSU LIBRARY RESOURCES PAGE

Paul.Kauppila@sjsu.edu

Strunk & White's Elements of Style

Roget's Thesaurus

Citation Machine

How to write a bibliography: MLA

UNC Writing Resources

TRFT Grad research links

MEETING TIME AND LOCATION -- Thursday, 3:30 - 5:45 PM; HGH 114

COURSE TEXTS

Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th ed.)
Booth, Colomb and Williams, The Craft of Research (3rd ed.)
Zinsser, On Writing Well (30th Anniversary ed.) (highly recommended)
Selected journal articles, xerox materials, videos, and theatre performances posted to the class website: http://www.tvradiofilmtheatre.org/MA/Pages/200F08.html

COURSE DESCRIPTION

SJSU Catalog Graduate study in theatre arts, bibliography, methods of investigation and reporting techniques applicable. Reading and research. Prerequisite: Acceptance to MA program or instructor consent.

Knowledge emerges only through invention and reinvention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other. (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 58)

TA 200 explores the nature and processes of advanced research in Theatre-Radio-Film and Television. We start by identifying various motives for doing research, explaining why research is important within the professional field and central to academic pursuits.

We study the sequential development of successful research projects, beginning with selection of appropriate research questions: i.e. specific, limited areas of investigation worthy of critical scrutiny and expected to make a contribution to the existing literature on the subject. We examine methods of conducting searches for evidence, looking at connections between subject matter (topics) and different modes of research, including library searches, field studies, data collection, online sources, and others. Active evaluative engagement between the researcher and these materials is emphasized.

Seminar participants will apply critical perspectives to identify other researchers' intentions and structural methods, looking to reveal the strengths and limitations of their work and the validity of its conclusions. We pay particular attention to relationships between research and performance, emphasizing how performance can be a site to gather evidence and test theory. Finally, we focus on appropriate research reporting techniques including task organization, writing style, documentation, and physical preparation of manuscripts, all geared toward the creation of publishable scholarly research as exemplified by the Master's Thesis.

Course materials include examples of recently published articles in leading journals along with presentations by members of the TRFT faculty covering aspects of their own research projects.

 

TA 200 (F/08)

COURSE STRUCTURE/GRADING

• READING ASSIGNMENTS/DISCUSSION (25% of grade)

Students are expected to contribute actively and critically to class discussion of assigned reading. Participation is required and absence will lower grade.

• RESEARCH TASK ASSIGNMENTS (25% of grade)
  1. Locate and evaluate a scholarly article for class discussion
  2. Abstract and evaluate scholarly article from literature review

• PRESENTATION OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS (20% of grade)

Prepare a formal written statement of two distinct research proposals, including 1) a statement of the question or problem, 2) a suggested methodology, and 3) a preliminary literature review, with a minimum of twenty (20) sources in each proposal. Due Oct. 9.

• TERM PAPER PROJECT (30% of grade)

Develop and complete a scholarly paper (approx. 4000 words) derived from the definition of a specific research question or problem pertaining to the study of television, radio, film, theatre or dance performance. Components of the term paper project are as follows:

Term Paper Due Dates:

1.	Oct 23	Formal statement of research question or problem
2.	Oct 30	Preliminary bibliography/literature review
3.	Nov 20	Preliminary abstract (250 words max.)
4.	Dec 4	4000-word term paper and final bibliography/works cited pages according to formal guidelines in MLA Style Sheet
5.	Dec 12	Revised abstract
Late Assignments Will Be Penalized One Letter Grade For Each Day Overdue.

Students are required to turn in all written assignments in hard copy and electronically. (Go to www.turnitin.com to create a user profile. Then use the class ID 2375983 and enrollment password: research to enroll in the class.)

UNIVERSITY POLICIES A. Academic Integrity Statement “Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University’s Integrity Policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Judicial Affairs.” The policy on academic integrity can be found at: http://sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html One form of academic dishonesty is plagiarism--taking ideas, writing, or work from another person or source and representing them as one's own.  Plagiarism includes both having someone else write your papers and cutting and pasting from the Internet.  For advice on how to avoid plagiarism, consult the following site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_plagiar.html B. Campus policy in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act “If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with the DRC to establish a record of their disability.” C. Dropping and Adding Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops are available at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/soc-fall/rec-324.html . Information about late drop is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/ . Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes. THEATRE ARTS M.A. PROGRAM – STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES (*specific to TA 200) *Learn research methods appropriate for answering questions and solving problems in the field. *Acquire skills in information gathering, data and text interpretation, performance in different media, and performance technologies. *Evaluate previous research, attitudes, and achievements in performing arts from a critical perspective. Learn to identify historical, cognitive, aesthetic, or cultural realities governing the evolution of the performing arts. Develop persuasive research evidence in the format of academic journal publication. Demonstrate effective pedagogical strategy and teaching effectiveness. Contribute creative or organizational leadership in performing arts education and culture. Identify a valid area of new academic inquiry and an appropriate research methodology designed to sustain the attention of an influential, critical audience. Prepare for competitive entry into doctoral programs or other significant areas of career advancement, arts education and culture.

 

TA 200
SCHEDULE (10/20/08; subject to revision)

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