Table of Contents
Instructor Information
Course Description
Course Objectives
Texts
Assignments
Course Policies
Course Schedule and Readings REVISED 9-24-01
Undergraduate Work Teams

Course Description
Introduction to modes of qualitative research in communication, including theoretical assumptions bibliographic methods, varying approaches to historical and critical inquiry, and the standards and techniques of scholarly writing. Emphasis is placed on historical research in the fall semesters and on critical research during the spring semsters. May be repeated for credit.

Note: COM 584, Historical/Critical Research in Communication, fulfills the three (3) credit Research requirement of the Communication Theory core for the M.A./M.S in Public Communication.

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Course Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able:

1. To articulate various approaches to the study of history;
2. To place communication in the context of historical research; and
3. To be familar with the practice of historiography, including the conventions of scholarly writing.

Texts

• Marc Bloch, The historian's craft
• E. H. Carr, What is history?
• David Fischer, Historian's fallacies
• Mary Lynn Rampolla, A pocket guide to writing in history
• Karla's Guide to Citation Styles from the University of Iowa
• Additional readings as listed in syllabus are on RESERVE in the Helmke Library.

Assignments

1. Book review: Each student will write a 3-5 page review of a pre-approved book that deals with a topic appropriate to the course content.
   Due: September 26
   In addition, each graduate student will write a critical essay that assesses the utility of Bloch and Carr for the study of communication history.
   Due: October 22
2. Review of Literature: Each student will complete a review of secondary works that examine a topic appropriate to the course content. Note: Students can use this project as the first part of the research project.
   Due: November 19
3. Research project: Each undergraduate research team will conceptualize, design and execute a research project appropriate to the course content. Each team will present the project to the class. Each graduate student will conceptualize, design and execute a research project appropriate to the course content. Each graduate student will present their project to the class.

Grading
Course assignments and examinations will be weighted as follows:

Course Policies
1. You are expected to attend class.
2. All assignments must be turned in. Failure to turn in an assigment will result in a grade of "F" for the course.
3. No late assignments will be accepted. Due dates are stated in the syllabus.
4. No handwritten assignments will be accepted.

Campus Services
1. If you have or aquire a disability and would like to find out what special services may be available to you, contact Services for Students with Disabilities in WU 118 & 218 (481-6657, voice/TTY).
2. The IPFW Writing Center: You can improve your writing for any class by working with a knowledgeable writing consulatant THE WRITING CENTER in Kettler G35. The staff will help you brainstore , develope, and organize your ideas, work on issues of meaning and style, and learn how to polish and edit your final draft. Because it takes time to learn how to present your ideas clearly in writing, you will benefit most by doing the following: (a) sign up on the board outside KT G35 for 30 or 50 minute free appointments; bring assignment, due dates, questions, ideas,, and draft (if you have one); (c) come early in tyhe writing process, and (d) come regularly.

URL:http://users.ipfw.edu/tankel/syllabi/com584.htm
Revised: 17 August 2001