Trial Research II

Quarter: Fall 2023

Class: Thursdays 9:30am-12:20pm

Office hours: Book online here in Rosenwald 318A or Zoom (please indicate in your online booking)

Instructor: Marisa Casillas (mcasillas@uchicago.edu)

This is a workshop course to help you progress in drafting your master’s thesis. We will discuss practical writing strategies, share early drafts, give feedback, and learn a bit about academic publishing. By the end of the course you should have a first full draft of your paper. Our mantra will be “writing is rewriting”. Assignments are noted in green text.

Grading

You will propose your own final grade. Your grade should reflect the progress you made on your thesis, relative to the plan you set out at the start of the quarter.

Participation

Active participation is mandatory—any absences should be cleared by the instructor. In this course, active participation means:

  • arrive on time, with your laptop/charger,
  • ask questions and make comments during class,
  • complete all assignments on time,
  • read your peers’ work carefully,
  • give feedback that is constructive.

Day-by-day schedule

Week 1 — No class :')

  • Thursday, September 28, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Please write and post a 3–4 page (double-spaced) update on your project. Include the latest iteration of your research question, a brief overview of the scholarly framework (theory, literature(s), etc.) you are currently engaging, and an update on where you are with data collection/preparation/analysis. The writing need not be particularly formal or polished, I just want to get a sense of where you are.

Week 2 – Make a plan

  • Sunday, October 1, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Read each other’s posted reports. Post 2–4 questions for each of your classmates’ reports.
  • Monday, October 2, 2023 (Assignment deadline): BEFORE CLASS, make a list of what you hope to achieve this quarter for your own project (both in terms of writing and other project progress). Make sure you have a look at the rest of this syllabus in doing so. You do not need to post your list, but please have it ready for class.
  • Monday, October 2, 2023 (Class): Progress round-up, template articles, and strategic plans.

Week 3 - Results (changing to Thursday mornings)

  • Tuesday, October 10, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Post your strategic plan document link.
  • Tuesday, October 10, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Use the template article you chose in class to draft and post a preliminary results section based on your summer data.
  • Wednesday, October 11, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Skim your classmates’ templates and read their results drafts carefully. Post at least 3 points of constructive feedback or questions.
  • Thursday, October 12, 2023 (Class): Workshopping results sections.

Week 4 - Method

  • Tuesday, October 17, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Use the template article you chose in class to draft and post a preliminary method section.
  • Wednesday, October 18, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Read your classmates’ method drafts carefully. Post at least 3 points of constructive feedback or questions.
  • Thursday, October 19, 2023 (Class): Workshopping methods sections.

Week 5 - Introduction/literature review 1

  • Tuesday, October 24, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Choose and post a paper in your subdiscipline that, in your opinion, has an excellently written introduction/literature review. Choose something you admire for the writing (not just the content). Have mercy—choose something shorter than 15 pages, ideally shorter than 10.
  • Wednesday, October 25, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Read (don’t skim) the introductions selected by your classmates. For each one: Identify and post at least 2 strong points and 1 weak point of the introduction as a piece of academic writing, in your opinion.
  • Thursday, October 26, 2023 (ZOOM Class): Introduction to introductions (and literature reviews).

Week 6 - canceled

Week 7 - Introduction/literature review 2

  • Tuesday, November 7, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Draft a rough introduction/literature review to your paper, as appropriate to your subfield. Your draft should motivate and state your research questions and also give the required background to contextualize your study. It does not need to be polished but it does need to be more than bullet points.
  • Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Carefully read the introductions/literature reviews written by your classmates. For each one: Identify and post at least 2 strong points and 2 constructive criticisms. Comments especially welcome on: organization of ideas, depth of detail, clarity of key concepts.
  • Thursday, November 9, 2023 (Class): Workshopping introductions and literature reviews.

Week 8 - Revised introductions + Stepping back

  • Tuesday, November 14, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Re-draft the introduction/literature review. Run with the feedback you got in class—even if you think your first draft was mostly good you need to try something new.
  • Wednesday, November 15, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Carefully read the introductions/literature reviews written by your classmates. For each one: Identify and post at least 2 strong points and 2 constructive criticisms. As before, comments especially welcome on: organization of ideas, depth of detail, clarity of key concepts.
  • Wednesday, November 15, 2023 (Assignment deadline): BEFORE CLASS, read your paper draft from introduction through results section and make a list of what you think still needs to change. Identify the biggest issues you are having in your writing so that we can talk through them together in class. You do not need to post your list, but please have it ready for class.
  • Thursday, November 16, 2023 (Class): Review of issues in stitching parts together, introduction to the publication process, and discussion outlines.

Thanksgiving week (no classes)

Week 9 - Discussion

  • Tuesday, November 28, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Post a full discussion/conclusion draft for your paper.
  • Wednesday, November 29, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Carefully read your classmates’ discussion/conclusion drafts. For each one: Identify and post at least 2 strong points and 2 constructive criticisms.
  • Thursday, November 30, 2023 (Class): Workshop discussions (quickly) + Full manuscript review (what still needs to be done?), how to peer review, and how to respond to reviews.

Exams week - Make-up session

  • Monday, December 4, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Post a revised full draft of your paper and any notes on further improvements you would still like to make.
  • Wednesday, December 6, 2023 (Assignment deadline): Post a peer review for one of your classmates’ papers (to be assigned).
  • Thursday, December 7, 2023 (Class): Retrospective + revise strategic plans (what still needs to be done?) + reflections (pre-class preparation for this is optional):
    • How you did/didn’t achieve your set goals for the quarter from your strategic plan and
    • What could make this class more useful in the future.
  1. Run your latest draft by your advisor and initiate a meeting to figure out the following:
    • the long term goals for the paper (where can it eventually be submitted for review? Where can it be sent for feedback (e.g. conferences, workshops, etc) in the meantime?),
    • the strengths and weaknesses of the paper as it stands and a general plan of action for the next draft(s),
    • what needs to change to have a passing TR.
  2. Consult the graduate manual for official deadlines for final submission and hearing.
    • Reach out to Janice or to your advisor as soon as possible if you have questions.
  3. Formulate and document a plan for making regular progress going forward.
    • Try updating/adapting your strategic plan.
    • Reach out to cohort members, other friends, and/or your advisor to find accountability opportunities.

Contact

Email: mcasillas@uchicago.edu

Office: Rosenwald 318A

Office hours: Book online here in Rosenwald 318A or Zoom (please indicate in your online booking)

If you require any accommodations for this course, as soon as possible please provide your instructor with a copy of your Accommodation Determination Letter (provided to you by the Student Disability Services office) so that you may discuss with him/her how your accommodations may be implemented in this course. The University of Chicago is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students in its programs. If you have a documented disability (or think you may have a disability) and, as a result, need a reasonable accommodation to participate in class, complete course requirements, or benefit from the University’s programs or services, you are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. To receive reasonable accommodation, you must be appropriately registered with Student Disability Services. Please contact the office at 773-834-4469/TTY 773-795-1186 or gmoorehead@uchicago.edu, or visit the website at disabilities.uchicago.edu. Student Disability Services is located in Room 233 in the Administration Building located at 5801 S. Ellis Avenue.