Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
None
Course Materials
- Swales, J. and Feak, C (2012). Academic Writing for Graduate Students. University of Michigan Press.
Concise Guide to APA Style: The Official APA Style Guide for Students. 7th Ed. (2020) The American Psychological Association (APA). - Kendi, I. (2019). How to be an antiracist. One World/Penguin.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Research Narrative | 10-12 page paper | 350 |
| Literature Review | 10-12 page paper | 350 |
| Informal Writing and Drafts | 100 | |
| Participation & Annotations | 100 | |
| Live Sessions & Conferences | Weekly Zoom Live Sessions | 100 |
| Total | 1000 |
Scale
| Points | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 895-1000 | A |
| 795-894 | B |
| 695-794 | C |
| 595-694 | D |
| Below 594 | F |
Course Components
This course will lead you through process of developing a human relations research project that interests you and that matters to your readers. Our approach will be inquiry-based, meaning that we will focus not only on what the final product—a social science research paper—looks like, but also on the process of trial and error through which a researcher hones a topic, poses a research question, and discovers what others have said on the matter.
Research Narrative
For this class, you will write two major papers. The first paper will be a research narrative. This is a proposal to a grant-funding agency in which you persuade them that you’ve identified an important issue, explain how you arrived at your research agenda, and convince them you have the means to complete the project.
While working on this project, we will use Ibram X. Kendi’s book How to be an antiracist in two ways:
- As a model of the combination of personal narrative and academic writing we’re shooting for in the research narrative
- As a starting point for further research on the intersections of racial, class, and gender injustice discussed in the book
Critical Literature Review
The second paper will be the critical literature review that builds on the research agenda you proposed in the first assignment. This literature review will follow a more formal IMRD (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion) format common in social scientific research.
Though you are encouraged to develop your own research agenda for these projects, you will not be alone in this journey. We will break down the writing of the papers into smaller parts, so you can receive feedback at each step of the way. And, for each paper, your peers and your professor will provide you with feedback on a full, ungraded draft.
Informal Writing and Drafts
You will have ample opportunity during our weekly schedules to complete low stakes writing assignments. I will provide feedback on these informal assignments and drafts so that you are prepared for the two high stakes assignments that are due week four and week eight.
In addition, you will write a rough draft of both high stakes paper that will be due the week before the assignment. Your rough draft will be reviewed by a classmates (and you will review a peer’s draft as well); upon receiving the feedback, you will revise the draft and then submit a second rough draft to me. I will meet with you one-on-one to discuss that revised draft, and I will provide feedback. Then, you will have time to revise that second draft before submitting the final paper for evaluations.
Participation and Annotations
As with all academic work, the more generously you participate in the course activities, the more you will benefit. Please stay current with assignments each week and actively participate; I promise you that you will benefit from that engagement. In addition, please be kind and courteous in your interactions with your classmates. We will sometimes disagree, but we can do so in a kind and respectful manner that honors the experience of others.
We use a platform called Hypothesis for our readings. You will see excerpts from our readings in the course module. I will ask you to read these and then comment and annotate those readings using the Hypothesis platform. This is a fairly straightforward platform; you highlight the text you are commenting on and then type your response or comment in the comment box. I will go over the platform and the features of Canvas in our first live session, but you are always welcome to contact me with any questions.
Live Sessions and Conferences
Our live sessions will occur each Tuesday of our eight-week course at 7:00 central time via the ZOOM platform. The live sessions will last approximately one hour. These sessions provide an opportunity for us to interact as a class so I strongly encourage you to make them a priority. I will provide instruction during these sessions that enhances, further explains, and extrapolates material from the modules you are completing online. You will also benefit from the interaction with your classmates, and it’s a chance for me to get to know each of you better as well.
That said, I will also record each live session, and I will post the recording on our course Canvas site within 24 hours of the meeting. If you miss the session, I will ask you to watch the recording and provide a summary to ensure you’ve benefitted from the same information your classmates received.
You will have two one-on-one conferences with me to discuss your writing. You are also welcome to schedule additional meetings with me during my office hour or by appointment. I am here to support and encourage you on this journey, and I will be available to you for that purpose.
Due Dates
Finally, a word about due dates: please complete each module within a week: you should complete Module 1 by the end of our first week of class, Module 2 by the end of our second week of class, etc. I do not post due dates for the individual module assignments, but please know that falling behind with the weekly modules will mean that you do not have the necessary foundation to complete the two major, graded assignments for the course: the Research Narrative, which is due at the end of the fourth week, and the Critical Literature Review, which is due at the end of the eighth week. [NOTE: I will provide due dates for those two assignments to ensure that your rough drafts are completed in time for a review before the final paper evaluation.]
Course Policies
Communication
The best way to reach me is via email rkyncl@ou.edu
I typically respond within a few hours, less on weekdays. I will respond to emails on Saturday as well; however, I try to observe a Sabbath on Sundays, so I may not respond to email on that day as I try to reserve it for spiritual purposes. You are also welcome to contact me via text or cell phone, but please identify yourself as a student so that I know who you are and which class you're from.
Late Policy
Please communicate as quickly as possible when you are struggling to meet an assignment deadline. I realize that we all have full lives and many responsibilities that require our attention; if you are struggling to meet a deadline, I will do my best to help you and make appropriate allowances. However, I do ask that you give this course and our work the attention and engagement it deserves; the only way to learn is to participate. In order to be fair and to have the knowledge you need for our work, you simply must be diligent and disciplined in completing the work as assigned. I don't mind making allowances here and there for significant intrusions, but I expect you to participate fully and wholeheartedly in this work.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Diversity Statement
The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by embracing each person's unique contributions, background and perspective. The University of Oklahoma recognizes that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This enhances the OU experience for all students, faculty and staff and for the communities we engage.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on the individual’s race, color, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, or health care services that the University operates or provides. For more information, please contact the Institutional Equity Office.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Title IX Office at 405-325-2215 (8–5, M–F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or their authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user's access to some or all of the university's computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|