2.ThA Syllabus
for the communication intensive component of the 2-A undergraduate thesis
Fall, 2007
Class meeting times:
Section 1: Friday afternoons, 2=>4, in 1-277
Section 2: Monday afternoons, 3=>5, in 1-277
2.ThA is a CI-M (Communication in the Major) subject; a passing grade
in 2.ThA indicates completion of one of the four CI subjects required
for graduation. The writing component of 2.ThA is a 3 unit subject;
the writing grade will contribute (approximately) 1/4 of the total
thesis grade.
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Instructor: Dave Custer
Office: 24-611, 2nd door, first desk on the left or the right
Office Hours: probably Monday evening, 5=>7, and by appointment & chance
Phone: x3-7787, x3-2872 (message)
E-mail: custer@mit.edu
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Subject Description:
2.ThA focuses on the communication problems encountered in researching
and writing a thesis. The class is designed to be 1/3 thesis writers
anonymous, 1/3 writing and speaking skills, and 1/3 thesis
organization skills.
The writing and speaking assignments culminate in a thesis proposal and an
oral presentation.
Text and Other Instructional Materials:
No textbook is required; all materials are either photocopied or
available on the web.
Teaching Approach:
2.ThA is based on the
following premises:
-
Writing a thesis is a process that requires continual, focused effort.
-
Writing, presentation, and research reinforce each other and all
contribute to excellence in the final product.
-
Writing and presentations improve with practice; feedback produces
better writing and presentations. (As a corollary, "practice" at
thesis writing is difficult to obtain because an individual only
writes a few theses, thus the increased need to learn from the
experience of others.)
Grading:
Class attendance and participation lead directly to success in 2.ThA;
be sure to attend the classes. Students who miss more than one of the
required class sessions/meetings will require an excused absence from the
dean's office to pass. (Class meets but 6 times + 2 meetings.)
Grading is digital. Come to class; write a proposal in a series of
drafts in collaboration with your peers and your instructor;
prepare and deliver a series of oral presentations; live long
and prosper
Term Schedule and Assignments:
This class meets six
times as shown below. Due to the prevalence of Monday holidays, two
Friday classes are optional or omitted. For more detailed information concerning the
schedule and assignments, see the deliverables
table and calendar. Deliverables culminate in a written thesis
proposal and an oral presentation based on the proposal. The proposal
and an appropriately signed cover sheet must be turned in to the 2.ThA
instructor. Finally, students are expected to fill out a pair of
end-of-term evaluations, one MIT form and one 2.THA specific form.
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Class #: Class Events {homework assigned}
Class 1: Introductions and Structures {e-mail ping, get a thesis project and
advisor, get a notebook, meet with your advisor, template
readings, plagiarism readings, & etc.}
Class 2: Info sources, plagiarism, graphics {schedule meeting,
mad-lib, proposal draft, 3 graphics, literature search work}
Sept 21: 2:00=>3:00 PM in 14N-132 (DIRC), optional literature search
session; otherwise, no class
Meeting: 20 minute progress report meeting
Class 3: Proposal workshop I, graphics exercise, about oral
presentations {further revision and extension of proposal
draft + structural presentation}
Oct. 5 : Add date. No class.
Class 4: five minute structural presentations, more graphics {further
proposal revision & presentation slides}
Class 5: Workshop II {peer review & further revision of proposal}
Meeting: Review of polished draft ~5 minutes to a half hour
Class 6: Oral presentations {finalize proposal & obtain signatures}
Nov. 21: Final proposal & signed cover sheet due, drop date
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Stellar site for submission of text & graphics homework
Homework submission is via the 2.ThA stellar site:
http://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/2/fa07/2.THA/index.html
Please submit the final proposal and signed cover sheet as hardcopy.
author = custer@mit.edu
location = http://web.mit.edu/2.tha/www/2ThAsyllabus.html