Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
15714:IR18‐HE101 Introductory Seminar I (C) 2023 Spring Thu4 College　Of　International　Relations MORISHITA AKIKO 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

KOSHINKAN　KS203

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

Introductory seminar I gives students the skills and knowledge they need to get off to a successful start at university. By working through the assigned packet of materials students can develop the skills essential to help them do well in their subsequent classes. Students will learn how to take notes, how to use the APA referencing style, what plagiarism and academic dishonesty are, how to avoid them, and how to efficiently target their reading. Students will also have a short individual interview with the instructor to assess their progress and future plans.

This course will also build foundation upon which students can build their further studies of world politics by giving them an appreciation of a range of the major issues that future practitioners in international affairs will confront in the 21st century. Such issues presented in the course include environmental, financial, trade related, and transnational security issues.

Student Attainment Objectives

(1) Adapting to University life
a. Develop an understanding of the university environment in Japan
b. Understand the structure of the JD/GS Major and the history of Ritsumeikan University

(2) Understanding Major Emerging Issues in World Politics
a. Global Environmental Politics: Climate Change
b. International Political Economy: Financial Crises
c. Global Trade
d. Transnational Threats: Counter-terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Cybersecurity

(3) Critical thinking skills
a. Explore a specific topic in depth and improve your research through critical thinking
b. Increase the ability to express yourself by clarifying the difference between your opinions and those of others.

(4) Reading, note taking and research skills
a. Learn how to effectively take notes on lectures, presentations, and research materials
b. Accurately read, organize and analyze content from course readings and materials
c. Begin to develop independent research questions

(5) Resume and Report writing
a. Understand plagiarism and academic dishonesty and how to avoid them
b. Understand the AS/GS/JD stylesheet
c. Produce short research reports

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Class briefing - Class Structure, University Life in Japan

Self intros, Ritsumeikan, Syllabus

2

Library Tour

Research, library usage

3

Basic Database Guidance

4

Basic Skills 1 – APA

Citations, reference list building, academic honesty

5

Basic Skills 2 – Research and Note Taking

Note taking systems, Cornell

6

Academic Advice, Portfolio Preparation

Individual interviews, materials collection

7

Academic Advice, Portfolio Preparation

Individual interviews, materials collection

8

Academic Advice, Portfolio Preparation

Individual interviews, materials collection

9

Academic Advice, Portfolio Preparation

Individual interviews, materials collection

10

An Introduction to Global IR

Amitav Acharya, Eurocentrism, history, diversity

11

Major Emerging Issues in IR: Global Environmental Politics: Climate Change

Climate change, environmental politics

12

Major Emerging Issues in IR: International Political Economy: Financial Crises

Financial crises and global politics, domestic political polarisation

13

Major Emerging Issues in IR: Global Trade

Free trade, inequality, development

14

Major Emerging Issues in IR: Transnational Threats: Counter-terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Cybersecurity

Cyberwars, terrorism, nuclear weapons

15

Review

Portfolio collection and review

Class Format

Sessions will be delivered in Face-to-face Class format.

For “Special Consideration”, please check manaba+R’s College of IR Student Page and the “Study Support Site”.

College of IR Student Page：https://ct.ritsumei.ac.jp/ct/course_1728150
Study Support Site：https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/pathways-future/eng/

Recommendations for Private Study

Please follow the guidelines given in the class briefing and in class each week. It is your responsibility to check the assigned work for each week if you are absent.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

・30% Class participation
・50% Submission of one short assignment (750 words excluding references) (submit the final version to manaba+R)
・20% Submission of
　o the career chart
　o one set of presentation slides
　o one set of class notes

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments