Seminar Management Method

  The seminar will run jointly for third- and fourth-year students. Third-year students will focus on building up their knowledge of IR and preparing for the thesis, while Fourth-Year students will present their interim findings and work towards finalising their thesis. Particular texts to be read will be decided upon in consultation with students and their interests.
The seminar will centre on the participants’ research themes and interests. Readings will be decided at the first meeting. The rough plan for each semester will be as follows:

Reading & Discussion sessions
  Reading & discussion sessions are the basic weekly activities of this seminar. Students will collectively decide on the readings at the start of the semester (I will provide you with some options, but alternative suggestions are welcome). Choose a paper/book chapter you prefer and which week you want to present. Presenters should prepare a handout summarising the main points and 2-3 discussion points that will kick off the dialogue. Please note that everyone needs to read and prepare per week.
  For the Fall semester, our zemi participates annually in the College-wide Zemi Research Convention. Several weeks will be put aside for preparation towards the event.

Research Methods Workshop
  Research Methods Workshop is an opportunity to receive feedback from me and your fellow classmates. Prepare a handout of 2-3 pages outlining your research progress. I will provide instructions and guiding questions for each semester/batch before the workshop. You will be paired/grouped with members from your own semester/batch, and you will present your partner’s research to the class (time will be set aside to explain to your partner about your research). The idea is that if your partner doesn’t understand your intentions clearly, it needs some fixing (initial feedback). Pairs/groups will then present in turn to the rest of the class, followed up with Q&A (class feedback). I will provide my feedback as well. Based on the feedback provided, work towards your term paper.

Term Paper
  Term Papers outline the ongoing stages of your graduation research. It is meant to be the basis for the various aspects of the final thesis; hence, each paper will present the current state of your research rather than something that is ‘completed’ in its own right. Each term paper should incorporate some of the feedback from the mid-term presentation in the Research Methods Workshop.
  Roughly, the three term papers should cover the following contents:
• Term Paper 1: literature review & research question(s)
• Term Paper 2: theoretical/conceptual framework & research method
• Term Paper 3: empirical analysis

Also, Advanced Seminars will be the basic unit/group for your final two years. As such, there will be opportunities beyond the classroom to interact and mingle (eg. welcome party, Christmas party, summer ‘gassyuku’, etc.).

Term Paper：35%

Continuous Assessment
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)：65%
Attendance & Participation