Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
12690:[2025 Spring]IR18‐CB101 Academic Skills I (Proficient) (RA) § 12691:RUIR-1101 Academic Skills I (Proficient)(RA) 2025 Spring Mon4,Thu1 College　Of　International　Relations KIM WACHUTKA JACKIE J 4

Campus

KIC/KIC

Class Venue

YOYOKAN　YY505/YOYOKAN　YY505

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

【+R-Jugyo】
Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on the “Course News” on manaba+R by April 1. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.

The aim of Academic Skills is to develop students' academic writing competence together with related skills such as critical thinking, autonomous learning, research and referencing, team work and IT skills.
The course will emphasize a combination of practical academic skills for the purpose of gathering primary and extensive secondary data within the framework of theoretical content and analysis.

With this as the foundation of the course, we will consider the following:
Who are we as persons and how do we define ourselves for ourselves and for others? The questions of self and identity, whether it is a conscious or unconscious effort to define, explain, or narrate, have affected every individual at one point or another in his or her lifetime. Are the decisions that we make our own or are we merely puppets upon the grand stage of life? How are we formed and patterned as social beings? Examining these questions and inquiring about the categories that have been scripted for us as members of society may elucidate the “selves” and “identities” that we have consciously or unconsciously constructed within our ever-changing world.
In the age of globalization, the concepts of identity or rather identities in connection to nation(s) have become both personal and political. Undoubtedly, the world and its many frontiers have become larger and yet at the same time undeniably smaller. As people across nations and borders become increasingly more connected, there are also attempts to define, differentiate and identify one’s “own” “culture”, “tradition” and “way of life” that delineates the two entities of “us” and “them”. Within the milieu of migratory movements, immigration, emigration and temporary sojourn and domicile, how do we define local and global, micro and macro communities? What role does nation, ethnicity, race, and citizenship play in the concept of multiculturalism? Where do we belong and how do we position ourselves within the emergence and growth of multiculturalism?
The presence of various minority groups, who seek to find their voice and place within Japan, challenges the myth of Japan as a homogeneous, mono-ethnic society. Who are Japan’s minorities? What are the specifics of their particular histories and how do they narrate their lived experiences as peoples on the fringes of society. What are the problems that they encounter and what are the issues that matter? This course examines the multifaceted lives of minorities, their battles and struggles in defining their identities, fighting for their rights, as well as their pursuit for a more just, fair, and civil society.
The aspiration of this course is to examine these questions and consider some of the possible underlying explanations that may help us to better understand ourselves, our communities and societies. We will examine various writings that depict and discuss the theoretical discussions of self and identity. We will then inquire into the categories of nation, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, difference, stereotypes and discrimination. We will then analyze specific countries and the explicit issues that are encountered concerning these categories and consider the complexities of the conversations and debates that surround them.

Student Attainment Objectives

1) Students will be able to plan, draft and revise a research essay or academic paper on a relevant topic.
2) Students will share their findings in the form of an oral presentation, and provide, receive and integrate feedback from their peers.
3) Students will research a specific community, society, group or organization of their choice and present their findings in a detailed manner, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods.
4) Students will practice the techniques of reading and gathering various information, writing concise and clear hand-outs and presentation skills.
5) Students will be able to present their findings through an academically researched paper utilizing the in-class readings, as well as independently researched books, on-line journals, and multi-site periodicals. They will be able to deliver a detailed analysis of the subject and demonstrate their own interpretation or assessment of the collected data.
6) Students will practice their academic writing skills by paying close attention to: a) highlighting the main overall thesis statement b) following a specific, organized table of contents c) writing succinct sentences d) emphasizing topic-focused paragraphs e) making efforts toward smooth paragraph transitions f) understanding the importance of accurate citations of sources g) building a reference/bibliography page following the APA style 7th edition.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

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

+R Jugyo Orientation Video
Course Introduction
-What is "Academic Skills"? Intermingling of theory and Practice
Notebook Entry #1 What is “Academic Skills”? Intermingling of theory and Practice.

Introduction, academic skills, theory, practice

2-2

-Key Issues in the Study of Self and Identity: Read Kidd and Teagle (2012, pp.6-29) Notebook Entry #2: Answer the five questions on p. 7 that start with “How is culture patterned?-Culture, identity, structure and agency
-Group Work: Discovering APA Style 7th edition (Due on Week 3)

APA Methods, citations, references, avoiding plagiarism
Subjective writing vs. Objective analysis
Writing a concise and detailed outline with citations

3-3

- Notebook Entry #3 Kidd and Teagle (2012, p. 8) Exercise 2.3
- Look through the uploaded reading list. There are five readings in total. Choose three of the readings and start writing a short 100-150 words literature review.
-Literature Review and Research Proposal Due Date Week 7
-Start thinking about ideas for the final research project in relation to the readings

Secondary research methods
Reading presentation starts
Wiring a research proposal

4-4

-Notebook Entry #4 Questions of self, identity and society
One of the most important endeavors in our lives, no matter who or where we come from, is pondering upon the questions of self, identity, and the society that we live in. Needless to say, these are extremely broad concepts that can be thought of, interpreted, assessed, and explained in numerous ways. Write in a free-style format, your own thoughts about these concepts and their interconnection and relationship.
-Thesis statement discussion
-Continue researching books, journals, on-line periodicals, newspaper articles, organizations.
- Write a bibliography of sources. Write the first draft and submit: Due Date Week 8

Generating strong thesis statement, research sources, collecting bibliography

5-5

-Watch uploaded clip
-Notebook Entry #5 Write your thoughts utilizing the many concepts that were discussed in Kidd and Teagle in connection to the clip. Summarize what Kidd and Teagle write about the concepts of culture, identity and society and their importance.
-Think back to what you wrote about the above concepts in your own words.
-Search on the internet academic writings concerning culture, identity and society. Find 2 legitimate academic papers written by scholars. Practice writing a short 600-800 words “paper” incorporating your own thoughts, citing Kidd and Teagle and the two other sources in an academic manner.
-Continue researching journals, on-line periodicals, newspaper articles, organizations.
-Write a bibliography of sources.

Secondary sources, bibliography

6-6

Organizing the first draft, putting together the paragraphs

Importance of first draft, checking sources

7-7

Finalizing the first draft

From first draft to paper

8-8

-Discussion and detailed explanation of Final Research Presentation
-Prepare for the Research Presentation. Oral presentation with PowerPoint will start on Week 10

Final Research Presentation, preparing effective APA style presentation

9-9

-Discussion and detailed explanation of Final Research Presentation
-Prepare for the Research Presentation. Oral presentation with PowerPoint will start on Week 10
-Research Presentation. Oral presentation with PowerPoint starts

Final Research Presentation, preparing effective APA style presentation

19-20

- Research Presentation, Q&A, Discussion

Effective APA style presentation

10-10

Research Presentation, Q&A, Discussion

Effective APA style presentation

11-11

Research Presentation, Q&A, Discussion

Effective APA style presentation

12-12

Research Presentation, Q&A, Discussion

Effective APA style presentation

13-13

Research Presentation, Q&A, Discussion

Effective APA style presentation

14-14

-Final Paper Due (1,800-2,000 words)
-Class wrap up

-Final Paper Due
-Class wrap up

Class Format

All classes are to be conducted face to face; however, in the case of an emergency the instructor may elect to provide online (live-streamed) classes provided that the maximum number of online classes remains less than 1/2 of the total number of classes for the specified course. If an instructor does conduct a live-streamed class, then the link will be posted on Manaba+R.

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

(*)To check the class format for the first class of the course, you will need to apply for the “early use request function.” Refer to the Registration Guidebook AY 2023 for details. Please be careful that applying for the early use request does not sign you up for the course. You will need to register for courses during the designated period separately.

Recommendations for Private Study

Students must keep up with the intensive reading and be prepared for periodic surprise reading tests. Do not procrastinate, read, take notes during lectures and discussions and maintain an organized notebook.

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

•Assignments 30% [Group APA Style PowerPoint, Research Proposal, Annotated Bibliography, Literature reviews, Final Paper First Draft, other written works, reading quizzes, Active verbal participation etc.]
•Notebook 20%
•Final Paper (1,800-2,500 words) 30%
•Final Presentation [PowerPoint with verbal presentation] 20%

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

The class evaluation will be an on-going evaluation method.
Test will be from assigned readings and lectures. Therefore, class attendance is crucial.
Students must actively participate.
***Missed test cannot be made-up without a legitimate doctor's note.
***No late assignments will be accepted.
***All submissions are through Manaba. No submissions through e-mail without instructor's permission.

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

The students are required to read and write extensively. Students must keep a notebook journal of the readings that are distributed in class. Also, students must fulfill five short required writing entries in the journal. Students are asked to write summaries with questions and analysis of the arguments that are presented from the readings that will be distributed in class.



Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Culture and Identity Kidd, W. & Teagle, A. Palgrave Macmillan 9780230281028
Global Sociology Cohen R. Kennedy, P. New York University Press 9781479800766
Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Brym R. & Lie, J. Wadsworth Cengage Learning 9781111833862
Invitation to Peace Studies Wood, H. Oxford University Press 9781111833862
The Ethnicity Reader Guibernau, M. & Rex, J. Polity Press 9780745647012
Japan and Global Migration Douglass, M & Roberts, G. University of Hawaii Press 0824827422
Local Citizenship in Recent Countries of Immigration Tsuda, T. Lexington Books 9780739111932
Japan's Minorities: The Illusion of Homogeneity Weiner, M Routledge 9780415772648
Diversity in Japanese Culture and Language Maher, J. & McDonald, G. Routledge 9780710304773

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Readings will be provided in class

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

Copies of the reading will be distributed in class. The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus during the semester according to students' levels.

[Important Note]
*** Submission of assignments will be conducted via manaba+R. No E-mail attachment submissions unless approved by instructor.
***“Reading materials” will be uploaded on either Manaba or One-Drive and submissions will be made through the same portals.
*** This is a tentative schedule and changes may occur according to circumstances.
*** Important submissions such as Notebooks and Final Project will be explained in full detail through written instructions and during classes.
【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/