Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
12700:[2025 Fall]IR18‐CB101 Academic Skills I (Advanced+) (RF) § 12701:RUIR-1101 Academic Skills I (Advanced+)(RF) 2025 Fall Mon4,Thu1 College　Of　International　Relations O’MOCHAIN ROBERT 4

Campus

KIC/KIC

Class Venue

RYOYUKAN　RY307/RYOYUKAN　RY307

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

【+R-Jugyo】
Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on the “Course News” on manaba+R by September 20. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.

This course is designed to promote a broad range of academic skills, especially with regard to reading academic content and writing texts that can gain acceptance in scholarly communities. A focus is placed on critical thinking skills in an engagement with texts from International Studies. Students will practice engaging deeply with texts with a critical mind, as well as an openness to new concepts and approaches. A Critical Gender Studies theoretical approach will provide a perspective with which to review the history of relations between states and the study of such relations. Students will form discussion groups to deepen their understanding of content and to provide feedback on written work. The instructor will provide feedback for all written work and encourage students to speak up during class time to promote lively classroom discussion.

Student Attainment Objectives


• Based on the idea that writing is a recursive series of choices, students will make sophisticated choices in their own writing.
• Students will give critical feedback to their peers' writing and apply critical feedback on their writing.
• Students will formulate an original, increasingly complex thesis in their writing projects and develop that thesis into a well-supported argument.
• Students will use a range of research methods and incorporate source material into their writing so that it develops and supports their ideas.
• Students will develop effective and appropriate organizational strategies for their writing.
• Students will practice critical thinking and reading skills, so that they can devise original ideas, rather than simply echo the ideas of others.
• Students will evaluate the credibility of sources, use academic/scholarly resources, and incorporate sources effectively and ethically.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1-2

Introduction: Overview of Course
Essays and Research Papers

The meaning of "Global Politics"

Discrimination and Human Rights

Examining Assumptions in Argument

3-4

Writing with sources: Credible Authorities
APA Format

The history of global politics
Use of strikes in gender activism
Masculinism
Thinking Critically: Previewing

5-6

Research Questions
APA References

Theories of Global Politics
Liberal Feminism
International Status Anxiety text
Thinking Critically: Definitions
Avoiding plagiarism

7-8

Hypotheses
Gaps in Research Literature

Gender in Global Politics

Men's Rights Movement
Definitions of key concepts in International Studies
Identity and identity pressures

9-10

Evaluation of Research Literature
Literature Reviews

Primary Research Projects
Sexual Minorities
Masculinities in Flux in Japan
Activism for Gender Justice text

11-12

Presentation Skills

Identity in Global Politics
Gender Oppression in Capitalist Countries
The State and Foreign Policy
The Social Contract and Individual Rights

13-14

Mid-Term Presentations

Feedback on Presentation Skills

15-16

Planning Drafts of Papers
Evaluating credible authorities

Power and Global Politics
Gender Violence
Male-directed CRSV

17-18

Cohesion
Logical Flow in Academic Writing
Using Transitions in Argument

The Nature of War and Peace
Global Racial Inequality
Historical Crimes and Inter-Sate Relations
International Status Anxiety in Japan

19-20

Given Before New Principle in Academic Writing
Research Methods

Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention
History of masculinities in Japan
 Constructivist views: Performativity

21-22

Supporting Claims with Reasons and Evidence
Unity in Academic Writing

International Law
Zarakol's comparisons of "Ontological Security"

23-24

Research Proposals
Building Arguments

Anti-Capitalist Coalitions
Security in Feminist Theory
Text on "Big Lie" and Japan's relations with neighbours

25-26

Incorporating Sources Efficiently
Matching Citations and References

MeToo Hashtag Activism in Japan and East Asia
Eliminating personal pronouns

27-28

Final Presentations

Re-Cap of Main Themes from Course
Our favourite works of political art


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. Please note that the maximum number of online classes must be 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.

Recommendations for Private Study

As much as possible, develop habits of intellectual curiosity. Take note of any issues that might form interesting research questions. Students are expected to come to class prepared (readings, short assignments) and spend about 180min on course-related studies outside of class per week Keen an active interest in global news events and analysis of political events. Make use of useful academic resources such as Google Scholar, but refrain from accessing Internet sources that lack credibility. Check out books and journals on the shelves of the campus library as a way to stimulate your imagination as a producer of knowledge, not just a passive consumer of data. Use the Writing Tutorial Centre to hone your skills in the production of academic style texts that reflect and deepen your own research interests. Use the Beyond Borders Plaza to form friendships that broaden your outlook and interests. Focus on your own academic excellence and improvement.

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

Mid-term paper: 15%
Final paper: 20%
Mid-term presentation: 15%
Final presentation: 20%
1 quiz on Gender Studies texts 10%
1 quiz on global politics definitions 10%
Attendance, participation, punctuality 10%

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Global Politics Andrew Heywood Palgrave 978-14039-8982-6
Feminism for the 99% Cinzia Arruzza Verso 978-1-78873-442-4
From Critical Thinking to Argument Sylvan Barnet Bedford St Martins 978-1-319-03544-0
Sexual Abuse and Education in Japan: In the International Shadows Robert O'Mochain and Yuki Ueno Routledge 978-1-032-31023-7

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）,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

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URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/