Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
12718:[2025 Fall]IR18‐CB103 Academic Skills III (Proficient) (RA) § 12719:RUIR-1103 Academic Skills III (Proficient)(RA) 2025 Fall Wed4,Fri2 College　Of　International　Relations BONG HYUNKYUNG 4

Campus

KIC/KIC

Class Venue

KOSHINKAN　KS203/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.

The aim of this course is to solidify students' writing, research and academic interaction skills. Developing research skills through analyzing and evaluating academic research papers on Intercultural or Sociological Studies .

Students will conduct in depth research on a topic of their choice within Intercultural or Sociological Studies, integrating a wide range of academic sources, and present their findings in the form of a substantial academic paper accompanied by a conference-ready oral/Poster presentation.

Class activities may include progress reports on individual research, a series of writing and editing sessions, critical discussions of research methods, research ethics and underlying research paradigms, as well as lectures and discussions on emerging theoretical and practical issues in international societies. The focus of this course is on developing students' academic literacy and voice while creating a deeper understanding of the complex nature of academic research and scholarship.

Formative evaluation is performed through class participation, including small quizzes and assignments, as well as one or more essays, papers and/or presentations, based on a rubric that targets each skill.

Student Attainment Objectives


1 Students will be able to identify, discuss and evaluate a range of current issues in Intercultural or sociological studies from a variety of perspectives, making reference to appropriate theories, historical developments or contemporary contexts, and juxtaposing viewpoints arising from different social, political or cultural backgrounds.

2 Students will be able to plan, conduct, and report on research in their chosen area in line with international standards of academic scholarship, including sourcing, citing and referencing, facilitating their move into English content classes and study abroad programs.

3 Students will be able to present their ideas in writing and speaking at an advanced level of proficiency, with a clear audience focus, a strong line of argumentation, and appropriate academic style both in prepared and spontaneous production and interaction.



American University Joint Degree Program (AU/JDP) requirements

- 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

Though no particular prior study is required, daily consultation of international media of several countries, political persuasions and levels of depth is strongly recommended. Besides browsing headlines, reading of investigative journalism and reports is essential in order to understand the background of an issue. Finally, purposeful comparative reading/watching (e.g. Japanese vs. American views on a controversial issue) should become a habit.

You must be familiar with the guidelines on writing essays and avoiding plagiarism:
http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ir/ir-navi/common/pdf/gogaku/gogaku_text_01.pdf
http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ir/ir-navi/common/pdf/gogaku/gogaku_text_08.pdf

Course Schedule

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

Orientation (Syllabus & Research Skills):Introductory explanations and getting to know each other
CCL 1: What is Sociology?
CCL 2: Major Sociological Paradigms

Account of Assignments: Reading Assignment, Presentation Assignment, Writing Assignment

1. Research Skills: Self-Assessment and Discussion
   (Discussion: What is Research? )

3〜4

CCL(3) Sociology & the Scientific Method
CCL(4) Sociology Research Methods

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
●understand positivist sociology and how sociologists use empirical evidence to explore questions about the social world.
●understand the research method: form a question and a hypothesis, collect data, and analyze that data to contribute to our theories about society.

2. Research Skills: Research Field/Framework

5〜6

CCL(5) Emile Durkheim on Suicide & Society
CCL(6) Karl Marx & Conflict Theory

LEARNING OUTCOMES
●understand the concept of social facts and how Durkheim framed sociology as a science.
●Understand Karl Marx and his idea of historical materialism

3. Research Skills: Planning Your research Project
   'What is Research Proposal?'

7〜8

CCL7: Dubios & Race Conflict
CCL8: Harriet Martineau & Gender Conflict Theory

LEARNING OUTCOMES
• continuing our exploration of conflict theories with W.E.B. Dubois, who is one of the founders of sociological thought more broadly and the founder of race-conflict theory.
• exploring another branch of conflict theory: gender conflict theory, with a look at sociology’s forgotten founder, Harriet Martineau.

4. Research Skills: Planning Your research Project
Research Questions and Methods (Part I)

9〜10

CCL9: Max Weber & Modernity

LEARNING OUTCOMES
• wrapping up our overview of sociology’s core frameworks and founding theorists with a look Max Weber and his understanding of the modern world. We’ll explore rationalization and the transition from traditional to modern society.

5. Research Skills: Planning Your research Project
Research Questions and Methods (Part II)

11〜13

CCL10: What is Culture? Symbols, Values & Normas
CCL11: Cultures, subcultures, and countercultures

LEARNING OUTCOMES
●explain the difference between material and non-material culture.
●look at three things that make up culture: symbols, values and beliefs, and norms.
●explore different categories of culture, like low culture, high culture, and sub-cultures.

6. Research Skills: Planning Your research Project
Research Questions and Methods (part III):
Steps of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Designs

14-15

CCL12: How we got here
Review & Putting it together

look at Gerhard Lenski's classification of societies into five types, and the technological changes that turn one into another. We’ll also return to Marx, Weber, and Durkheim to consider how they understood societal change. Finally, we’ll explore Durkheim's concept of social solidarity.

(a Preliminary Literature Review Practice (an argumentative essay)

7. Research Skills; Making a Claim
Research Proposal Writing Practice I

16-17

Society and Social interaction
Socialization

a Preliminary Literature Review Practice (an argumentative essay)

8. Research Skills; Making a Claim
Research Proposal Writing Practice II

18-19

Groups and Organization
Deviance, Crime, and Social Control

a Preliminary Literature Review Practice (an argumentative essay)

9. Research Skills; Making a Claim
Research Proposal Writing Practice II

20-21

Media and Technology
Social Stratification in the United States

a Preliminary Literature Review Practice (an argumentative essay)

10. Research Skills; Making a Claim
Research Proposal Writing Practice III

22-23

Groblal Inequality
Race and Ethnicity
Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
Aging and the Elderly

a Preliminary Literature Review Practice (an argumentative essay)

11. Research Skills; Making a Claim
Research Proposal Writing Practice IV

8. Practical Issue while Carrying out Research
(Feedback on Research Proposal and Q&A)

24-25

Marriage and Family
Religion
Education

Research Paper: Planning and Outlining
12. Research Skills: Writing a Research Paper I

25〜26

Government and Politics
Work and the Economy
Health and Medicine

Research Paper: Drafting & Revising
13. Research Skills: Writing a Research Paper II

27〜28

The Finals

The Final Part I: Poster/Oral Presentation
The Final Part II: Written Presentation-a research paper (2000+)

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

Students are expected to come to class prepared (readings, short assignments) and spend about 180min on course-related studies outside of class per week. Students are strongly encouraged to keep up to date with class work and consult with the teacher for any questions they might have. Daily readings/viewings of international media, an individual study plan based on the initial diagnostic assessment and group study sessions are highly recommended. For specific interests, please ask your instructor.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written) 0

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 0

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

Active participation, preparations, discussions, writing and presentation practices ( 40%)
Research proposal (10%)
Formal Presentations (20%)
Writing Assignments (30%)

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Formative evaluation is performed through class participation, including small quizzes and assignments as well as one or more essays, papers, and presentations, based on a rubric that targets each skill.

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods


(1) Be responsible for your owning learning (Responsibility/Self Management);
(2) Keep up with the assignments and do not fall behind (Meeting the deadline/Time Management);
(3) Read (understand) the designated readings in the textbook thoroughly (Preview).
(4) Summarize any reading in five sentences for future reference.
(5) Make vocabulary notes and terminology notes (Organizing Skills).
(6) Make notes on quotes that you do not understand, and form questions or explain why you find it difficult to understand or unsure in 2-3 sentences. (Preview, Critical Thinking Skills)
(7) Type/copy quotes from the reading that either you are interested or you really disagree with. (Critical Thinking Skills, Academic Communication Skills)

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reading Materials will be announced in class

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Student Research and Report Writing : From Topic Selection to the Complete Paper Gabe T. Wang and Keumjae Park Wiley Blackwell 978-1-118-96391-3
Successful presentations. Hughes, J. & Mallett, A. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-476835-1
The Craft of Research Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb, and Joseph Williams (eds) University of Chicago Press 978-0-226-06566-3

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference books will be available in the library for students to further develop their writing and presentation skills according to their specific needs.

Web Pages for Reference

You must be familiar with the guidelines on writing essays and avoiding plagiarism:
http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ir/ir-navi/common/pdf/gogaku/gogaku_text_01.pdf
http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ir/ir-navi/common/pdf/gogaku/gogaku_text_08.pdf
 http://www.umuc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/online-guide-to-writing/tutorial/chapter5/ch5-06.html

English dictionary: http://www.merriam-webster.com/ or http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Thesaurus (for synonyms): http://thesaurus.reference.com/

For writing resources: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/678/01/
For grammar practice: http://www.azargrammar.com/materials/index.html
For vocab enrichment: http://www.freerice.com
For idea generation: http://www.ted.com
For online searches: http://scholar.google.co.uk (please use English language search engines)

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

Course schedule may be modified based on student needs. Any such modifications will be clearly communicated to students in class and via manaba+R.
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URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/