August 28, 2007  

Dr. Locke's Home Page

ESCI 500-01 - RESEARCH/THESIS DESIGN SEMINAR - AUTUMN 2007

Basics

The purpose of this course is six-fold:

  1. it will introduce you to the mechanics of seminar-format classes;
  2. it will introduce you to one another and to the ESCI faculty;
  3. it will define the fundamental problem in research - question-asking;
  4. it will assist, encourage, and require you to initiate the process of graduate research;
  5. it will help you prioritize research appropriately with class work, teaching, and other activities; and
  6. it will help you to consider issues which are critical to your maturation as professionals in the Earth Sciences.

The fundamental, research-related goals will be accomplished through the generation, as the required outcome of this course, of a thesis proposal.

Resources

Although no text is assigned for this course, there are several available in the library or through Dr. Locke: see Q180.55 (science), H61/62 (social science), and LB2369 (writing) in the Library. 

Syllabus

Date (week of...) Topic
8/28 Introduction to MSU-Bozeman, the Department of Earth Sciences and thesis research
9/3 Renne Library and research tools (maybe!)
9/10 The Scientific Method
9/17 Optional*
9/24 OPEN - MEET WITH FACULTY ADVISOR
10/1 Optional
10/8 Question-asking I - Preliminary research questions (discussed in class)
10/15 Optional
10/22 Question-asking II – Research Question tree (discussed in class)
10/29 Optional
11/5 OPEN - MEET WITH FACULTY COMMITTEE
11/12 Question-asking III - Preliminary proposals (discussed in class)
11/19 Optional
11/6 Question-asking IV - Revised proposals (discussed in class)
12/3 Optional

*Potential topics for classes not already scheduled include: