SYLLABUS FOR
PPA 500A -- THESIS SEMINAR
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC POLICY AND
ADMINISTRATION
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
Fall 2000
Professor: Rob Wassmer, Ph.D.
E-Mail: rwassme@csus.edu
Home Page: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wassmerr
Office: Room 3037, Tahoe (Business) Hall
Office Phone: 278 - 6304
Office Hours: Thursday, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.; and by appointment if necessary
Meeting Locations:
9:00 a.m. - 12 noon, 1028 Mendocino - September 9, October 7, November 11, and December 9.
Required Material:
(1) CSUS Guide For Thesis/Project Format, Latest Edition, Office of Research and Graduate Studies, CSUS,
available for purchase at bookstore or free on web at http://www.csus.edu/rgs/gradstud/forms/MANUAL.PDF ;
(2) Writing Your A+ Thesis, 1997, Research and Education Association;
available for purchase at bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com ;
(3) Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article; 1986, Howard S. Becker, Chicago Press;
available for purchase at bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com ;
(4) A Pocket Style Manual, 2000, Diana Hacker, Third Edition, Bedford Books;
available for purchase at bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com ;
(5) The Eight-Step Path of Policy Analysis, Eugene Bardach, Berkeley Academic Press;
available for purchase at bookstore or directly from Berkeley Academic Press, Phone: (510) 534-1781;
(6) Teenage Birthrates in California: What Really Matters?, 1999, Deborah Franklin (sample MPPA Master's Thesis);
available free on the web at http://www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wassmerr/Frankout.htm .
You will need to buy all required texts before our first meeting. When a reading assignment for a particular class meeting is given, the text should be brought to the class meeting.
Objective:
To provide faculty and peer guidance in preparation of material to satisfy the Master’s thesis requirement. This includes clarification of general program expectations, familiarization with research resources, and basic support in a structured environment of feedback.
Method:
Interactive work sessions involving students reporting on progress and problem solving with peer feedback and consultation. Students are expected to complete assignments and consult with their thesis committee throughout the semester.
Prerequisite:
Completion of all of the core courses in the Public Policy and Administration Program (PPA 200, 205, 207, 210, 220A, 220B, 230, 240) with at least a B- in each course and an average grade of B or better in all. The one exception is that you are taking your final required core course(s) this semester.
PPA 500B:
Those who began the program in the fall of 1998 or later, and who do not complete their entire thesis by the time that PPA500B is offered next, are required to enroll in PPA500B.
Schedule:
Session 1 -- Saturday, September 9
Complete by time of class meeting:
1. Read pages 1 - 39 in Writing Your A+ Thesis and pages 143 -144 in A Pocket Style Manual. This material will help you develop the thesis statement and prospectus that is due the first day we meet. Come prepared to discuss material.
2. Read pages 1 - 24 in The Eight-Step Path of Policy Analysis. This will also help you develop your thesis statement.
3. Read Chapters 1 and 2 in Writing for Social Scientists. Come prepared to discuss.
4. Read Chapter 1 in Teenage Birthrates in California. Pay attention to how it is organized and formatted. Come prepared to discuss.
5. Look at the two options (thesis or project), described at the end of this syllabus, available for your cumulating experience in the PPA Program. Decide which better fits an analysis of your thesis question. Incorporate this decision into the write up of your prospectus.
6. A two to three-page, double-spaced, typed prospectus on the topic you are considering. (See description below and example). You are required to bring two copies of your initial prospectus to the first class meeting. List on your prospectus who you intend your major advisor to be. Your major advisor must be someone who is a full-time professor in the PPA Program (this includes Hodson, Jensen, Lascher, Shulock, Waste, and Wassmer; other part-time instructors can be used as secondary advisors). Make sure you talk to this person before the first meeting. If you need help in finding someone, please call me before the first meeting.
The prospectus should be in three specific (and required) parts. Each part should be two to three paragraphs long. The first part should include a discussion of the broad context of the proposed research and the need for it. In the second part, specifically write out the research question you will address in your work (see Writing Your A+ Thesis). In the final part describe the methodology you will use to offer answers to these questions (case studies, modeling, data, statistical analysis, etc.) Be sure to mention whether you are using the thesis or project format.
In the first session you will be matched with another student (called your research partner) who is doing research most similar to your own. The assignment, due the next session, is to mark up your research partner's prospectus with specific suggestions and/or how to possibly improve the overall idea in the prospectus. You must send a copy of your completed assignment to the student you have been paired with by Saturday, September 16. This can be done by fax, e-mail, or snail mail.
Required Private Session – Schedule Between Monday, September 18 and Friday, September 29
In between the first and second meetings of the course, you are required to meet with me for about 30 minutes in my office to discuss your choice of topic, your selection of previous literature to review, and how you will write up your literature review (Chapter 2 in your thesis or Chapter 1 and 2 in project). We can schedule appointments at the end of Session 1. When you come to this meeting, bring a list of at least 10 articles or books that relate to your topic, and the three popular press articles. If possible, bring the books and Xerox copies of all the articles to the meeting.
Session 2 -- October 7
Due at time of class meeting:
1. A copy of the critique/suggestions assigned in Session 1.
2. Read pages 25-64 in The Eight-Step Path of Policy Analysis. This will help you develop your methodology.
3. Read pages 40 - 65 in Writing Your A+ Thesis; and pages 94 - 104 and 153 - 167 in A Pocket Style Manual. Come prepared to discuss material.
4. Read Steps 3, 4, and 5 in Writing for Social Scientists. Be prepared to discuss.
5. Read Chapter 2 in Teenage Birthrates in California. Pay attention to how it is organized and formatted. Come prepared to discuss.
6. Two copies of first draft of introduction (Chapter 1 in thesis) or definition of problem (Chapter 1 in project less literature review) chapter. This should be around 10 double-spaced and typed pages.
6. In the proper format, submit a bibliography (example of bibliography) of at least 10 articles or books, and 3 popular press articles, that will be in your literature review. For each article or book entry in your bibliography, prepare a one-page, single-spaced, summary (example of summary) of the article and book. For each popular press article prepare a half-page, single-spaced, summary. In your summaries pay particular attention to how it relates to your thesis question. Finally, submit a two-page, single-spaced, outline (example of outline) of what your literature review (Chapter 2 of your thesis or final part of Chapter 1 in project) will look like. Bring two copies of all this material so one can be shared with your research partner.
The assignment, due the next session, is to again critique your research partner’s choice of literature to review and the outline of their literature review. Your goal is to offer suggestions on how to possibly improve these. You should send a copy of your completed assignment to the student you have been paired with by Saturday, October 14.
Session 3 -- Saturday, November 11
Due at time of class meeting:
1. A copy of the critique/suggestions assigned in Session 2.
2. Read pages 84 - 124 in The Eight-Step Path of Policy Analysis. This will help you develop your results.
3. Read pages 66 - 88 in Writing Your A+ Thesis and pages 144 - 153 in A Pocket Style Manual. Come prepared to discuss material.
4. Read Chapters 6 and 7 in Writing for Social Scientists. Come prepared to discuss.
5. Two copies of your completed first draft of your literature review (Chapter 2 of your thesis or remaining part of Chapter 1 and all of Chapter 2 for project). This should be around 10 to 15 double-spaced pages.
The assignment, due the next session, is to mark-up a copy of your research partner’s Chapter 2. You should send a copy of your comments to the student you have been paired with by Saturday, November 18.
Session 4 -- Saturday, December 9
Due at time of class meeting:
1. Copy of the marked up Chapter 2 assigned in Session 3.
2. Read Chapters 8 and 10 in Writing for Social Scientists. Come prepared to discuss.
3. Read Chapter 3, 4, and 5 in Teenage Birthrates in California. Pay attention to how it is organized and formatted. Come prepared to discuss.
4. Read CSUS Guide for Thesis/Project Format. Come prepared to discuss.
5. A completed first draft of your methods chapter (Chapter 3 of your thesis or Chapters 3 and 4 of project). These should total fifteen to twenty double-spaced and typed pages.
Grades:
Grades of only credit and no credit are assigned for this course. I will not give out any incompletes. The minimum performance to be assigned a credit is to complete all of the assignments and to attend three out of the four Saturday sessions. (I will take attendance each Saturday we are scheduled to meet.) If you miss one Saturday session, the assignments that are due that Saturday must be turned in to me by the following Monday (no exceptions). If you cannot meet these requirements, you should drop the course now.
A SUGGESTED FIVE-CHAPTER OUTLINE FOR A PPA THESIS
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
What are the questions you are investigating? In theory and in application, why are these questions important? Relate the topic to the public policy and/or administrative material you have learned in this program. Describe how the rest of the thesis/project will flow.
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
What is already known about this issue? Review a selective sampling of academic literature, existing reports, and policy/administrative history of the issue. Reference the material you have been exposed to in the program. Conclude with a summary of what gap in our understanding/knowledge of the topic your work will fill. Identify the specific variables involved with your issue.
Chapter 3: METHOD
What is the methodology you will use to gather the facts to answer your research question(s)? Include data collection and data analysis methods. Be specific and detailed.
Chapter 4: RESULTS
Present your findings with an analysis. Save the major findings and conclusions for Chapter 5.
Chapter 5: CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS
Summarize what you have done in each of the previous chapters and then draw conclusions. What does your analysis say? What are the answers you have derived to your research questions? What surprised you? What could you not find? Any suggestions on how to do differently?
A SUGGESTED SIX-CHAPTER OUTLINE FOR A PPA PROJECT
Below, Professor Nancy Shulock (based on Bardach's Eight-Step
Path of Policy Analysis) offers an innovative way to think about the organization
of a Master’s project in a six-chapter format.
Also provided, in italics, are suggested ways that this six-chapter
format can be worked into the five-chapter format suggested by Professor Rob
Wassmer above. This is helpful
advice in thinking about major categories that can be covered in each chapter
of your thesis, be it in a more traditional five-chapter format or in a six-chapter
format that may be more appropriate for a Master’s project.
Chapter 1: DEFINE THE PROBLEM
Specific problem (Chapter 1: Introduction)
Larger context and background (Chapter 1: Introduction)
Others' experiences (Chapter 1: Introduction)
Literature review (Chapter 2: Literature Review)
Chapter 2: ENVIRONMENT
Political environment and constraints (Chapter 1: Introduction)
Legal mandates and issues (Chapter 1: Introduction)
Economic factors (Chapter 1: Introduction)
Social issues (Chapter 1: Introduction)
Chapter 3: ALTERNATIVES
Analyze causes of problem (Chapter 3: Methodology)
Define the variables inherent in alternatives (Chapter 3: Methodology)
Reduce and simplify number of alternatives (Chapter 3: Methodology)
Chapter 4: CRITERIA
Select and justify criteria for evaluating alternatives (e.g. cost/benefit, equity, political feasibility, accountability) (Chapter 3: Methodology)
Relative weighting of criteria (Chapter 3: Methodology)
Methodology (Chapter 3: Methodology)
Chapter 5: ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
Project outcomes of all alternatives (Chapter 4: Results)
Analyze outcomes in terms of criteria (Chapter 4: Results)
Summarize and contrast alternatives (Chapter 4: Results)
Confront the trade-offs (Chapter 4: Results)
Chapter 6: RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSIONS
Tailor recommendation to proper audience/client (Chapter 5: Conclusion)
Long-term versus short-term issues (Chapter 5: Conclusion)
Pay attention to implementation (Chapter 5: Conclusion)