Syllabus

Information research and problem solving in the context of International Relations. This course will focus on the identification of information needs, information seeking strategies and the fundamental skills for executing them, evaluation of information sources for specific purposes, and reflection on the process of research in International Relations. The course will explore major information research tools in the discipline, develop strategies for using both print and electronic sources, and discuss the changes technology is making in the fields of International Relations. All course work will focus on research needs for SIS 495, the Task Force course in the Jackson School of International Studies.

Among the concepts addressed will be:

  • Information cycles. How and why is information produced and published (or broadcast)? How do these issues impact the selection of information sources for a specific purpose? How does the Internet, and specifically the World Wide Web, fit into traditional publication models?
  • Evaluation of information sources. Critical thinking occurs at every stage of the research process. How does one make sense of, and place within appropriate context(s), works that address a specific information need? Whose information will you believe? If your job as a Presidential advisor is on the line, whose input matters most to you? How do you know what others in your field are reading?
  • Task definition and information management. What do you already know about an issue? What do you need to know? How do you organize information in meaningful and useful ways? How do you synthesize it into new information? How do you package it for later use?
  • Communicating. How do you communicate what you have learned and/or believe to be true? What means do you have of communicating important information? What roles do copyright and ethics play in the communication process? What technologies control the 21st century information world and how do you make them work for you? PowerPoint, Web authoring, and other technologies will be addressed.
  • Research as process. This course will emphasize reflection upon the activities that make up research and information-seeking. Why do some research strategies fail even when grounded upon strong intellectual foundations? What strategies are most appropriate for specific needs? What underlying principles of information-seeking are most useful in any context? How has your understanding of your topic changed since the course began? How has your understanding of the research process changed?

Grading Policy

This is a 3 credit, graded course. Grades will be calculated on a 100 point scale and assigned upon completion and evaluation of the following:
  • 1 mini-essay on database searching - 10 points
  • 2 evaluation assignments - 20 points
  • Class participation - 10 points
  • Final presentation - 60 points
The distribution below draws on the UW grading system.

4.0 = 98-100 A 2.8 = 83 B- 1.6 = 71 C
3.9 = 95-97  A 2.7 = 82 B- 1.5 = 70 C-
3.8 = 93-94  A- 2.6 = 81 B- 1.4 = 69 D+
3.7 = 92 A- 2.5 = 80 B- 1.3 = 68 D+
3.6 = 91 A- 2.4 = 79 C+ 1.2 = 67 D+
3.5 = 90 A- 2.3 = 78 C+ 1.1 = 66 D
3.4 = 89 B+ 2.2 = 77 C+ 1.0 = 65 D
3.3 = 88 B+ 2.1 = 76 C 0.9 = 64 D
3.2 = 87 B+ 2.0 = 75 C 0.8 = 63 D-
3.1 = 86 B 1.9 = 74 C 0.7 = 62 D-
lowest passing grade
3.0 = 85 B 1.8 = 73 C- .
2.9 = 84 B 1.7 = 72 C- .

Required Readings

SIS 495 will require you to read many documents critically and intelligently. It is not the intent of IMT 220a to unnecessarily add to this load. Rather, supplemental readings will be selected with an eye to their contribution to your career development. What course readings are deemed essential to this objective are included in the class schedule as well as listed under Reserve Readings. All required readings are available electronically.


© 1999 University of Washington || Last updated: December 15, 1999

Contact the instructor at: jwholmes@u.washington.edu