Last update: Norma Hervey, Ph.D. (05.06.2012)
Independent Research Study Proposal
Limit 10 students, undergraduate papers, MA theses
The idea is to introduce each student in one group setting, perhaps an evening,
to the CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE, to present the rationale and form of
documentation, to clarify the necessity of an argumentative thesis as part of their
work, to provide guidelines on organizing notes and avoiding plagiarism, and to
give them one week to consider the topic of their research which would be sent
to me and accepted or questioned. Any questions would require an individual
session. Selections will be based on intended senior papers or master´s theses.
First individual session: present bibliography containing at least one primary
source and ten additional sources including both scholarly articles and books.
Meeting in the National Library, the American Center, or any Charles University
Library for anyone having problems locating sources.
Second individual session:: a first draft of their research chapter to be due within
a month. Second individual session is to discuss the draft, focusing on how to
improve it.
Final paper. minimum 25 pages. is due in one month. IF possible, I would like to bring the group
together to orally introduce their topic and the results, perhaps another evening
session so that each could have 10 minutes, more if there were fewer people.
I would also welcome individual consultations as requested by students. I think they
should be graded and granted full credit.
