Lesson Report:
**Lesson Report**
**Title:** Senior Thesis Requirements, Structure, and Argument Development
**Synopsis:** This session covered critical administrative details regarding the senior thesis submission, including deadlines, formatting, and state exam procedures. The bulk of the class focused on clarifying thesis structure, content expectations (introduction, chapters, conclusion), citation standards (APSA), plagiarism avoidance, and acceptable sources. The instructor concluded by beginning a detailed walkthrough of how to break down a hypothesis into a clear argumentative structure, using an example case study.
**Attendance**
* Number of Students Mentioned Absent: 6 (Calculated from the statement “now we have nine offline students. Out of nine is three”, implying 6 offline students were absent).
**Topics Covered**
1. **Administrative Announcements (Prof. Atsunger)**
* **Thesis Submission Deadline:**
* Deadline: Wednesday, April 30th, 5:00 PM (Bishkek time). No extensions.
* Requirement: Two hard copies (double-sided print, bound – cost approx. 150 soms) submitted physically.
* Requirement: Electronic submission via eCourse by the same deadline (April 30th, 5:00 PM).
* Note: Specific arrangements for Afghan students’ hard copy submission need discussion.
* Consequence: Failure to submit on time results in ineligibility for thesis defense.
* **Thesis Defense Dates:**
* Offline Students: Monday, May 26th.
* Online Students: Tuesday, May 27th.
* Attendance Confirmation: Mirzo (online student) confirmed intention to defend online due to visa issues; requires confirmation/approval from Prof. Daniyar.
* **State Exam:**
* Date: Wednesday, May 28th.
* Format: Two essay questions (750 words each).
* Part 1: Political Science & International Relations (Choose 1 out of 3 questions).
* Part 2: Central Asian Politics (Choose 1 out of 3 questions, focusing on recent developments).
* Note: Specific questions will not be circulated in advance, but general topics/concepts will be shared later.
* **Attendance Concern:** Professor expressed concern about low attendance among seniors and warned that lack of seriousness could lead to stricter evaluation by defense committee members.
2. **Thesis Formatting and Structure Guidelines (Q&A and Lecture)**
* **Governing Document:** Specific regulations for formatting exist in the “Senior Thesis Qualifying Rules” document (APS style mentioned). *Action Item: This document needs to be shared/uploaded again.*
* **Formatting:**
* Consistency: Use one citation style throughout (APSA mandated).
* Cover Page: Use the standard template; no pictures.
* Specifics: Margins, line spacing (1.5 specified later), lines per page are detailed in the rules document.
* Page Numbering: Cover page should not be numbered.
* Chapter Start: Each new chapter must start on a new page.
* **Structure:**
* Standard Model: Introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Conclusion.
* Chapters vs. Sections: Introduction and Conclusion are not chapters.
* Number of Chapters: Typically 3 main chapters. Avoid 6-7 chapters. Supervisors have final say, but limited flexibility (max 4 chapters suggested).
* Chapter Length: Chapters should be roughly equal in length (variance ideally within 10-15%). Avoid large discrepancies (e.g., 40 pages vs. 10 pages).
* Chapter Titles: Give chapters meaningful titles, not just “Chapter 1: Conceptual Framework”. Subchapters (e.g., 1.1, 1.2) are acceptable.
* **Content Breakdown (Ideal Structure):**
* **Introduction:**
* Puzzle/Problem: Identify the issue (empirical or theoretical). Explain importance, relevance, significance.
* Research Question (RQ): Analytical (Why/How), clearly stated early on.
* Hypothesis: Potential answer to RQ. Positioned after RQ (though instructor noted it’s not strictly necessary in PoliSci/IR, jury members often expect it early).
* Thesis Structure Overview: Briefly outline chapter contents.
* **Chapter 1: Conceptual and Theoretical Framework:**
* Define Key Concepts: Explain how concepts (e.g., “political involvement”) are used *in this specific thesis*.
* Theoretical Framework: Explain relevant theories (e.g., Constructivism). Focus on *how* the theory helps answer the RQ and link its assumptions to the case study, rather than just defining the theory. Application is key.
* Multiple Theories: If using more than one, explain why and ensure they are complementary, not contradictory.
* Literature Review (Placement Varies): Can be integrated here if it’s theoretical. If more historical, might fit better in Chapter 2.
* **Literature Review (General Guidance):**
* Purpose: Not just summaries. Categorize arguments, create a dialogue between scholars, show different angles on the RQ. Use comparative language (“Unlike X, Y argues…”).
* Format: Avoid block quotes or dedicating entire paragraphs to summarizing single sources without analysis or connection. Show *why* sources are important.
* **Chapter 2: Historical Background / Context:**
* Content: Traces the development/progression of the phenomenon studied.
* Integration: Can include literature review if it focuses on historical perspectives.
* **Chapter 3: Data Collection & Analysis / Methodology:**
* Structure: Often split into Data Collection (3.1) and Data Analysis (3.2).
* Importance: Crucial chapter for presenting findings and directly answering the RQ. May be longer than Ch1/Ch2.
* Methodology Details: Explain *how* data was gathered and *how* it was analyzed.
* Ethics: Must include a section on methodological ethics (especially if using online data like social media comments – discuss public/private sources, informed consent) and limitations.
* Alternative Structure: Some place Methods/Methodology in the Intro and dedicate Ch3 entirely to Findings/Analysis. Instructor prefers keeping data collection/analysis together in Ch3.
* **Conclusion:** Summarize findings, reiterate the answer to the RQ, discuss implications.
* **Bibliography:** List of cited sources (APSA format). Does *not* count towards word count.
* **Appendix:** Placed *after* the bibliography. No word limit specified. Contains supplementary material.
* **Word Count:** Minimum 12,000 words, Maximum 15,000 words (excluding bibliography, including citations/footnotes). Theses under 12k words (e.g., 7k-8k) have failed previously.
3. **Sources and Plagiarism**
* **Acceptable Sources:** Primarily academic sources (peer-reviewed articles, academic books). Media reports are generally considered non-academic.
* **Online Data:** Social media comments (YouTube, Instagram) can be used if methodology (web scraping tools, etc.) and ethical considerations (public/private data, consent) are clearly addressed in Chapter 3.
* **Plagiarism:**
* Acceptable Percentage: Zero tolerance (“Zero percentage is acceptable”).
* Definition: Includes improper quoting (e.g., quoting large blocks without sufficient original analysis) even with citation. Requires careful paraphrasing and integration.
* Tools: Awareness that tools like Grammarly *can* sometimes flag text, leading to issues (referencing a past incident). The focus should be on the *nature* of flagged content, not just the percentage, but minimal flags are expected.
* Consequences: Severe, including potential failure, especially if citations are missing even for single sentences.
* *Action Item: Need for a dedicated session on citation (including online sources) and plagiarism avoidance.*
4. **Mock Defense**
* Purpose: To provide practice, feedback (oral and written notes), and identify areas for improvement before the final defense. Not intended to be punitive.
* Scheduling: Proposed dates April 18th and 25th. Instructor might miss the 18th but aims to attend the 25th. Students defending on the 25th will have less time for revisions (only 4 days before the April 30th deadline).
* *Action Item: Finalize and communicate the mock defense schedule.*
5. **Citation Style Clarification (APSA)**
* **Requirement:** All assignments and the final thesis must use APSA style for citations and formatting.
* **Tools/Resources:**
* Recommendation: Use online APSA citation generators (e.g., Citation Machine).
* Resource: APSA Style Guide (PDF to be posted on eCourse).
* Resource: Use ChatGPT to query the APSA Style Guide PDF for specific formatting questions (e.g., “how to cite a blog post”).
* Support: Instructor available via email for specific citation questions after students consult the guide.
6. **Revised Thesis Structure (Reiteration/Clarification)**
* Instructor presented a slightly condensed structure, emphasizing integration:
* 1. Intro
* 2. Theoretical Framework / Historical Background / Literature Review (combined/integrated as appropriate)
* 3. Data Collection & Interpretation (with a concluding sub-section within this chapter)
* Reassurance: Noted that most content is already written; this is mainly about reorganizing under new headings. Argumentative elements previously planned for separate chapters will now be integrated into the “Interpretation” part of Chapter 3.
7. **Activity: Developing Argumentative Structure from Hypothesis**
* **Goal:** Ensure hypotheses are clear, digestible, and can be broken down into a logical argumentative structure for the thesis (specifically for the Interpretation section of Ch3). Avoid overly complex or unclear arguments.
* **Example Case: “Laghmanistan” Social Media Regulation**
* **Puzzle:** Government restricting social media since 2018. Why? Government claims: protect citizens from disinformation/violence. Critics claim: consolidate power/suppress opposition. Research Question: Which is it, and how does it affect political processes?
* **Example Hypothesis/Thesis Statement:** “Since 2018, the government of Laghmanistan has increasingly regulated social media not primarily to protect citizens, but rather to consolidate regime power by leveraging legislative ambiguity and selective enforcement.”
* **Analysis of Hypothesis:**
* Active Voice: Essential for clear argumentation.
* Scope: Clearly identifies location (Laghmanistan) and timeframe (2018-present).
* Main Argument: Social media regulation serves to consolidate regime power.
* Sub-Arguments (How power is consolidated):
* 1. Legislative Ambiguity
* 2. Selective Enforcement
* **Breaking Down Sub-Argument 1 (Legislative Ambiguity):** How does ambiguity consolidate power?
* 1a. Vague Terminology: Laws use undefined terms like “terrorism,” “extremism,” giving the government interpretive leverage.
* 1b. Lack of Clear Protocol: No set rules for enforcement empower arbitrary action against users/sites.
* 1c. Unclear/Ineffective Appeals: Processes for challenging restrictions are poorly defined and rarely successful.
* **Next Steps (Post-Break):** Students were asked to refine their own hypotheses to ensure clarity (scope, main argument) and practice breaking them down into sub-arguments, similar to the example.
**Actionable Items**
* **Urgent (Pre-Deadline):**
* Share/Upload the “Senior Thesis Qualifying Rules” document to eCourse immediately.
* Finalize and communicate the mock defense schedule for April 18th and 25th.
* **Soon (Support for Thesis Writing):**
* Organize and schedule a dedicated session covering:
* APSA citation (including citing online/social media sources).
* Defining and avoiding plagiarism (proper quoting, paraphrasing).
* Post the APSA Style Guide PDF on eCourse.
* **Administrative Follow-up:**
* Confirm Mirzo’s online defense plan approval with Professor Daniyar.
* Discuss arrangements for hard copy submission for Afghan students if not already resolved.
* Prepare and distribute the list of general topics/concepts for the State Exam.
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK
The transcript primarily discusses the upcoming senior thesis deadline (April 30th), submission requirements (hard copies and electronic), formatting guidelines (APSA style, structure, word count), the importance of avoiding plagiarism, and plans for future mock defenses and a citation help session. The latter part of the lesson focused on revising the thesis structure and included an in-class activity centered on breaking down hypotheses using an example (Laghmanistan), with the intention of continuing this activity after the break, rather than assigning it as homework.