Code：G2B45910 / Instructor：NUMAO Fumihiko
Course Description
The first half of this class focuses on the “methods” of social sciences. We will read and discuss part of a work on the topic of a social phenomenon together. In each session, students summarize a section of text and present it. We read the texts critically through the exchange of opinions between students. In the second half of the class, each student selects a social phenomenon (an event or other occurrence in society) in which they are interested and try applying social science to this phenomenon through group work. Throughout both halves of the class, students learn how to read academic texts and how to write reports.
Keywords
social science, public policy, media literacy, group work
Course Plan
1. Orientation
2. Differences between social studies and the social sciences; learning the methods of the natural sciences
3. Learning how to write a summary; searching for newspaper articles
4. Reading specialized social sciences works (1)
5. Reading specialized social sciences works (2)
6. Reading specialized social sciences works (3)
7. Learning how to write a report (1)
8. Peer reviewing reports (interim)
9. Finding a social phenomenon of interest (theme) (searching for and collecting information)
10. Analyzing information (1) (preparing for group presentation)
11. Analyzing information (2) (preparing for group presentation)
12. Doing “science” on social phenomena (group presentations)
13. Learning how to write a report (2)
14. Peer reviewing reports (end of semester)
15. Summary (submitting final reports)
Class questionnaire
