Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies.
Description
Academic writing and basic research skills is a course in university-level writing. The course covers the stages of composition of an academic essay, such as close reading of sources, summary, citation and reference, identifying rhetorical aspects in a text or flaws in reasoning, developing a thesis, finding and using textual evidence, organising ideas with clarity, signposting an essay, compiling and referencing bibliographic material, and finally, strategies for revision.
Course objectives
Students can write a nuanced and critical thesis statement or problem question, and can answer this question in the body of their essay, using a logical structure and clear argumentation. Students can use both primary and secondary sources critically, and can find their own niche in a discussion.
Students can formulate counter-arguments, and are able to rebut these. Students are aware of the appropriate academic register used in essay writing, and can use this effectively. Students are able to use the Chicago-stylesheet when presenting their written work. Students master close reading techniques and develop the skill to analyse and summarize the main argument of a text in a critical and nuanced manner. Students can conduct library research, gather and assess academic sources, and acknowledge academic work by others by referencing sources in accordance with recognised academic citation protocol. Students have developed a nuanced view on the workings of rhetoric. Students show intercultural awareness in giving useful peer-feedback and offering constructive criticism.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website
Mode of instruction
Lecture
Tutorial
This course will begin with two plenary lectures, the first, “How to study International Studies?” and the second, “Why study International Studies?”. These are followed by a series of 8 weekly tutorials and two workshops. At the beginning of the course students will be provided with an introductory text into the field of International Studies. Subsequently, students will be offered a choice from seven cases which focus on a problem that was presented in the introductory text. Each case is accompanied by, usually, two more texts. These texts offer a basis for students study one problem from the field of international studies. For the essay assignment, students will be asked to submit an analysis of their own argumentation. They will be given feedback on their analysis by their tutors as well as their peers, enabling them to critically assess their own argumentation. In addition to the texts, study materials include a guide to writing with sources and practical writing skills-oriented materials made available via Blackboard.
Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform the tutor of the course in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent without notification and valid reason or not being present at half or more of the tutorial sessions will mean your assignments will not be assessed, and result in a 1.0 for the tutorial (30% of the final grade).
Course Load
Total course load 5 EC x 28 hours= 140 hours
A brief calculation of the course load, broken down by:
Lectures 2
Tutorials 8
Assignments 44
Essay 76
Assessment method
Assessment and Weighing
The following assignments are to be completed for the course:
Participation: Mandatory
Percentage: 20%
Assignment 1: Online Library Tutorial.
- Task Deadline: by Saturday 7 October.
- Percentage: 10%
Assignment 2: critical reflection of introductory article, including all relevant references in Chicago format.
Task Deadline: hand in during the tutorial in week 5 (10 or 14 October); also to be uploaded via Turnitin.
Percentage 20%
- Assignment 3: Bullet-point list of arguments for essay, including all relevant references in Chicago format
Task Deadline: hand in during the tutorial in week 9 (14 or 18 November)
Percentage: Not graded, but formal requirement for this course, failing to submit this assignment will lead to exclusion from the right to submit the final essay.
- Assignment 4: Final essay, also to be uploaded via Turnitin.
Task Deadline: Thursday 15 December at 16.59.
Percentage: 50%.
Resit
There is no re-sit option for assignments 1 and 2.
- If you fail this course, you can re-submit an improved version of your final essay. Resubmitting the final essay (insufficient grade only) will lead to a deduction of 1 point. The deadline for resubmission is 10 days after receiving the grade for the final essay.
The deadline for this re-submitted essay is 26 January 2017.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrolment in uSis
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.
Reading list
T.b.a.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Remarks
Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform the tutor of the course in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent without notification and valid reason or not being present at half or more of the tutorial sessions will mean your assignments will not be assessed, and result in a 1.0 for the tutorial (20% of the final grade).
Passing this course is an additional requirement for a positive Study Recommendation at the end of the year.
This course uses Integrated communicative language learning method. Therefore active participation in the classroom activities is essential for successful learning outcomes.