Admission requirements
This course is only available for Korean studies incoming BA3 students who obtained the propaedeutic diploma and successfully completed all courses of BA1 and BA2.
Preparation for the first day of class: by August 31, 2017, students must upload the first draft of their proposals, which include a research question, research methods, and chapter outline, and bibliographies comprised of at least twenty academic works—books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed journal articles, etc.—relevant to their thesis topics. On the first day of class, students must bring two copies of their proposals and bibliographies.
Description
This BA thesis reading and research seminar guides students through the development of their research topics and research methods. While students should have their own ideas about their thesis projects, the seminar helps them to refine their research questions, methods, and case studies for their BA theses. Students are assisted as they hone their academic research, reading, and writing skills as well as their critical thinking skills that have been fostered through exercises, assignments, and knowledge in previous BA1 and BA2 courses. Especially, this seminar examines what a thesis is, what good thesis research entails, how to choose case studies, how to write at one’s best level, and how to work efficiently. Students write a proposal, bibliography, and literature review while collecting and closely analyzing primary and secondary sources from their research fields. The course consists of mini-lectures, class discussions, group projects, individual supervisions, and presentations. Self-disciplined, cooperative, and collaborative learning is essential. Students must be active learners, participating in group projects and regularly reporting research and reading progress. Having successfully completed this seminar, students are well prepared for writing their theses in the following semester.
Course objectives
Students will prove themselves to be able to:
work with research methods and techniques that are current in Korean studies;
comprehend major academic debates and issues, and on the basis of them, formulate a well-defined research question and select appropriate research methods; explain research findings in a clear and well-argued way and in both oral and written forms;
report on their studies and research in good spoken and written English;
work and write under time-pressure, and deal with deadlines;
participate in class discussions and group projects in an active, prepared and informed way, respecting other people’s convictions and emotion.
Timetable
For more information see: Timetable
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Course Load
Total course load for the course: 5 EC = 140 Hours
Assessment method
Final grades will be determined by the following formula (subject to change upon notice):
Attendance: 5%
Active Participation (Weekly Postings, Research and Reading Progress Reports): 5%
Group Projects and Presentations: 20%
Individual Presentations: 10%
Proposal + Bibliography: 10%
Literature Review: 50%
Blackboard
This course uses Blackboard in addition to other modes of communication in order to disseminate critical information.
Reading list
Charles Lipson, How to Write a BA Thesis: A Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished Paper
W.C Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.W. Williams, The Craft of Research
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch