Prospectus

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Seminar: Thesis Writing

Course
2019-2020

Admission requirements

Compulsory for second year students of the RESMAAS program.

Description

In this course students report their fieldwork experiences and discuss their original project ideas in light of their findings during fieldwork. They systematize the data they have collected and reflect on their research methods. Step by step they are aided to start writing various sections and chapters of their thesis and bring in their draft versions for discussion in class. Comments will be provided both by instructors as well as by fellow students. Specific attention will be given to the structuring of arguments and the development of research questions on the basis of debates on the current state of research. This course does not interfere with the supervisory work of the (two) thesis supervisors, but is strictly complementary.

Course objectives

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

  • Systematically plan an academic writing assignment

  • Write in a structured, coherent academic manner

  • Reflect on writing process and identify bottlenecks

  • Give feedback

  • Receive feedback

  • Reflect on feedback received and defend their choices

Timetable

ResMA African Studies

Mode of instruction

Seminar

Course Load

  • The course comprises 5 EC and the total course load is thus 140 hrs.

  • 28 hours of these will be spent attending class (8 meetings of 3,5 hrs)

  • 112 hrs to be spent on preparing assignments/parts of thesis to be discussed in class and on reading the other students’ pieces.

Assessment method

Assessment:

  • Mandatory presence of at least 80 percent

  • The level of achievement of the course objectives will be evaluated on the basis of the assignments, student’s engagement in the group discussions, and engagement with the feedback offered.

Classes missed for a good reason (to the discretion of the convener and to be discussed BEFORE the class takes place) will have to be made up with an extra assignment.

Exam review

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Blackboard

NA

Reading list

NA

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website

Contact

Lecturer: Mayke Kaag

Education Administration Office: van Wijkplaats

Coordinator of Studies: P.C. Lai LL.M. MSc