Admission requirements
A course for pre-master students of Humanities, focused on academic writing. It is compulsory within a number of fixed or individually specified pre-master programmes. Master and pre-master students who want to improve their writing skills and join the course extracurricularly are also welcome if there is room in the groups. (Please contact the lecturer beforehand.)
Description
A hands-on course in academic skills, viz.:
Research skills: evaluating sources, plagiarism prevention, argumentation structure;
Academic writing techniques: formulating a feasible research question, essay structure, academic writing style, referencing sources, giving and processing feedback.
Oral presentation skills: structuring a presentation.
The course is tailored to the needs of pre-master students with relatively little experience in academic research and writing at a Dutch university. A combination of explicit instruction and practical assignments will guide the students in their work on the course essay on the topic of their choice related to their study programme.
Course objectives
The main objective of the course is to prepare students for writing academic papers on the MA-level. On completion the student will be able to:
Select sources by means of digital tools (library cataloques, Google Scholar, WorldCat, Web of Science);
Evaluate sources with respect to scholarly quality and reliability, using library databases and internet tools (Ulrich’s, domaintools.com);
Recognize and construct various types of argumentation;
Formulate a viable and well-defined research question and relevant sub-questions;
Structure academic texts and oral presentations;
Present research results in a clear and well-argued manner, using an academic (writing) style and adequate referencing systems.
Timetable
See the information on the website . An overview of all sessions will be placed on Blackboard.
Mode of instruction
Seminar.
Course Load
Total: 140 hrs (5 EC)
attending classes: 22 hours
home assignments: 20 hours
preparation for the presentation: 6 hours
writing the final essay (including reading/research): 92 hours
Assessment method
Final essay ( 75 %)
Presentation on the topic of the essay ( 5%)
Tasks to be completed at home, as preparation for the presentation and the final essay (together 20%)
Weighing
The final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average with the additional requirement that the final essay grade must always be sufficient.
Resit
- Final essay ( 100%)
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
Blackboard is used for notifications, general course and schedule information, course material and submission of assignments.
Reading list
Materials will be placed on Blackboard and/or distributed in class.
Registration
Via uSis. Students for whom the course is obligatory have priority. Others can participate if there is place left in the groups. Please contact Dr. G.J. Rowicka
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.