Academic writing for master’s thesis (5 cr)

Objective

You are able to analyze the style of text and recognize different components of a report, chapter, paragraph, and sentence. You can observe the principles of ethical writing and referencing. You know the referencing practices of your university and can follow them systematically. You are able to write a fluent, grammatically correct and clearly structured thesis displaying good academic style, typical for your own field and your research approach.

Content

What is ethical writing? How to cite sources and draft a list of references following XAMK style guide? How to compose different chapters (theoretical framework, data, results, etc.) of the thesis? What is a good academic style? What is the flow? What is the structure of a good paragraph? What kind of writing strategies can be used to help the research process? How to choose writing and language tools and use them effectively?

Course material

Material to be provided on the Learn (Moodle) site.

Study forms and methods

It is possible to take the course both during the thesis writing process and before it. There are alternative tasks for those who are not yet writing their thesis.

It is possible to complete the course faster than scheduled.

RDI and work-related cooperation

The connection to the field comes from the thesis topic.

Timing of exams and assignments

The course consists of five packages, each 1 cr.

International cooperation

None.

Student workload

Course intro and course rules 3hrs
Independent studying of the course material, doing the tasks and writing assignments, giving peer feedback and analyzing feedback one gets, 130 hrs.

Course part description

1. Tools of writing and citing the sources
2. Ethical writing, writing the conceptual basis, and metatext
3. The essence of text and writing the methodology chapter
4. The academic style I and writing about the results
5. The academic style II, inclusive language, writing conclusions and the abstract

Further information

All materials will be on videos or as written material.
The course has no obligatory online classes.
Teacher can be approached thru a chat forum.
Also two online clinics with a video connection are arranged for those who wish to get individual support online.

Evaluation scale

Approved/Failed

Assessment methods and criteria

Each package has one graded assignment but the grade is given only for the student's information.
The course is graded appoved/failed.
The minimum language skill level is B2 (CEFR).

Qualifications

For Master programme students only. Successful completion of the course requires overall English skills in the upper intermediate level (B2 level).