Courses: GEO310 Writing Course and Project Description - Autumn 2022
Credits
10.0Level of Study
Master level
Language of Instruction
English
Teaching semester
Autumn
Objectives and Content
The course get the student to start early with his/her master thesis through writing training and practical insight in the research process. The course aims at offering students more insight in the writing process behind a successful master thesis by working with a project proposal for the future master thesis. The project proposal forms the basis for the master thesis and the allocation of a supervisor.
Learning Outcomes
A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
The student
- can define a research theme at an advanced level and elaborate it into research aims, objectives and research question, and connect theme to applicable theory and methodology aiming at a research based conclusion
- knows the characteristics of quality research publications and data
Skills
The student
- knows how to carry out a systematic search in the library, in scientific and other data bases
- can interpret and evaluate data and literature critically
- can argue scientifically, structure the argumentation and follow good scientific use of references
- can identify ethical issues in a research project and register the project for ethical clearance
- can serve as peer reviewer of other project drafts and proposals
- can define and frame an independent research project under supervision
General competence
The student
- can choose a general topic for a geographical research theme, develop it into a research framework with related aims and objectives that can be investigated within various time and resource limits
- can communicate, both in writing and oral, the design of a geographical research project with related aims, objectives and theory, and masters language and terminology of the geographic field
Required Previous Knowledge
Admitted to Master's in Geography, Master's in Geographies of Sustainable Development or Master's in Physical Geography.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
GEO300 - 5 ects
Access to the Course
Reserved for Master's in Geography, Master's in Geographies of Sustainable Development and Master's in Physical Geography.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, seminars and assignment in a 2 week intensive course in August/September.
Total: 4-5 lectures á 2 hours pr. week - 9 lectures
2-4 seminars in September-November
Group work: peer review of draft proposals in November.
1 seminar with presentations in December
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Three assignments:
-Thought paper (500-1000 words) with the aim to elaborate theme, perspective and argument (August)
- Project draft (2-3000 words) which seeks to develop the project towards a scientific problem, including important references (August)
- Draft proposal (November)
Peer review exercise
Oral seminar presentation (30 minutes)
Forms of Assessment
A project description of 5000-7000 words, containing an elaborate description of theme, aim/justification of the project, scientific problem, and a brief outline of research design, methodology and planned schedule.
Grading Scale
Grading: Pass/fail
Assessment Semester
Assessment in teaching semester
Course Evaluation
All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.
Contact Information
Department of Geography
Studieveileder@geog.uib.no