Writing your Master's Thesis

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

The aim of this course is to support MRes students throughout the process of writing their thesis. The course provides support through providing guidance on the research process, through offering structures and techniques for writing, and through feedback from peers and faculty on your writing. This course complements but does not substitute for supervision from the respective thesis tutor. By design, it touches upon, but cannot provide stand-alone advice on writing style or on research design and methods questions.

Course Learning Objectives

The learning objectives are threefold:
1) Learning how to structure the research process, including how to formulate a research question, to review the literature, and to draft the thesis
2) Developing your ability to identify and overcome obstacles in the research and writing process
3) Learning how to provide constructive feedback to peers

CONTENT

1. Session 1: Introduction on Research Process and Writing (December/January) 2-hour session Introduction to and overview of the course On the research process: How to think through early research design decisions, with an emphasis on different kinds of literature reviews On writing: Preview on writing structure for introduction
2. Session 2: Writing Structures and Techniques (February) 3-hour session On writing structures: Frameworks and principles for crafting an argument and the introduction of a paper On writing techniques: Tips and tricks from writers Each student to submit a 4x4 bullet point structure of their introduction ahead of the session and to present it in class Peer and faculty feedback
3. Session 3: In-depth Research Development via Presentations and Collective Feedback (April) One full day (9 hours) Each student to submit a presentation on their thesis progress ahead of the session and to present it in class In-depth discussion and feedback of achievements and obstacles for each student by peers and faculty, about 45 minutes for each student
4. Session 4: In-depth Research Development via Individual Feedback (June) One full day (9 hours) Individual coaching sessions with faculty for about 45 minutes for each student Writing time for other students Optional: breakout activities for peer coaching

1. Session 1: Introduction on Research Process and Writing (December/January)

2-hour session
Introduction to and overview of the course
On the research process: How to think through early research design decisions, with an emphasis on different kinds of literature reviews
On writing: Preview on writing structure for introduction

2. Session 2: Writing Structures and Techniques (February)

3-hour session
On writing structures: Frameworks and principles for crafting an argument and the introduction of a paper
On writing techniques: Tips and tricks from writers
Each student to submit a 4x4 bullet point structure of their introduction ahead of the session and to present it in class
Peer and faculty feedback

3. Session 3: In-depth Research Development via Presentations and Collective Feedback (April)

One full day (9 hours)
Each student to submit a presentation on their thesis progress ahead of the session and to present it in class
In-depth discussion and feedback of achievements and obstacles for each student by peers and faculty, about 45 minutes for each student

4. Session 4: In-depth Research Development via Individual Feedback (June)

One full day (9 hours)
Individual coaching sessions with faculty for about 45 minutes for each student
Writing time for other students
Optional: breakout activities for peer coaching

Type:	OPT	Curs:	1	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	3 ECTS

Writing your Master's Thesis (2225.YR.009999.1)

General information

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