Writing Course and Project Description
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters
- Autumn
- Course code
- GEO310
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
- Reading list
Course description
Objectives and Content
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
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
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.
The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught.
The exam can be submitted in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish
Grading Scale
Assessment Semester
Assessment in teaching semester
Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations § 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline to studieveileder.geog@uib.no. The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired.