Course syllabus

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PDA182, Academic writing and research design, 15 higher education credits

15 credits, second cycle

Confirmation

This course syllabus was confirmed by Department of Education and Special Education on 2011-03-09 and was last revised on 2013-09-10 to be valid from 2013-09-10.

Field of education: Social Sciences 100%
Department: Department of Education and Special Education

Position in the educational system

The course PDA182 Academic writing and research design is given within the International Master's programe in Educational research at the Faculty of Education

The course can be part of the following programme: 1) International Master's Programme in Educational Research (L2EUR)

Entry requirements

When the course is given within the International Master programme in Educational Research, the student should have passed the first year's courses on the program before being eligible for the course. The first year's courses are PDA085 Introduction to International Master in Educational Research, PDA180 Research environment –optional course I, PDA086 Research methodology, inquiry and data analysis and PDA181 Introduction to a research environment - optional course II.

When the course is given as an independent course, a first cycle degree with a minimum of 60 higher education credits in Education supplemented with 60 higher education credits at advanced level, or equivalent is required. Furthermore, proficiency in English equivalent to English B in the Swedish upper secondary school with at least a Pass mark, or a valid test of English as a foreign language TOEFL (232 computer-based), 575 (paper based) or IELTS with a minimum score of 6,0 in all scores, alternatively a Bachelor’s degree from an education held in English is required.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

  • present research reviews in a selected field of study
  • present and discuss research literatures within the selected field of study, especially
  • research problem, research designs and current research progress

Skills and competencies

  • formulate a well written and stringent research plan including research problem and design relative to previous research within the field of study
  • analyze and discuss formulation of a research problem and choice of relevant research design in relation to an analysis of current research within the chosen field of study
  • to reflect on and evaluate text qualities in academic writings

Judgment and approach

  • develop and concretize research problems by critical analysis of previous research its significance for the international research field
  • consider do-ability and relevance of different kinds of research design for the current research problematic
  • treat ethical issues of proposed research in accordance with good research ethics.

Course content

The course is based on students’ active participation in seminars, group work and on their individual presentations and writings. It contains analyses of styles in academic writing and construction of arguments in academic texts. Of special interest is the construction of research questions and research design in relation to reviews of relevant research in current international discourses. Special attention is given to individual writing of research plans for an international masters thesis based on analyses of current research discourses and evaluation of alternative research designs.

Form of teaching

Assessment is based on

  1.  An individual presentation and defense of a written course essay,
  2. An individual oral seminar presentation of an ongoing research activity within the chosen field, and
  3. Active participation in course seminars

To pass the course, active participation in the course seminars is needed as well as seminar presentations and discussion should be completed. These parts will be graded with fail or pass.

To pass the course, a research plan for the uppcoming international master's thesis need to be completed, presented and discussed. For this part of the examination the grades Fail, Pass or Pass with distinction are used.

A student who has failed a test twice has the right to change examiners, if it is possible. A written application should be sent to the Department.

The number of examination opportunities is limited to five. Should the course have been terminated, or undergone greater changes, the student should be guaranteed at least three examination opportunities (including the regular examination opportunity) during a period of at least one year based on the original course.

Language of instruction: English

Assessment

Grades

The grading scale comprises: Fail (U), Pass (G), Pass with Distinction (VG).

The syllabus as PDF download

PDA182 Syllabus.pdf

 

 

Course summary:

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