Course content

The emphasis in the course is on academic writing and reading in preparation for a master's thesis, among other things. The students are introduced to practical and theoretical perspectives to academic writing and to disseminating subject matter and research. Emphasis is also placed on writing as a learning tool. Academic reading includes articles on previous research and key theorists in the respective fields of study, and will be thematised through text seminars and work on annotated bibliographies. One of the aims is that students should be able to read and use relevant theories and previous research adapted to their own field of study. The students will also develop oral and digital skills that are relevant in various academic genres. They shall present text readings and their own work to their co-students in different formats and forms of presentation. The course is intended to serve as a link between subject-specific master courses and the course in scientific theory and method in the first year of the programme and the work on the master's thesis in the second year. Guidance on master's theses will be covered in parts of the course.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of research and scientific dissemination in his/her subject area or profession
• has in-depth knowledge about writing as an academic form of expression and as a pathway to learning
• has in-depth knowledge about different academic genres, structures and subject-specific forms of expression
• has relevant knowledge of language use in different academic actions
• has in-depth knowledge of critical and purposeful academic reading of academic texts and of different reading methods on the pathway to learning
• has relevant knowledge of oral and digital forms of presentation in academic contexts

Skills

The candidate

• can position himself/herself academically through different textual expressions
• can read academic texts from different approaches and reach a decision regarding the content
• can draw on feedback from co-students in his/her own reading and writing processes, and give well considered feedback
• master relevant academic genres, structures and subject-specific forms of expression when working on his/her texts and on those of others
• can master digital tools in the work on searching for scientific and other academically relevant publications

General competence

The candidate

• can position himself/herself as a researcher in his/her disciplinary field
• can communicate relevant academic or vocational didactic problems and take part in academic debates
• can assess and reach decisions on relevant research literature in a critical manner
• can make well considered academic deliberations in the work on his/her own master's thesis and in research and development related to his/her own teaching practice

Learning methods and activities

Learning methods

Lectures, text seminars, independent work, response group, and oral presentations

Compulsory activities

Preparation of a work portfolio containing different types of academic texts (annotated bibliography, meta texts, brief texts/logs, peer feedback).

Compulsory activities must be approved in order to be able to deliver the exam.

Compulsory assignments

• Academic texts in portfolio

Course materials

The curriculum will be available at the start of the semester.

Credit reductions