ME4-300 Scientific Writing and Theory of Science

Contents and structure

The course consists of three modules:

1. Master project

The students decide on topic of their master project prior to beginning the course. During the course, they develop their primary research questions, their research objectives, and identify relevant literature, in dialogue with their supervisor. The master process commences through writing of a tentative "project proposal" which details the project and implements the standard structure of a scientific paper (IMRaD).

2. Theory of science

The module will review selected schools of thought relevant for the master program, within both normal and post-normal science. In this module, the students will discuss norms of science and ethics, and assess their own scientific stance. Furthermore, they will assess how to operationalize, theorize, and conceptualize the theme of their master project, and formulate clear research questions along with akin research hypotheses.

3. Scientific writing

Review of the different phases of a master project: Critical reading and assessment, comprehensive analyses, and communication of scientific knowledge. The students train in searching, citing and critically assessing scientific literature. They learn about genres and structure of scientific texts, and train in clear and concise writing in both abridged and longer textual forms. They write a scientific essay on a selected theme, based on relevant literature.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge about the different stages of a research project
• Knowledge on theory of science, emphasizing schools of thought with relevance for the master program
• Knowledge on what constitutes a theory of science and its salient schools of thought
• Knowledge of norms of science and of ethics of science

Skills:

• Conduct a critical analysis of scientific literature on a selected theme, and present it in an academic essay
• Search for and critically assess scientific literature, and recognize plagiarism
• Articulate significant questions
• Identify and reformulate research hypotheses
• Organize an academic argument
• Formulate clear, cohesive parts of an argument, acquiring control over word choice
• Quote and cite evidence using a standard documentation style
• Use a literature database for compiling and citing literature in scientific writing
• Understand, explain, and justify the main elements of their own project
• Giving and receiving peer-review on scientific text.

General competence:

• Operationalize a research question, place it in a relevant scientific and societal context
• Present and justify own project in the form of a oral presentation
• Reflect on strengths and limitations of scientific knowledge in a theory of science context
• Surface tensions, paradoxes, and contradictions in scientific discourse
• Argue and defend methodological and analytical research choices
• Disseminate academic findings in a clear and concise language
• Prepare a realistic project plan for a master thesis.

Entry requirements

Completed bachelor degree of 180 ECTS.

Recommended previous knowledge

Completed course 2 (GE4-301) in the master programme

Teaching methods

Lectures, group work, written assignments (including essay at different stages), oral presentation, student peer-review

Compulsory learning activities

• Minimum two meetings with supervisor, incl. written minutes.
• Short oral presentation of the master project (supplemented by PPTX-slide)
• Weekly completion of 1-3 prescribed assignments.
• Selected writing process tasks, including compiling a reference list, outlining the essay, drafting the essay, and and revision of own text.

Assessment

The final assessment is based on a written assignment, The rationale of Master’s project (100%)

Grading A-F

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