Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course is jointly organized by the School of Electrical Engineering and the Language Centre. The learning objectives concern both the overall thesis process as well as the writing process. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to
- recognise the different phases in his/her Master s thesis process
- write a schedule, including a research plan, supporting the timely completion of the Master s thesis
- understand the principles of scientific research and communication
- recognise the organisational and language features specific to the major divisions of a Master s thesis in engineering disciplines,
- employ metatextual strategies to produce clear, reader-friendly text,
- apply advanced features of cohesion, grammar and punctuation common to academic writing in a Master s thesis,
- assess common weaknesses in academic texts and revise to improve readability
Credits: 2
Schedule: 07.09.2020 - 12.09.2021
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Pekka Forsman, Clemens Icheln, Pasi Lassila, Robert Millar, Robert Millar, Tapani Möttönen, Kenneth Pennington, Anya Siddiqi, Jenni Tulensalo
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Pekka Forsman, Susan Gamache, Clemens Icheln, Tommi Kakko, Pasi Lassila, Robert Millar, Robert Millar, Kenneth Pennington, Jepa Piirainen, Anya Siddiqi, Jenni Tulensalo
Contact information for the course (valid 10.08.2020-21.12.2112):
The best way of contacting the (many) teachers in charge of this course is to post questions to the Q&A forum of the course: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/mod/forum/view.php?id=597135
CEFR level (applies in this implementation):
Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):
Teaching language: English
Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
During the course, students set goals for the Master’s thesis process, write and submit a research plan, as well as provide and receive peer feedback on this research plan. After submitting the final version of the research plan, students write an initial draft of the introduction chapter and revise it based on face-to-face feedback with a writing instructor. Before writing this initial draft, students will work through online materials focusing on the structure, function and language features specific to the introduction chapter.
Working life skills: Knowledge of research in own field, Skills in foreign languages, Information retrieval skills, Written communication, Self-awareness, Critical thinking skills, Analytical skills, Life-long learning skills, and Self-confidence.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The course activities consist of one introductory lecture, group discussions and peer-reviews, assignment submissions, online tutorial videos and exercises, as well as one revised version of the thesis introduction chapter. All assignments are related to students' own thesis topic/project.
The assessment is based on successful
- completion of individual assignment submissions,
- participation in peer-reviews, discussions and feedback sessions,
- revision of own thesis introduction chapter
Applies in this implementation:
To pass this course you need to carry out the following tasks:
Participating in two group meetings and reporting on the meetings in MyCourses, submission of two versions of your Research plan and giving feedback on the research plans of two fellow students in MyCourses. Finally, drafting and submitting the Introduction chapter of your Master's thesis and revising it based on teacher feedback.
Workload
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Contact teaching 1 h
Contact meetings 2 h
Independent work 51 h
Applies in this implementation:
Contact teaching 1 h
Contact meetings 2 h
Independent work 51 h
DETAILS
Study Material
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Available online in MyCourses
Applies in this implementation:
All needed materials and instructions are available in MyCourses
FURTHER INFORMATION
Details on the schedule
Applies in this implementation:
Enrolment to this course is open from August 15, 2020 to May 14, 2021. In the beginnning, course work is done in groups of five. The teachers of the course will check the group situation every second and every fourth Friday afternoon of each month, and the teacher will send a kick-off message to all groups containing five persons.
Students starting this course in late April or May (2021) should note that in July no teachers will be available and your passing the course will be delayed until September (2021)!
- Teacher: Forsman Pekka
- Teacher: Gamache Susan
- Teacher: Humphries Laura
- Teacher: Icheln Clemens
- Teacher: Kakko Tommi
- Teacher: Lassila Pasi
- Teacher: Millar Robert
- Teacher: Pennington Kenneth
- Teacher: Rybicki Jan-Mikael
- Teacher: Räsänen Anya
- Teacher: Seppälä Riina
- Teacher: Tulensalo Jenni
- Teacher: Viinanen Jepa