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

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

  • 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: 5

Schedule: 03.11.2021 - 14.04.2022

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Kenneth Pennington

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period): C1

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Participation in this course requires that you have already started writing your Master s thesis. Over a time span of three periods, students can earn between 1-5 credits by completing a corresponding number of one-credit modules. Each module focuses on the structure, function and language features specific to a different part of the master s thesis: the introduction, literature/theory review, results-discussion, conclusion, and the abstract. Modules consist of workshops (online/face-to-face), analysis tasks, and personal feedback on thesis text submitted by the student.

    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 for whole curriculum period:

    - In-class Participation in Workshops 30%

    - Analysis Tasks 30%

    - Revisions based on teacher feedback 40%

    *Integrated and 1 - 2 cr versions of this course may follow alternative assessment criteria.

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    One credit: Face-to-face meetings 4 h + independent work 23 h

    Two credits: Face-to-face meetings 8 h + independent work 46 h

    Three credits: Face-to-face meetings 12 h + independent work 69 h

    Four credits: Face-to-face meetings 16 h + independent work 92 h

    Five credits: Face-to-face meetings 20 h + independent work 115 h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    To be announced at the onset of the course.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    This course is open only to those engineering students whose MSc thesis topic has been accepted by their department (in English).

    Please note that the course will be organised if a minimum of 10 people register for it.

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Autumn I-Spring III,Autumn II-Spring IV,Spring III-V,Spring IV-Summer

    2021-2022 Autumn I-Spring III,Autumn II-Spring IV,Spring III-V,Spring IV-Summer

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=LC-1320

    Registration for Courses: In the academic year 2021-2022, registration for courses will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) instead of WebOodi.

    WebOodi