Topic outline

  • Welcome to LCA-1020 Academic Communication for Master's Students

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    Time and place  23.10-30.11      
                        
    Mondays and Thursdays 09.30-11.45  Room U411                
              
    Teacher: Nicole Ivarsson-Keng ( Nicole.Ivarsson-Keng@aalto.fi). Consultation by appointment.

    Learning outcomes

    Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

    - Recognise the strategies and elements that enhance clarity and audience-friendliness in both written and oral communication
    - Apply these strategies and elements in writing and oral presentations related to their field of study
    - Distinguish between formal and informal styles of communication and vary the style according to the target audience and text type
    - Apply a process approach to the development of their oral and written work

    Content

    The course is intended for graduate students in master's programs who are not yet in the process of writing their master's theses, or who are in the early stages of writing.

    It introduces written and oral communication principles and strategies applicable for academic and research purposes, such as the master's thesis project.

    Students begin by writing on a topic from their own field of study based on previous (Bachelor-level) or ongoing (Masters-level) research.

    To enhance readability of the texts, students apply organisational patterns and other writing principles.

    Students also apply techniques for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism.

    Based on their written work, students prepare and deliver an oral presentation.

    As part of the learning process, students analyse presentations to identify their strengths and areas for improvement, as well as practice organizing and presenting information clearly to a non-expert, but academic audience.

    Throughout the course, students work individually, in pairs and in small groups to develop their presentation and writing skills.

    Moreover, students give and receive constructive feedback on their work and revise it accordingly.

    Working Life Skills:

    Know-how related to own field of studies, Knowledge of research in own field, Skills in a foreign language, Skills related to working in international environment, Information retrieval skills, Written communication, Oral communication, Teamwork skills, Self-awareness, Creativity, Critical thinking skills, Analytical skills, Lifelong learning skills, Self-confidence, and Time management

    Workload           3 ETCS/81 h (Small group instruction 28 h + Independent work 53 h)
    Requirements   Course assignments and activities  30%
                                Written assignment           35%
                                Oral assignments               35%