ELEC-L0902 - Introduction to Doctoral Studies D, Lecture, 1.9.2023-4.12.2023

[Four (4) to six (6) pages in length including supporting graphical content (figures, tables, graphs) to a maximum of 10-15% of the total article length. References however are not included in the total page limit.] 

 This assignment is created in small groups of three persons (or in pairs if there is no possibility to create a group of three). You will get to choose which group/pair you are a member of as well as decide upon which topic you choose to write about in order to boost motivation for the assignment. 

 This assignment gives you the opportunity to acquire the collaborative skills necessary for working with other authors from differing research backgrounds. Firstly, negotiate and decide upon a topic/issue of shared interest and seek to present that topic/issue in an academic way, and then write an article about that topic using a shared document. The choice of what the group decides to write about is entirely the group’s choice. In the past, some groups have chosen to write on topics/issues well outside the field of electrical engineering. For instance, the choice of pizza toppings available in Finland; the economic impact of COVID-19; a practical (survival) guide for doctoral researchers in Finland; managing the culture shock of study in Finland; as well as more “controversial” articles with challenging titles such as “Mass-produced PhDs devaluing education?” You are expected to have fun with this assignment, so if the human chemistry in one group is not working for you then switch to a group where you feel comfortable as a member (or form a pair with someone you click with). 

 The competence/skills activated during this assignment include ideation (individual, group), peer-review of text, co-creation, editing, incubation, appropriate selection of supporting figures/graphics, proofreading, revision, improving cohesion and flow etc.). This co-created group/pair assignment is to be submitted in PDF format for written proofreading comments. Please submit the exercise to MyCourses, one PDF per group/pair is enough. Don't forget to list the names of the group members, describing each member's contribution  to the final work submitted for review and feedback. Name the file with the last name of one group member. 

Feedback on your writing

You will receive detailed proofreading comments on the group’s article and participate in a follow-up face-to-face feedback session. The 20-minute face-to-face group/pair feedback session for this interdisciplinary co-created research article is compulsory for all participants of this course. 

Reviewing the shared creation as a group is best experienced in a face-to-face setting where constructive feedback flourishes best. Using Zoom for this feedback session should be seen only as a last resort option if scheduling a face-to-face meeting is not possible. At the feedback session you may ask your own questions about the reviewer comments given on the final article, the group co-creation process, or anything else related to academic writing that you may wish to ask about.
Each group/pair chooses a 20-minute time slot from either of the two available days that fits with the participants’ own schedules. First come first served.

The feedback sessions will be held in room 1592 in Maarintie 8.

William Martin, copyrighted 2022

Guidelines and tools

For accessible and concise guidelines on writing, please check the "Writing short articles that engage the reader", "The Pitfalls of Writing at the School of Electrical Engineering" and the "Guidelines for writing" in the materials section on the left.

Easy tools for group writing are e.g. Teams and shared documents through Microsoft Office 365. All students at Aalto can use the Microsoft Office 365 services on their work and home devices. To download Microsoft Office 365, check the guidelines here. Please find guidelines on how to use Teams here.