Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

In the craft of research, writing is our most important tool. It is only through writing that we can clarify our ideas to ourselves and others, plan how to explore them, and share our findings with society.

GLOBE4300 aims to demystify the tacit writing chores inscribed in all analytical work and help students identify a variety of writing tasks that are helpful to practice when developing their MA ideas forward and build their research proposal. In this course, students will find time and space to explore the challenges that emerge in the writing process - from first ideas to works-in-progress. The course will foster a constructive feedback culture, where students read and comment on each other’s texts.

Learning outcome

Competences

· To comprehend the multiple uses of writing in the craft and presentation of academic research.

· To create strategies for keeping your thesis process warm, share texts regularly, and comment constructively on work by peers.

· To explore different writing practices that help you develop your research project. · To learn how to develop a research proposal, from start to finish.

Knowledge

· Knowing how to differentiate between explorative and explanatory purposes of writing. · Understanding the purpose of reviewing literature and developing theoretical frameworks

· Understanding of the many uses and misuses of feedback, and the principles reflected in the University of Oslo’s ethical guidelines for supervision.

Skills

  • Command of techniques that inspire writing and split thesis work into multiple, smaller writing projects.
  • Ability to formulate what kind of feedback you seek and integrate this feedback when editing your own text.
  • Develop good techniques for providing helpful, process-oriented feedback on others’ texts.
  • Ability to develop a MA level research proposal to guide further thesis work.

Admission to the course

This course is only for students who are enrolled in the two years master’s programme Development, Environment and Cultural Change (DECC), and is designed for students that are in their second semester.

The course will be compulsory for program students beginning august 2020 and onwards.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Taking a learning-by-doing approach to text work, this course draws on explorative writing and process-oriented feedback to support the development of academic work competences. This way, the course offers a bridge between the SUM4100 and 4200 and your final year thesis work.

The course is activity-based and consists of a series of workshops. Activities include process-oriented feedback in peer review groups, plenary micro-lectures on academic text work, class exercises and discussions, an informal poster exhibition, and joint writing sessions for integrating new ideas.

Before each workshop, participants choose from a course booklet comprising a series of questions that engage with issues relevant to any MA research process and write a 3-5-page reflection note for group feedback. The questions have been formulated with input from former students, current supervisors, and the University of Oslo’s Academic Writing Centre. All participants prepare comments to their peers.

Examination

To pass the course, students must (a) participate in all activities, (b) submit all text assignments, and (c) receive a pass on the project proposal submitted at the end of the course.

If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, it is required that you replace the activity you have been absent from. Students must still submit text assignments and peer review feedback. Read more about regulations regarding compulsory activities. Use of sources and citation: You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at?the web page on examinations at UiO.

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Nov. 26, 2025 8:13:29 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
Spring
Teaching language
English

Contact

Centre for Development and the Environment