NORAM3500 – Thesis course, North-American-studies
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Academic writing and research are essential skills – both for potential employers and for entry into a masters program. This course offers a structured opportunity to develop those skills, through assigned writing tasks, in-class discussions, and the writing of a ten page research paper. This topic for this research paper must be approved by the teacher of the course and must fit within that person’s research and teaching areas.
Learning outcome
After completing this course you will have:
- learned how to identify, define, limit, and problematize a relevant topic;
- learned library and research skills necessary to investigate a complex problem more deeply;
- learned how to integrate multiple points of view into a coherent argument;
- learned to develop a structured analysis;
- learned how to identify and describe scholarly ethics, and learn to use the appropriate scholarly apparatus to demonstrate this knowledge;
- practical experience in reading and writing academic English at a higher level;
- experience at presenting your arguments and research publicly;
- experience at giving and receiving oral and written feedback within a group environment.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Students should have passed the exams for at least two other courses in the North American Area studies program, as well as a course in English Grammar.
Teaching
There will be a 2-hour seminar for ten weeks.
Attendance is obligatory at least 8 out of 10 seminars. Additional absences must be justified by documentation given to the exam coordinator.
There will be a set of smaller qualifying assignments.These must be approved for the student to be able to take the exam. Additional absences must be justified by documentation to the exam coordinator. Read more about guidelines for compulsory activities.
Examination
The assessment of the course is based on a term paper of approximately ten pages (4000 words). The topic for the term paper will be determined by the teacher and student together.
Students are required to submit the term paper at an appointed time. Beforehand, students will be given an opportunity to submit a draft of the term paper and receive individual feedback on both the form and content of the draft.
You must submit your paper in Fronter. Read more about submission procedures.
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
English
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
The results will be published on the StudentWeb within three weeks after the exam is completed.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the two consecutive semesters when the course is given.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.