180146 SE Philosophy and Economics Thesis Colloquium (2026S)

The colloquium is assessed through the following components:

1) Practical exercises, reading questions, and reflection tasks on skills and methods concerning self-management as a researcher: The colloquium intermittently presents you with different tools for and texts about writing and research self-management, and assignments to read these texts and try out these tools in your thesis writing or research process. Your documentation of these tasks is marked for completeness, not for "correctness". What matters here is that you give the respective method a try, and reflect on whether and how you will implement it in your work. Weight: 15%. Deadline: as specified on the Moodle page for each respective task.
2) Short overview persentation of your research project, of about 3-5 minutes (precise time frame is detailed on Moodle), delivered live during the colloquium. The presentation should include slides or a handout that your respondent can use to prepare for the response. Weight: 15%. Deadline: These materials need to be uploaded by 12 noon the day before the presentation.
3) Presentation of a selected detail from your research project, of about 10-15 minutes (precise time frame is detailed on Moodle), live during the colloquium. The presentation should include slides or a handout that your respondent can use to prepare for the response. Weight: 20%. Deadline: These materials need to be uploaded by 12 noon the day before the presentation.
4) One response each of an overview and a detail presentation. The response consists in the first question to be asked in the discussion of the respective presentation. The question can be slightly longer than usual Q&A question, but should not exceed 3 minutes. Weight of both responses combined: 15%.
5) Chairing a presentation and discussion: The chair presides over the presentation, response, and discussion, attending to time keeping of the presenter and discussant, managing the queue of audience questions, and keeping within the overall time allocated to the presentation, response, and discussion. Weight: 15%.
6) Thesis proposal: A two-page thesis abstract that explains the research question and its background, the methods and arguments you will use, any preliminary hypotheses, as well as the project structure. The abstract must follow a set template that will be provided in class. Weight: 15%. Deadline: June 15, 23:59.
7) Peer feedback on thesis abstract. Deadline: June 30 30, 23:59. A brief peer feedback that answers a few questions about a given abstract. Weight: 5%.
Thesis proposals and peer feedbacks can be submitted at any earlier time as well, as is most helpful for your thesis progress.

For the thesis proposal, you are permitted to use generative AI such as chatGPT as a supplementary tool to aid you in your writing. e.g. to clarify style. If you use such a tool in any step of the writing process, then you must append to your submission a brief explanation of how the technology was used. You are not permitted to use generative AI in any of the weekly tasks, unless this is explicitly stated otherwise.

You are permitted to use generative AI in creating the layout of your slides, but not of the overall content of the presentation. If you use AI for creating slides, you must declare this at the end of your presentation.

Undeclared use of the technology is not permitted and is considered academic misconduct. Use of such technology can and must not replace your understanding and well thought-through argumentative engagement. If I am in doubt about the authorship and tools used in a submission, then I may request of any student that they come to an additional oral examination on their research, in which they need to explain their work and demonstrate their own understanding of all materials they presented and submitted.