128302 AR Research Methodology (MA / Literature) (2019S)

The class is designed to prepare and support students with their master theses and general research. We will discuss both practical questions of how to begin such a research project as well as general research methods. We will read a good amount of exemplary texts, theoretical texts that can help formulate one's ideas and students will be given the chance to develop a project over the course of the class, if they do not already have one. We will talk about the appropriate scope of a topic and strategies to match one's ideas to the formal requirements of a thesis. Students do not have to have a project yet; this can be developed in class. By the end of term some might have arrived at a concrete research and writing plan. Students will be asked to present a potential project in class as well as contribute to the discussions. We will discuss existing research texts for their relevance and suitability, so students should be prepared to fulfill a certain amount of reading tasks per week as well as occasional synopses of theoretical texts or secondary literature. All materials produced over the course of the semester must be collected in a portfolio and count for the overall grade.