Universität Wien

233005 SE It´s not rocket science (2021S)

How to get your MA thesis started

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 23 - Soziologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 03.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital (Kickoff Class)
  • Wednesday 10.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital
  • Wednesday 17.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital
  • Wednesday 24.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital
  • Wednesday 14.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital
  • Wednesday 21.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital
  • Wednesday 28.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital
  • Wednesday 05.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital
  • Wednesday 12.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital
  • Wednesday 19.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this course, we will explore different ways of finding information, developing a research idea and framing a research question, defining the scope of a MA thesis project as well as different ways of communicating ideas and providing constructive feedback. The Master's thesis course includes the stages of defining a topic and formulating a problem statement, selecting and reviewing relevant literature, designing an empirical study (including data collection, analysis and timeframe), learning how to make theoretical arguments and finally writing and re-writing the thesis exposé while being continuously supported by feedback from peers, the tutor and the lecturer. Through creative exercises and formats, students will learn where to look for a topic, discuss their work and ideas and that of their peers, prepare a poster to be presented during a poster walk at the department (or online) and feel confident to get their thesis started.
We will work with peer groups and tutorials to develop individual thesis exposés. To that end, students are expected to read the required literature, participate in class discussions, develop their own thesis proposal and comment and evaluate other students’ proposals.

Assessment and permitted materials

To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:
Read and discuss the required readings
Develop a MA thesis expose on their own
Comment and evaluate other students’ exposés in their respective ‘peer group’

This course uses the plagiarism-detection service Turnitin for larger assignments.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The grading of the course is based on the separate assessment of different tasks on a scale of 1-5.

Preparation of texts and in-class participation: 10 %, assessed individually, feedback on request;
Drafts and final version of own proposal: 60 %, assessed individually,
feedback by lecturer;
Comments and feedback in the peer-group: 30 %, assessed individually, feedback on request;

Minimum requirements
To successfully complete the course, a weighted average of at least 4,5 is required. Failure to meet the
attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic
work may also be considered in the course assessment.

Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, the course cannot be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.

Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly reusing own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.

Examination topics

Reading list


Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:20