spring 2019 BIO-3529 Academic skills - 5 ECTS

Type of course

Multi-disciplinary course. This is a master course for students of the Department of arctic and marine biology and the Norwegian College of Fishery Science. This course is recommended during the 1st or the 2nd year of the master program. The maximum limit of participants is 30.

Course content

The course will give the students basic academic skills in the form of scientific writing and giving scientific presentations within the natural sciences. The focus will be on the structure of a scientific text, and we will also devote time in refining your academic English skills. An introduction to a range of library resources, for example relevant databases, scientific search, and the use of reference tools (EndNote X6), will also be given. Moreover, we will discuss important issues like the critical use of sources, what is considered plagiarizing and scientific fraud, and how a good scholarly reputation is evolving. We hope the course will contribute in building a creative and constructive social network of master students at the faculty.

Objectives of the course

Knowledge:

  • communicate research both in written and oral formats
  • know the structure of a scientific writing and the writing process
  • basic presentation techniques
  • critical and ethical use of references and other research material

Skills:

  • prepare and present research results both in written and oral formats in an engaging and understandable way
  • learn to give constructive feed-back to your peers on their writing and presentations refine your scientific English skills
  • how to conduct scientific searches
  • how to use a reference tool (EndNote X6) when writing

General competence:

  • plan, evaluate and edit your own scientific text
  • prepare and present a scientific presentation at scientific conferences
  • understand the relationship between knowledge and communicating knowledge

Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

One week, 31 hours of lectures and 4-11 h group-work. The teaching on the course will be a combination of theory and practical exercises in text editing, and presentation-techniques. We will work in small groups where we will evaluate and give constructive critique to each others texts and presentations. There is a possibility for filming the presentations.

Assessment

Exam: Give a 10 min presentation of master project description plus 15 min oral examination.
Grade: Pass/Fail.

Work requirements:
1) Make a 10 minute presentation on your master-project.
Use how to make scientific presentations - format as far as possible.
2) Obligatory attendance on 80% of lectures
3) Obligatory attendance in group-work assignments.

Resit: no.

Recommended reading/syllabus

Cargill, M. and OConnor, P. 2005. Writing Scientific Research Articles - Strategy and Steps. Wiley-Blackwell. 171 pp. Additional material; articles that will be made accessible for students via Fronter.

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  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 5
  • Course code: BIO-3529