General provisions

The course is included in the Master's Programme in English.

Entry requirements

Finished second-cycle courses in English totalling 15 credits.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course students will be able to

• formulate and delimit a research problem of relevance to scholarship in the students' chosen field;
• choose and justify a theoretical framework appropriate to the research question;
• independently gather material of relevance to the research question;
• demonstrate the ability to engage with criticism and comments in such a way that the quality of the degree project is improved;
• demonstrate knowledge of formal conventions of academic writing;
• independently write and defend an academic degree project in English.

Content

This course discusses relevant academic methods in the prospective area for the individual degree project in English literature so that students are able to formulate a research problem. Students who intend to complete the Magister degree must clearly express their aims at the beginning of the relevant term so that an academic supervisor can be appointed. At the beginning of the term, students discuss their research topic with their supervisor. The supervisor will give feedback on the topic and methodology appropriate for this kind of topic. The module also develops students' skills in textual analysis and argumentation. The length of the degree project should be some 9000 words. The degree project should be presented and discussed at a final seminar.

Instruction

Group instruction and/or individual supervision. All teaching materials are in English. Supervision is given during the semester the student is registered for the first time and to some extent during the immediately following semester. No further supervision may be expected thereafter.

Assessment

Students are examined in the form of continuous assessment as well as on the quality of the final degree project. Assessment of the degree project comprising some 9000 words is primarily based on the student's ability independently to delimit and develop a research question involving textual analysis and to present the ensuing results persuasively and, secondarily, on the form of the degree project in terms of formal criteria and correctness of language use. Each student must also complete a critical review of another student's work at a seminar. Grades are fail, pass, or pass with distinction. Work assigned the grade of pass with distinction must meet criteria of scholarship and linguistic expression associated with excellent work.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Transitional provisions

Please contact the student counsellor for transitional regulations in connection with changes in the curriculum.