2023/2024
How to Write a Master's Thesis in English: Strategies for Novice Writers
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'
Type:
Mago-Lego
Delivered by:
Department of Foreign Languages
When:
3 module
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors:
Natalia V. Smirnova
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
32
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This module focuses on how to write a masters’ thesis in English. The participants will develop an understanding of the genre, and its rhetorical structure at the macro and micro levels. We will discuss the nature of doing research and producing a text, and the key challenges novice writers face in research text production. We will develop effective strategies for independent research writing, and focus on three key thesis sub genres, namely introduction, literature review, and methodology. The participants will 1) understand what it means and takes to produce a master’s thesis; 2) learn how to rhetorically structure the thesis and its sub sections and why; 3) practice how to write an abstract, introduction and literature review sections; 4) develop an effective writing routine; and 5) learn to revise and edit their texts for clarity. The key learning outcome is a masters’ thesis draft (3 core sections) produced by each participant. B2 CEFR is prerequisite.
Learning Objectives
- Academic language is nobody’s native language. Writing is a type of social practice. Academic conventions and norms are invisible, so the ability to ‘notice’ them is essential for novice writers. As result, you write more effectively and become a more independent writer.
- Course requirements: critically engage with the course materials ; meet the given deadlines for the assigned activities; take an active part in online discussions by helping us all progress with drafts; write a draft thesis; write, write, revise, and write again.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Understand the big picture of research writing globally
- Produce a thesis draft (abstract, introduction, literature review) which meets the linguistic/rhetorical/discourse conventions of the discipline
- Revise and edit your draft
- Evaluate drafts by other students
Course Contents
- The nature of research writing in the globalized world. Your master’s thesis and you
- The process: from topic towards research question towards research design
- IMRAD structure. Introduction
- You are what you read. Literature review
- Writing as thinking. Developing a strong argument
- Methodology
- Revise and edit: high and low order writing concerns
Assessment Elements
- Work in progress assignments1. ABC statement = 10 points max 2. Introduction draft = 10 points max 3. Literature review draft = 10 points max
- ExamPeer review a draft = 10 points max.
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Academic discourse : English in a global context, Hyland, K., 2009
- Telling a research story. Writing a literarure review, Feak, C.B., 2009
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Elements of style, Strunk, W., 2000
- Writing your master's thesis : from A to Zen, Nygaard, L. P., 2017