Description:
As more students engage in PhD thesis as collection of papers, and their studies rely on qualitative and interpretive methodologies and analysis from the social sciences, the issue of learning to construct research texts that meet high publication standards is of extreme relevance for the success of the PhD studies. More often than not students learn to write using a “trial and error” method. Indeed, writing successful research papers takes lots of efforts for professional researchers. The process of writing at the level that paper-based dissertations demand is not a “natural” skill that research students master; it is, in fact, one of the most demanding competences that a researcher develops as part of his/her research practice.
This course focuses on the writing of interpretive papers in order to provide students with tools to make more effective and efficient their efforts in writing good, publishable papers. The course will address topics such as:
1. Text deconstruction: Analysis of good paper structure and organization. The analysis focuses on the use of textual resources as well as on the logical and argumentative structure of the text.
2. Understanding different types of research papers: Descriptive and argumentative research texts. Working with resources for argumentation (e.g., empirical material, arguing with literature)
3. Dealing with the review process: A discussion of review processes in journals is provided and concrete examples are presented on how to deal with reviews.
4. Text reconstruction: Improving manuscripts and sharpening for publication.
The course will run using a workshop format with many hands-on sessions to facilitate dialogue and discussion. Participants are also requested to read some background material as preparation. But most importantly, participants have to submit a paper of between 3,000-4,000 words when they sign-up for the course. The course organisers will allocate places on this PhD course on the basis of the quality of the submitted paper. The paper will also be used in workshops during the course.

Organizer:

Professor Paola Valero, Aalborg University, email: paola@learning.aau.dk

Lecturers:
Associate Professor Mathew Cashmore, Aalborg University
Professor Tim Richardson, Aalborg University
Professor Paola Valero

ECTS:
3

Time:
August 28-30, 2013

Place:
Aalborg University Copenhagen, A.C. Meyers Vænge 15

Zip code:
2450

City:
Copenhagen

Number of seats:
20

Deadline:
August 2, 2013

Important information concerning PhD courses
We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 5,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately three months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.