12241 - PhD Thesis Writing Skills Modulübersicht

Module Number: 12241
Module Title:PhD Thesis Writing Skills
  Schreibkompetenzen PhD Thesis
Department: Faculty 2 - Environment and Natural Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. phil. Raab, Thomas
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:2 semesters
Frequency of Offer: Every winter semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:The module helps PhD students to develop their writing skills as young researchers. Unlike a master's thesis, writing a doctoral dissertation is a substantial project and a new experience for most PhD candidates. In addition to developing their writing skills, PhD students must develop other skills, such as time management and planning the writing process. They also need to learn how to integrate their sources. The module combines lectures, group work, student presentations and exercises. It is divided into three consecutive parts. By the end of the module, the PhD candidates should be able to overcome the challenges of writing a coherent and clear dissertation.
Contents:Part 1 – Writing a Dissertation: Common Concerns

  • Kick-Off Workshop with Professor Raab, Dr. Bonhage and R. Rode (1h 30m)
In the kick-off workshop, the instructors introduce the participants to the module. The workshop discusses the content and requirements of the module, including those for monographs and article-based PhD theses.
  • Online Workshop “Introduction to the TwentyOne Skills Learning Hub” (1h)
This online workshop introduces the participants to using the online learning platform in part 2. The platform contains mandatory self-study courses.
 
Part 2 – Clarity and Effectiveness

Self-study Units (TwentyOne Skills Learning Hub*):
  • Time-Management: Seven Techniques for More Efficiency (2h 10m)
  • Scientific Writing (1h 15m)
  • Forms of Plagiarism and How to Avoid Them (1h 20m)
  • Good Scientific Practice: Introduction and General Principles (1h 30m)
* The TwentyOne Skills Learning Hub is an online platform that offers on-demand self-study courses. The GRS has obtained licenses for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers at BTU. We will provide each participant with access to the learning hub. Moreover, we will ask the provider, TwentyOne Skills, to offer an introductory online workshop to explain how the platform works. Upon completing each self-study course, the participants will obtain a certificate proving they finished the course.
 
Self-study Units (University Library**):
  • Zotero Referencing Software (20m)
  • How to Publish Your Thesis (1h)
** The University Library offers these self-study courses through Moodle. Although participants will not receive a certificate upon completion, the module's assessment covers these topics (consistent citation, working plan for completing and publishing the thesis).
 
Part 3 – Strategies for a Logical Structure
  • Final Q&A Workshop with Professor Raab, Dr. Bonhage, and R. Rode (1h 30m)
The final workshop serves to answer the participants’ questions concerning the structure of the dissertation and the submission of the final assignments (i.e., working plan, long outline and draft text)
Recommended Prerequisites:For PhD students of Environmental and Resource Management, it is recommended to pass the module „Academic Research and Methods” before taking this module.

For PhD students of Heritage Studies it is recommended to pass the module “Theories / Methods” before taking this module.
Mandatory Prerequisites:None
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Seminar / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:Recommended readings:
Bailey, S. 2006, Academic Writing. A Handbook for International Students, London and New York, Routledge
Deane, M. 2010, Inside Track to Academic Research, Writing & Referencing, Harlow, Pearson Education Limited
Gillet, A. et al. 2009: Inside Track to Academic Research, Writing & Referencing, Harlow, Pearson Education Limited
Murray, N. and Beglar, D. 2009, Writing Dissertations & Theses, Harlow, Pearson Education Limited
Thody, A. 2006, Writing and Presenting Research, Sage, London, 2006
Wallace, M. and Wray, A. 2011, Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates, London, Sage
Williams, J. M. et al. 2007, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace, Pearson Longman, New York
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • Active participation in the workshops and completion of all self-study units (certificates provided by TwentyOne Skills and the University Library) (20 %)
  • Working plan for completing and publishing the PhD thesis (Gantt Chart) (20 %)
  • Long outline PhD thesis (i.e., table of contents with short comments summarising each chapter and section) (30 %)
  • Draft text 3-5 pp. (e.g., section from literature review) (30 %)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Abschluss im Ausland / Environmental and Resource Management / keine PO
  • Structural Doctoral Programme / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2017
  • Structural Doctoral Programme / Heritage Studies / PO 2017
  • Abschluss im Ausland / Power Engineering / keine PO
  • Structural Doctoral Programme / Power Engineering / PO 2021
Remarks:None
Module Components:
240466 Seminar for doctoral candidates PhD Thesis Writing Skills
Components to be offered in the Current Semester: