The course is designed to assist 4th year undergraduate students in writing a project proposal in sociology/social sciences in English. It also helps them in planning and designing their undergraduate thesis.
The main elements of the course are lectures and practice sessions covering various ways of writing the project proposal and thesis chapters. The course is taught in English.
Learning Objectives
The course is designed to prepare students for work in academic and consulting fields in which research writing is a requirement. The class will combine lectures, discussions, and practice sessions to reinforce students’ skills in communicating ideas in oral presentations and in clear and effective academic prose. The course is divided into multiple lectures that will teach you how to write a BA thesis research proposal (a concise version), a longer version, and the BA thesis. In various parts of the course, you will learn to construct the micro-level “building blocks” of effective academic writing, such as choosing stronger words, writing concise and effective sentences, and shaping strong paragraphs. The course also focuses on rhetoric, cohesion, and incorporating evidence. Problem and solution, cause and effect, and other key models of academic argumentation will be reviewed. Eventually, the course also consolidates students’ visual presentation and oral discussion skills. All parts of the course incorporate exercises for the confident use of academic language and argumentation styles.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Complete a full draft of their qualification Project Proposal; prepare its presentation and defense
Improve academic vocabulary, learn to choose stronger words
Understand the advantages and disadvantages of using passive vs active voice
Write concise, effective sentences and paragraphs
Introduce, position and integrate source material into the body of a paper; employ quotation, paraphrase and summary; avoid plagiarism
Complete a full draft of their Research/Project Proposal; prepare its presentation and defense.
Understand the various ways in which research proposal and thesis can be organized.
Write concise, effective sentences and paragraphs.
Introduce, position, and integrate source material into the body of a paper; employ quotation, paraphrase, and summary; avoid plagiarism.
Course Contents
Session 1 Overview. Structuring a sentence: word order.
Session 2 . Sentences. Word order.
Session 3. Paragraphs.
Session 4. Paragraphs.
Session 5. Summarizing, paraphrasing, quotations.
Session 6. Literature review.
Session 7. Summarizing, paraphrasing, quotations.
Session 8. Organization and cohesion.
Session 9. Grant Proposals.
Session 10. Submitting an article. Polishing and proofreading.
Session 11. Introduction to the Project Proposal.
Session 12. Methods and Hypotheses.
Session 13. Conclusion, Abstract and Title.
Session 14. Communicating with visual aids. Oral defense.
Session 15. In-class presentation of a peer-reviewed journal article OR own Project Proposal
Session 1 How to write a good research/project proposal (and thesis)
Session 2. Title and the Introduction
Session 3. Literature review
Session 4. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework
Session 5. Research Design, Method, and Methodology
Session 6. Framing Research Questions
Session 7. Hypothesis, Assumptions, and Conjectural Statements
Session 8. Thesis Chapterization and Data Analysis
Session 9. Conclusion and Discussion
Session 10. Planning Bibliography and Plagiarism issues.
Session 11. Oral defense of proposal part I
Session 12. Oral defense of proposal part II
Assessment Elements
Final Essay
For this course you have to write a structured project proposal of about 1500 words + references
Final Presentation of the essay
Present the proposal with slides in about 5-7 minutes.
Interim Assessment
2025/2026 3rd module
0.7 * Final Essay + 0.3 * Final Presentation of the essay
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
Bailey, S. (2015). Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students (Vol. Fourth edition). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=862062
Recommended Additional Bibliography
Hartley, J. (2008). Academic Writing and Publishing : A Practical Handbook. New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=224109
Instructor
Roy Chowdhury, Arnab
Course Syllabus
Abstract
Learning Objectives
Expected Learning Outcomes
Course Contents
Assessment Elements
Interim Assessment
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
Recommended Additional Bibliography
Authors