COURSE SYLLABUS
Critical Analysis and Academic Writing, 7.5 credits
Critical Analysis and Academic Writing, 7,5 högskolepoäng
Course Syllabus for students Spring 2018
Course Code: ECOR23
Confirmed by: Council for Undergraduate and Masters Education Apr 15, 2013
Revised by: Council for Undergraduate and Masters Education Oct 22, 2014
Valid From: Jan 19, 2015
Version: 2
Reg number:IHH 2014/04123
Education Cycle: Second-cycle level
Disciplinary domain: Social sciences (75%) and natural sciences (25%)
Subject group: NA1
Specialised in: A1N
Main field of study: Economics

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

On completion of the course the students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

1. explain and discuss important references within a selected field of research, transmitted by academic writing equivalent to an advanced, extensive literature review.
2. identify the research frontier within the selected field of research and relate this to earlier work within the same field.
3. recognize and understand the most important references within a selected specialised topic area, as well as identifying suitable questions for future research within this field.
4. analyze what is meant to be critical, develop an in-depth analysis and focus, build up and integrate critical literature reviews into thesis writing.
5. recognize current research issues in the economics literature.

Skills and abilities

6. learn how to focus, build up and integrate a literature review, equivalent to a literature review in an academic paper.
7. communicate ideas, information and concepts on a specialised economic topic in writing.
8. critically discuss economic theories, and identify potential for future research within a field.
9. demonstrate a clear knowledge within a specialised economic topic.
10. communicate the ideas, information, and concepts used in a selected field of scientific literature in academic seminars.
11. Explain and discuss economic research at an advanced and detailed level.

Judgement and approach

12. analyse and communicate issues in a specialised economic topic from relevant scientific aspects, and from relevant societal and ethical aspects when appropriate.
13. critically discuss and assess matters, questions, and contents of economics research.

Contents

The purpose of this course is as follows:

Type of instruction

The course comprises a number of lectures where different practical aspects and ethical aspects of academic writing are presented and discussed. The student should present the final result in a seminar that includes relevant academic faculty and master-students. The teaching is conducted in English.
The ability to present and discuss one’s own literature review and to identify options for future research is included in the performance judgment.
The academic writing literature review should have a great theoretical depth. It is aimed at identifying the most important research within a selected field. The student will be prepared for future thesis writing, and will have an increased ability to communicate knowledge to an established academic audience.

The teaching is conducted in English.

Prerequisites

Bachelor degree equal 180 credits in Economics (or the equivalent).

Examination and grades

The course is graded A, B, C, D, E, FX or F.

The ILOs within Knowledge and Understanding, Skills and Abilities, Judgment and Approach will be
examined through the written literature review, presentation and opposition. The literature review accounts for 80 %
of the course credit and course grade. The presentation and opposition accounts for 20 % (10 % each) of the course credit and course
grade. To pass the course, the student must pass all parts of the course. The final grade is based on the
combined result of all parts
In assessing the performance of the students’ work the following points are in particular important:

Registration of examination:
Name of the TestValueGrading
Paper6 creditsA/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Presentation1.5 creditsA/B/C/D/E/FX/F

Course evaluation

It is the responsibility of the examiner to ensure that each course is evaluated. At the outset of the course, evaluators must be identified (elected) among the students. The course evaluation is carried out continuously as well as at the end of the course. On the completion of the course the course evaluators and course examiner discuss the course evaluation and possible improvements. A summary report is created and archived. The reports are followed up by program directors and discussed in program groups and with relevant others (depending on issue e.g. Associate Dean of Education, Associate Dean of faculty, Director of PhD Candidates, Dean and Director of Studies). The next time the course runs, students should be informed of any measures taken to improve the course based on the previous course evaluation.

Other information

Academic integrity
JIBS students are expected to maintain a strong academic integrity. This implies to behave within the boundaries of academic rules and expectations relating to all types of teaching and examination.
Copying someone else’s work is a particularly serious offence and can lead to disciplinary action. When you copy someone else’s work, you are plagiarizing. You must not copy sections of work (such as paragraphs, diagrams, tables and words) from any other person, including another student or any other author. Cutting and pasting is a clear example of plagiarism. There is a workshop and online resources to assist you in not plagiarizing called the Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide.
Other forms of breaking academic integrity include (but are not limited to) adding your name to a project you did not work on (or allowing someone to add their name), cheating on an examination, helping other students to cheat and submitting other students work as your own, and using non-allowed electronic equipment during an examination. All of these make you liable to disciplinary action.

Course literature

Literature

The choice of literature will be dependent on the selected research field. This will be selected in collaboration with the course coordinator.