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Bachelor’s Thesis Seminar

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:7.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:26:11
Study Course Information
Course Code:KSK_119LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Communication SciencesTarget Audience:Communication Science; Information and Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Ruta Siliņa
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)6Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures12
Classes (count)5Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes10
Total Contact Hours22
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)4Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures8
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Research Methods in Social Sciences, Qualitative Research Methods, Communication Theories, Mass Communication Theories.
Objective:
To provide necessary information and to ensure seminar discussions so that each student drafts abstracts of their own Bachelor’s thesis and defends them successfully, continuing to work on their Bachelor’s thesis after course requirements are satisfied. During the course students will be familiarised with the requirements to the Bachelor’s thesis, academic writing and academic ethics, as well as will discuss at seminars theory, methodology and data acquisition problems in the process of drafting a theoretical and creative Bachelor’s thesis related to communication, journalism, public relations, advertising, multimedia and other study directions. At seminars, when presenting Bachelor’s thesis ideas, students will clarify concepts of the Bachelor’s thesis, adapt theoretical rationale, research methodology and data acquisition process to each topic and goals of each specific works.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1What do you expect when writing a bachelor's thesis? (Klāvs Sedlenieks) Course content and logic, rules BD development terms, conditions, structure, Introduction, relevance and novelty of the bachelor thesisLectures1.00auditorium
2Creative or research bachelor's thesis? (Alnis Stakle)Lectures1.00auditorium
3Formulating the topic of the bachelor's thesis, justifying the topicality of the thesis (Ruta Siliņa, Līga Ozoliņa)Classes1.00auditorium
4Selection of the theoretical framework and selection of literature for the bachelor's thesis. Revisiting the macro, meso, and micro levels of theory. (Ilva Skulte)Lectures1.00auditorium
5The choice of the theoretical framework of the bachelor thesis, its justification. (Anda Rožukalne, Ilva Skulte, Sergejs Kruks, Klāvs Sedlenieks)Classes1.00auditorium
6A repeated look at the most common research methods, their application) (Sergejs Kruks)Lectures1.00auditorium
7Selection of research methods and development of research design (Diāna Kiščenko, Emīls Ķīlis, Vineta Silkāne, Sergejs Kruks)Classes1.00auditorium
8Concept of creative work (Dita Rietuma)Classes1.00auditorium
9Designing references. Academic ethics. Plagiarism (Klāvs Sedlenieks)Lectures1.00auditorium
10Scientific language. Rules for creating a scientific text. (Dite Liepa)Lectures1.00auditorium
11Bachelor thesis concept writing, scientific languages (Dite Liepa)Classes1.00auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1What do you expect when writing a bachelor's thesis? (Klāvs Sedlenieks) Course content and logic, rules BD development terms, conditions, structure, Introduction, relevance and novelty of the bachelor thesisLectures1.00auditorium
3Formulating the topic of the bachelor's thesis, justifying the topicality of the thesis (Ruta Siliņa, Līga Ozoliņa)Classes1.00auditorium
4Selection of the theoretical framework and selection of literature for the bachelor's thesis. Revisiting the macro, meso, and micro levels of theory. (Ilva Skulte)Lectures1.00auditorium
5The choice of the theoretical framework of the bachelor thesis, its justification. (Anda Rožukalne, Ilva Skulte, Sergejs Kruks, Klāvs Sedlenieks)Classes1.00auditorium
6A repeated look at the most common research methods, their application) (Sergejs Kruks)Lectures1.00auditorium
7Selection of research methods and development of research design (Diāna Kiščenko, Emīls Ķīlis, Vineta Silkāne, Sergejs Kruks)Classes1.00auditorium
8Concept of creative work (Dita Rietuma)Classes0.50
10Scientific language. Rules for creating a scientific text. (Dite Liepa)Lectures1.00auditorium
11Bachelor thesis concept writing, scientific languages (Dite Liepa)Classes0.50auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
The course will be implemented in the form of lectures, discussions, individual presentations. During the course students should attend a joint academic writing lecture and should put their names on the lists of university lecturers (10 people per group), whose topic is related to the topic, goal, research or creative tasks of the Bachelor’s thesis. Students develop topics of Bachelor’s thesis, which are related to the knowledge obtained in the study programme, having familiarised with methodical instructions of the Bachelor’s thesis. The student shall search for literature in accordance with his/her topic of the Bachelor’s thesis. Attendance of lectures and seminars is mandatory! How to prepare for a seminar? 1) Students attend a joint lecture and put their names on the list for 1 seminar creating the concept of their Bachelor’s thesis based in methodical instructions of the Bachelor’s thesis. 2) The first version of the Bachelor’s thesis abstracts should be taken to the seminar to be presented and discussed at the seminar. 3) During the seminar the list of readings for the Bachelor’s thesis that has been prepared in advance should be discussed, presenting the overview of theoretical literature used in the Bachelor’s thesis on 5 pages. Each student should bring to the seminar a printed overview of readings so that the university lecturer could familiarise with understanding of the readings chosen for the Bachelor’s thesis. 4) 3 days before the seminar 2-3 questions for the university lecturer/-s should be posted in the e-studies environment.
Assessment Criteria:
Participation in lectures – 20%. Preparedness for seminars – 30%. Defence of abstracts – 50%.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:About requirements to the Bachelor’s thesis – methodical instructions. About the concept of the Bachelor’s thesis.
Skills:To prepare the idea of the Bachelor’s thesis, to formulate goals, tasks, novelty, topicality, theoretical foundation, select research methods or creative work concept guidelines.
Competencies:To create an independent research or creative work in communication science, formulating an original and topical topic.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Dažādu kursu literatūra par pētījuma metodēm un komunikācijas teorijām, kā arī atsauču veidošanu
2Bakalaura darba veidošanas metodiskie norādījumi pētnieciskajiem un radošajiem darbiem
3RSU KF bakalaura darba metodiskie norādījumi
4How to Write a Thesis The MIT Press Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England Umberto Eco translated by Caterina Mongiat Farina and Geoff Farina foreword by Francesco Erspamer
5Atsauču un darbā izmantoto avotu un literatūras saraksta noformēšanas metodiskie norādījumi
6Lipson, Ch. How to Write a BA Thesis: A Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished Paper (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
Additional Reading
1An Insider’s Guide On How To Write A Thesis When You’re Short On Time
2Structuring a thesis
3How to Write a Good Bachelor Thesis
Other Information Sources
1How to Write a Tesis: A Working Guide R (Chandra) Chandrasekhar M, Centre for Intelligent Information Processing Systems (CIIPS) School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering e University of Western Australia Stirling Highway, Craw
2How to Write an Undergraduate Dissertation – Tips for Students
3A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations