Scientific Writing

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:4.00

Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:28:59

Study Course Information
Course Code:		PZK_171		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Politics		Target Audience:		Political Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Māris Andžāns
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		6	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		12
Classes (count)		4	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		8
Total Contact Hours								20
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		4	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		8
Classes (count)		2	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		4
Total Contact Hours								12
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Not required.
Objective:
This course is about training students to think and write like political scientists. Writing a research paper in political science is a specific skill which this course offers by identifying and explaining the different parts of a typical paper – introduction, literature review, model and hypothesis, research design, analysis, assessment and conclusion – and showing how the paper – writing process is broken into manageable tasks: identifying and understanding the debate within a field, designing a strategy for evaluating competing claims, finding appropriate information, engaging in an analysis of that data, and communicating this process and its results to others are critical thinking skills essential for writing a research papers. Eventually this class represents an essential part of developing students as thinkers who can communicate their ideas and reach a higher level of understanding in the discipline of political science (i.e. writing as a learning tool).
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Introduction			Classes		1.00	auditorium
2	Crafting a literature review			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Advancing a model and stating the hypothesis			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
4	Writing an introductory section			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
5	Preparing a research design			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
6	Performing qualitative or quantitative analysis (or some combination of the two)			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
7	Tying the paper together			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
8	Engaging in extensive revising and editing			Classes		1.00	auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Introduction			Classes		0.50	auditorium
2	Crafting a literature review			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		0.50	auditorium
3	Advancing a model and stating the hypothesis			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		0.50	auditorium
4	Writing an introductory section			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
5	Preparing a research design			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
6	Performing qualitative or quantitative analysis (or some combination of the two)			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
7	Tying the paper together			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
8	Engaging in extensive revising and editing			Classes		0.50	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Students independently read literature, prepare for seminars and write a review of literature, prepare a presentation about it. The aim of the seminars is to develop students' ability to argue their opinion; to promote activity; to test knowledge of the topic and materials of the question. The aim of the literature review is to develop the ability to identify the basic problem of the topic; identify and evaluate alternative sources.
Assessment Criteria:
Attendance – 10% Activity and preparedness during seminars – 30% Presentation of literature review – 20% Written literature review – 40%
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):		Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Students will know the basic principles of scientific writing, as well as conduct scientific writing, contra-distinguishing it with popular scientific writing. Students will describe methods, styles, approaches, including academic backgrounds from different countries of scientific writing.
Skills:		Students will write scientific texts both individually and in collaboration with other authors, that is significant in the academic environment. Thus, the emphasis will be put not only on the individual but also on the collective work – how to overcome the incompatibility of different writing styles and different opinions and how to move towards convergence. Students will find and use scientific journals appropriate to the specific articles and their level of knowledge.
Competencies:		Students will create their own scientific articles – either individually or in collaboration with co-authors. Students will apply the knowledge gained in various other courses and combine theoretical and methodological ideas and use the scientific articles of a specifically defined research method.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Baglione, L. 2020. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.