Dissertation Lab
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The Dissertation Lab mainly aims to provide students with the basic instruments to structure the final dissertation of the master "Global Politics and Society", and is especially intended for those students who will conduct an outright research for the final dissertation. More specifically, the lab will introduce the main research methods in the social and political sciences, and will illustrate how to define and develop a research topic, how to organize the research work, and how to present the research and its findings, both in written and oral form.
The lab consists of both standard lectures and in-class activities, during which students will be encouraged to apply what they learn, based on their own research interests.
The skills students will acquire through the Dissertation Lab will be useful even in the professional field, especially for writing reports and preparing oral presentations.
For more information, please do not hesitate to be in touch with the professor.
The lab consists of both standard lectures and in-class activities, during which students will be encouraged to apply what they learn, based on their own research interests.
The skills students will acquire through the Dissertation Lab will be useful even in the professional field, especially for writing reports and preparing oral presentations.
For more information, please do not hesitate to be in touch with the professor.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the Dissertation Lab, students will master the following skills:
- How to organize a research work;
- How to collect bibliographic sources and how to review the literature;
- How to find (and collect) the relevant data;
- How to present the research in written form;
- How to present the research in oral form, including the preparation of power-point slide presentations.
- How to organize a research work;
- How to collect bibliographic sources and how to review the literature;
- How to find (and collect) the relevant data;
- How to present the research in written form;
- How to present the research in oral form, including the preparation of power-point slide presentations.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
In case the emergency phase due to the pandemic will continue, please consider the following.
Teaching methods: The course will be delivered on Microsoft Teams. Students are expected to attend the lectures in sync. A recorded version of each lecture will be stored and made available. In-class activities will be held through Microsoft Teams, too.
Syllabus and teaching resources: The course's content and reference material will not change.
Teaching methods: The course will be delivered on Microsoft Teams. Students are expected to attend the lectures in sync. A recorded version of each lecture will be stored and made available. In-class activities will be held through Microsoft Teams, too.
Syllabus and teaching resources: The course's content and reference material will not change.
Course syllabus
Topics discussed during the meetings:
- How to choose a research topic and how to formulate a research question;
- How to collect the literature and how to prepare the literature review;
- How to formulate an argument (thesis) and/or hypothesis;
- How to design the empirical analysis;
- How to present a research in a written essay;
- How to present a research in a talk (using a power-point presentation).
In-class activities and assignments: Each meeting will include a teaching part and a part of in-class activities and assignments. Students will have the opportunity to apply what they learn during the lab to their own research interests and dissertation topics.
Finally, students will prepare a short power-point presentation on their own research project and will present it to their colleagues (about 5-10 slides for a 10-12-minute presentation).
- How to choose a research topic and how to formulate a research question;
- How to collect the literature and how to prepare the literature review;
- How to formulate an argument (thesis) and/or hypothesis;
- How to design the empirical analysis;
- How to present a research in a written essay;
- How to present a research in a talk (using a power-point presentation).
In-class activities and assignments: Each meeting will include a teaching part and a part of in-class activities and assignments. Students will have the opportunity to apply what they learn during the lab to their own research interests and dissertation topics.
Finally, students will prepare a short power-point presentation on their own research project and will present it to their colleagues (about 5-10 slides for a 10-12-minute presentation).
Prerequisites for admission
The Lab is open to: (1) first year students who would like to start organizing the work for the final dissertation in advance; (2) second year students who are about to start working on the final dissertation; (3) second year students who have already started to work on the final dissertation. The Lab will be especially useful for those students who plan to conduct (or are conducting) an outright research for the final exam.
Since several in-class activities will be organized during the Lab, students are strongly encouraged to bring their own laptop (especially during meetings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Students should have a basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Word, Excel and Power-point (or similar).
Since several in-class activities will be organized during the Lab, students are strongly encouraged to bring their own laptop (especially during meetings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Students should have a basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Word, Excel and Power-point (or similar).
Teaching methods
The lab will consist of both lectures, in-class activities, and assignments.
Teaching Resources
Lectures will be based on the following handbook (not compulsory for students):
Baglione, Lisa (2020, fourth edition) Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. SAGE (CQ Press).
Slides and additional material will be uploaded to the Ariel website of the Lab: https://acassanidl.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/Home/
Baglione, Lisa (2020, fourth edition) Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. SAGE (CQ Press).
Slides and additional material will be uploaded to the Ariel website of the Lab: https://acassanidl.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/Home/
Assessment methods and Criteria
There will be no final exam, but students should attend at least 80% of the Lab (eight meetings out of ten) and do the in-class activities and the suggested assignments.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., by appointment via email
Room 2, Department of Social and Political Sciences (1st floor, Building 1)