Prerequisits:

None required.

Content (Syllabus outline):

Methodology in the humanities and social sciences:

• Various approaches in the humanities and social sciences
• Preparatory period and choosing a topic
• Theoretical orientation
• Selection and preparation of research methods
• Quantitative and qualitative methods
• Fieldwork
• Archival research
• Finding relevant literature and using the internet

The quality of research:

• Data collection: quantity and quality
• The history of the research topic and the present state of the art
• Thorough insights and understandingActive and critical reading of sources
• Summarizing and evaluating sources in one’s own words
• Analysis of data and views
• Synthesis

Argumentation:

• Outlining arguments
• Logics and relevance of arguments
• The importance of facts in building arguments
• Objectivity and subjectivity of arguments
• Development arguments
• Proofs and convincing arguments
• Critical analysis of other researchers’ arguments
• The most common mistakes in argumentation (lack of knowledge, generalizations, non sequitur, ad hominem, etc.)

Structure and organization of academic writing:

• Organizing thoughts
• Developing and positioning a thesis
• Defending one’s position
• Choosing language for one’s aim and audience
• Narrative and descriptive writing
• Analytical and deductive/inductive ways of writing
• Illustrating meanings and supporting arguments with examples
• Comparison
• Choosing titles and key words
• Abstracts, introductions, and conclusions
• Constructing paragraphs and connection
• Sources and citation
• Plagiarism

Writing academic texts:

• Writing as a process
• Writing strategies
• Relevance and clarity of writing
• Sketches, corrections, improvements, andrearrangements of texts
• Revisions
• Writing research projects, reports, syllabuses
• Writing articles and essays
• Writing a doctoral dissertation

Readings:

• Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams. 2006. The Craft of Research. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
• Cottrell, Stella. 2005. Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument (Palgrave Study Guides). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Konstantinović, Radomir. 2024. Filozofija majhnega kraja. Ljubljana, Beletrina, Knjižna zbirka Koda.
• Martinich, Aloysius P. 2016. Philosophical Writing: An Introduction. 4th edition. John Wiley & Sons.
• Newstok, Scott. 2020. How to Think like Shakespeare: Lessons from a Renaissance Education. Princeton University Press.
• Soles Derek & Graham Lawler (ur.). 2005. The Academic Essay: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Edit. Studymates Ltd.
• Weston, Anthony. 2006. Creativity for Critical Thinkers. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Objectives and competences

This interdisciplinary course offers students in different fields of the humanities and social sciences an insight into the entire research process with inclusion of guest lecturers, from preparation for research to the final product: publication of results. After an overview of the multiplicity of research methods, the main emphasis is on critical reading of literature, developing thinking skills and related ideas and arguments, and thorough understanding of structures, methods, and plans for academic writing. Students are expected to be able to speak and write in various academic and public contexts.

Intended learning outcomes:

Students develop competence for choosing the relevant literature, capacity for analytical thinking, skill for argumentation and better understanding of the use of a written word.

The result is in the form of a written paper (10–16 pages) in which the student analyses a particular event, problem or theoretical issue and supports the arguments by relevant literature.

Learning and teaching methods:

Types of learning/teaching:

• Frontal teaching
• Independent students work
• e-learning

Teaching methods:

• Explanation
• Conversation/discussion/debate
• Work with texts
• Case studies

Assessment

• short written assignments 70 %
• active participation in classes and seminars