Course for international guest/part time students
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
- Organization
- BTK Department of Netherlandic Studies
- Code
- BBI-NED17-603N
- Title
- Thesis seminar
- Usual semester
- Both
- Published semester
- 2025/26/2
- ECTS
- 4
- Language
- nl
- Learning outcomes
- Students learn how to analyse a Dutch-language literary text or a topic in Dutch linguistics in the form of a thesis. In addition, they gain insight into scientific methodology and learn how to formulate, delimit, and answer a research question. Special attention is paid to developing an academic writing style, constructing clear arguments, and presenting research results in a structured and coherent manner. The course also aims to prepare students for independent research and academic work.
- Course content
- Students become familiar with the structure of an academic text and the basic requirements of a thesis. They learn how to prepare their thesis by compiling a reading list and a work plan, and how to select and process relevant primary and secondary sources. Both formal elements – such as title, subtitle, structure of the text, referencing system, bibliography, appendix, acknowledgements, and abstract – and content-related aspects are discussed. Attention is also paid to formulating a research problem, developing a logical argument, and revising and editing the text. The course supports the step-by-step development of the students’ own thesis project.
- Assessment method
- Students write a chapter of their thesis each week, which is then discussed during the seminar. They also learn how to work with secondary literature, how to cite correctly, and how to avoid plagiarism. The course encourages a critical attitude towards both their own work and that of others, as well as the ability to give and receive constructive feedback. Students are assessed on the basis of the quality of their written chapters, their active participation in class discussions, their ability to incorporate feedback, and the overall progress of their thesis.
- Bibliography
- • Warna Oosterbaan: Een leesbare scriptie. Gids voor het schrijven van scripties, essays en papers. Amsterdam: Prometheus, 2006. • Lieve de Wachter: Academisch schrijven: Een praktische gids. Leuven: Acco Uitgeverij, 2014 • Additional literature varies depending on the topic and research area of the student’s thesis and is selected in consultation with the supervisor.