Methodology Seminar

The seminar navigates the student along her/his work on MA research project. In the first semester four basic tasks are pursued. 1) The theme of the M.A. thesis is formulated and assigned: Students map the field and make initial heuristics. The aims, scope, methods, and relevant sources of research are specified. The time schedule is worked out. Finally the abstract and the basic outline of the thesis are formulated. 2) Students are refreshed the memory of basic principles of academic writing and research procedure such as: phases of research; types of sources; efficient, critical, and creative work with literature and sources; methodology and theoretical approaches; proper structure of academic text. 3) Students get acquainted with institutions and other sources of information which are accessible on locale (libraries, archives, databases, etc.). 4) Students read basic theoretical literature according to individual projects.