JPN220 Research Methods and Writing of Academic Papers

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2027
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites (in Czech)
JPN211 Japanese language III -theory && JPN213 Writing Japanese III
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
In this course students will learn how to write an academic work in the field of humanities. The course is particularly aimed at Japanese Studies majors and their requirement to submit a final bachelor thesis.
Related to this, the course deals with the following themes:
a) defining research
b) paper structure
c) localization of sources
d) techniques of academic writing
e) technique of presentation of research results
f) frequent mistakes
It is a practical course focusing on the most common problems students encounter during the writing of their bachelor thesis.
Learning outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- work out suitable research questions and a research plan
- properly structure a research paper
- work with university e-databases and find sources pertaining to the study of Japan
- cite and paraphrase correctly
- apply correct writing style
Key topics
  • General Introduction: Why write an academic work? Do I have to? How?
  • Steps and processes in writing an academic work + formulating a "research question"
  • Working with literature and sources of information
  • Form and content of an academic paper
  • Procrastination
  • AI
  • Structure of the thesis and bibliographic records
  • Academic language and common language problems
  • Presentation
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • ZINSSER, William. On writing well : the classic guide to writing nonfiction. 30th anniversary ed., 7th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2006, xiii, 321. ISBN 0060891548. info
  • LAMOTT, Anne. Bird by bird : instructions on writing and life. First published. Edinburgh: Canongate, 2020, viii, 293. ISBN 9781786898555. info
    recommended literature
  • BELLOS, David. Is that a fish in your ear? : the amazing adventure of translation. London: Penguin Books, 2012, ix, 390. ISBN 9780241954300. info
  • STEINER, George. After Babel : aspects of language and translation. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992, xviii, 538. ISBN 0-19-212300-9. info
    not specified
  • SZOTKOWSKÁ LACKOVÁ, Eva. Bakalářská a diplomová práce je hra, aneb, 10+5 tipů, jak napsat závěrečnou práci rychle, efektivně a bez stresu. Vydání první. Písek: Genius Institut, 2019, 119 stran. ISBN 9788027052936. info
  • ZADRAŽILOVÁ, Iva. Jak napsat a obhájit kvalitní diplomovou práci. 2013. URL info
  • WILHELMOVÁ, Radka. Jak napsat bakalářskou práci. 2008. URL info
  • KUBÁTOVÁ, Helena and Dušan ŠIMEK. Od abstraktu do závěrečné práce : jak napsat diplomovou práci ve společenskovědních a humanitních oborech : praktická příručka. 4., přeprac. vyd. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2007, 90 s. ISBN 9788024415895. info
  • ČMEJRKOVÁ, Světla; František DANEŠ and Jindra SVĚTLÁ. Jak napsat odborný text. Vydání první. Praha: Leda, 1999, 255 stran. ISBN 8085927691. info
  • ECO, Umberto. Jak napsat diplomovou práci. Translated by Ivan Seidl. Olomouc: Votobia, 1997, 271 s. ISBN 8071981737. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
This class is conducted in a form of lectures and seminar activities supplemented by intensive home assignments. It requires an excellent mastery of native and the English language, active class participation and regular completion of assignments dealing with academic writing and research.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
The conditions for the completion of the course are:
compulsory class attendance (20% of final evaluation)
active class participation and fulfilment of assignments (60% of final evaluation)
finding a thesis supervisor and entering a preliminary thesis description entered into the information system until the end of the teaching part of the term (20% of final evaluation)
To receive the final assessment, the sum of all parts must be greater than 80%.
Alternate completion
There is no alternative form of course completion. Regularly class attendance, active participation and completion of assignments is a necessary requirement for final evaluation and course competion.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2027, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2027/JPN220