SOCd0104/SOCd0105 - Dissertation Thesis Seminar I./II.

(updated 10. 3. 2020)


The purpose of the course is to help students with their research-in-progress and especially with
the process of writing a research paper/dissertation chapter. During the course, we will mimic the
review process: we will be assigning reviewers and editors to each paper, discussing reviews and
encouraging particular revisions. We will discuss specific writing/revision strategies throughout
the course.



Course outline and duties – SOCd0105
 1. Each student should complete and share a serious draft of a research paper or dissertation
chapter by March 21, 2020. Share the paper via IS, using the „homework vaults“ utility.
 2. Each student reads all other available papers.
 3. Each student serves as “editor” for one other paper. Assignment of editors to papers will be
done through a shared excel file after all papers have been submitted. The editor reads the paper,
the reviews, moderates discussion (this happens during the first group meeting), and provides
written revision guidelines after the meeting.
 4. All papers receive an invitation to be “revised and resubmitted”.
 5. All papers are revised and resubmitted by authors – revisions could/should be discussed with
suprvisors+consultants as well as course instructors. Authors also compile a response-to-reviews
letter explaining and justifying revisions (and possibly refusing some if they strongly feel that
they are not substantiated).
 6. Resubmitted papers/responses are reviewed again by the same reviewers. Papers and reviews are
discussed again (in a 2^nd group meeting). Editors again serve as discussion leaders. Editors
propose a final decision on the manuscript: reject/publish. Final publication decision is made by
course instructors on the basis of the editor’s recommendation. Authors of papers “accepted for
publication” are granted credits.



Course outline and duties – SOCd0104
 1. All students read all available papers and provide written reviews, one student writes one
review per paper.
 2. All students read all available reviews.
 3. All students participate in the 1^st group meeting, provide feedback, critique and suggestions
for improving the paper.
 4. All students read all resubmitted papers/responses and provide a new set of reviews.
 5. All students participate in 2^nd group meeting, where revised papers, reviews, responses are
discussed.




Calendar:

1^st drafts are submitted into IS by March 21, 2020

First reviews are submitted by March 30, 2020

1^st group meeting: April 6, 12-4pm, room 3.70

Revised papers + response letters are resubmitted by June 7, 2020

Reviews of resubmitted papers are submitted by June 14, 2020

2^nd group meeting: June 19, 2020, 12-4pm, room 3.70