This document provides information about a course called Research and Academic Writing & Reporting (RAWR) that helps students develop a proposal for their bachelor thesis. The purpose of RAWR is to address issues with past bachelor theses and better prepare students. Through various activities over 2-3 hours per week, RAWR guides students through the process of defining a topic, conducting research, structuring the proposal, and developing writing skills. Students must submit their proposal by the deadline of May 20th to pass RAWR and be eligible to complete their bachelor thesis the following year. The document outlines challenges students may face and provides tips for defining a thesis topic.

2. RESEARCH and ACADEMIC
WRITING & REPORTING
The way to your bachelor proposal
ellen.batens@kdg.be

3. Table of contents
1. Purpose
2. Challenges
3. Assessment
4. Let’s do it

4. PURPOSE

5. Purpose Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
WHY RAWR?
Bachelor Theses previous years:
Unhappy students
Unhappy lecturers

6. Purpose Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
RAWR TO THE RESCUE!

7. Purpose Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
OUTCOME
End of 2nd year IBS:
Proposal for Bachelor Thesis (= head start thesis)
Bachelor Thesis next year

8. Purpose Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
OUTCOME
Bachelor Thesis next year
Written document of +/- 30 pages
Result of your thoughts & research on a specific topic
Pose a problem or statement
and reject / prove / solve / explain
+ Important for later job opportunities / internship!
(No worries yet, we will guide you…)

9. Purpose Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
WORK NOW + BE PREPARED!
= less unnecessary work next year
= more focus on core business next year
(information, research, structure,
storytelling, sources, excellent writing…)

10. Purpose Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
HOW CAN RAWR HELP YOU?
Different aspects:
Defining the topic, the thesis statement, finding good sources, making correct references,
avoiding writing pitfalls, spicing up writing skills, writing the actual proposal…
You will get intermediate homework + feedback.

11. Purpose Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
ORGANISATION
2-3 hours / week
Difference:
Writing labs / flipped classroom
Feedback moments
Visit to the library
Free working time …

12. Purpose Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
CANVAS IS
OUR VALHALLA

13. CHALLENGES

14. Challenges Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
LARGE GROUPS
Feedback moments
Smaller groups / shorter classes
Check Canvas at all times!

15. Challenges Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
PROCRASTINATING

16. Challenges Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
PROCRASTINATING
NO HOMEWORK = NO FEEDBACK
DEADLINE PROPOSAL:
End of period 4
But lots of time to work in class
 Be there or work at home!

17. Challenges Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
OVERESTIMATING
“My English is top-notch!”
≠ (academic) writing
≠ structuring proposal
≠ decent sources
≠ inventing outline

18. Challenges Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
COMPLEX PROCES
TIMING IS ESSENTIAL!
To do:
Thinking
Reading
Researching
Structuring
Writing
Rewriting…

19. ASSESSMENT

20. Assessment Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
Proposal Bachelor Thesis
DEADLINE: Wednesday 20th of May 4 pm
@shop
+ pdf e-mail (ellen.batens@kdg.be)

21. Assessment Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
Proposal Bachelor Paper
Criteria (will be discussed later as well)
- Outline/summary ok?
- Thesis statement ok?
- Relevant sources?
- Correct references?
- Language?
- Table of contents?
- Mind map?
- Project plan?

22. Assessment Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING

23. Assessment Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
WARNING!
Failing Research and Academic Writing and Reporting
= no thesis in 2020-2021 !
There are no exceptions for this, however far you are progressed in your study career.
A sound thesis proposal is quintessential to a well-founded, coherent and mature thesis,
worthy of an IBS graduate.

24. LET’S DO IT

25. DEFINE THE TOPIC Research and Academic Writing & Reporting

26. DEFINE THE TOPIC Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
Some general tips:
Select something you find interesting.
Your bachelor thesis will require a lot of your time.
Avoid open-ended projects.
You do want to provide an answer.
Choose something that will fit into your time scale.
Small scale with result is better than large scale and staying too vague.

27. DEFINE THE TOPIC Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
Some general tips:
Areas with various views are fertile territory.
Various views allow for comparison
You can conduct a research to clarify certain issues
Be careful with highly controversial areas!
Discuss your ideas with fellow students, lecturers.
Explore different possibilities
Brainstorm together (2 brains know more than one)

28. DEFINE THE TOPIC Research and Academic Writing & Reporting
Remember: you’re not alone, but it’s YOUR subject.
Don’t expect anyone to give a subject to you.