OVERVIEW

The course will test and develop certain basic skills necessary (but not sufficient) for conducting academic research in science and engineering. The focus will be on the writing, reading, and presentation of research papers and reports.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course is intended to provide the student with the necessary skills and tools to carry out and present a research topic. It presents the profession of university staff, researchers in research institutions, and in R&D departments in enterprises and how to apply for them. This course includes also the beginning of the bibliographical study and collect information part for the MSc thesis topic.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim is to help researchers write well and present clearly their work. For this purpose, the students will learn the key factors determining the quality of a text or a presentation. Their skills will be developed and tested with examples and exercises.

In their future research, the students will be aware of the importance of good exposition and will have a roadmap for attaining it.

The course will proceed in conjunction with the student’s thesis work. Most assigned reading, writing, and presentation tasks will be on parts of the student’s project.

PREREQUISITES

Reading and writing in English, some research experience.

TEACHING METHODS

A series of lectures and tutorials will introduce the basics of clear and concise technical writing and will test the students’ skills and understandings with multiple exercises. A few homework assignments on editing texts will be given. Another assignment will be the preparation of a review of the state of the art in the area of the student’s thesis project.

The second part of the course and the final exam will focus on visual and oral presentations of research work. Each student will prepare a short presentation of his or her thesis topic. Each will present in front of the full class and answer questions from the audience. There will be two rounds of presentations. After the first, each student will have their work assessed and be assigned to write a review of several colleagues. The second round of presentations, updated and improved, will be the final exam.

Attendance is mandatory.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1.  Clear and concise technical writing.

2. Reading and review of research paper and reports. Preparing a literature overview.

3. Initial and final presentations of the thesis topics. Reviewing others’ research work and presentations.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Materials will be provided on Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PERLA MAIOLINO (President)

RENATO UGO RAFFAELE ZACCARIA

MATTEO ZOPPI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/10635/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will consist in a final round of presentations with questions and comments from the audience.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

50% continuous assessment

Exam schedule