Course content

The course prepares students for the communication of research and expert knowledge to different target audiences, such as participants in and users of research, business and industry, authorities and the general public. Students explore and learn about different strategies, tools and genres for disseminating expert knowledge (master’s theses, scientific articles, opinion pieces, blog posts, oral presentations, workshops, etc.) In particular, the course emphasizes the master’s thesis as a genre and the work students do in defining and planning their project, in the form of a project outline. Scientific writing and argumentation are key topics. This will enable students to write a better master’s thesis, and is especially important for students who have little experience with these types of texts.

Learning outcome

Candidates who have completed this course will have acquired the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge
The candidate
- has advanced insight into different genres and strategies for knowledge dissemination across disciplines and practices
- has in-depth insight into how the dissemination of expert knowledge must be related to the values and norms of the target audience
- has advanced knowledge of norms and quality criteria that apply to the master’s thesis as a genre

Skills
The candidate
- is able to analyze the needs of different target audiences for the dissemination of their own research
- is able to identify new relevant target audiences for research and expert knowledge and to explore a wide range of strategies for knowledge dissemination
- is proficient in scientific writing and argumentation and is able to apply this in the outline for their master’s thesis

General competence
The candidate
- has an in-depth understanding of challenges associated with the communication of research and expert knowledge in the knowledge society
- is able to critically reflect on the significance of different types of knowledge dissemination in professional practice

Learning methods and activities

During the sessions, we emphasize active participation from students in the form of presenting and discussing different types of knowledge dissemination. Students work in groups, both digitally and in sessions.
When the students are working on their project outlines, they will work in groups based on related theoretical, methodological or empirical frameworks. These groups will collaborate and give each other feedback on drafts between sessions.

Compulsory assignments

• Compulsory assignments
• Compulsory activity

Further on evaluation

Form of assessment and grading scale:
Portfolio assessment. The portfolio consists of three products, which are assessed collectively for a final grade: revised group assignment on knowledge dissemination, a revised project outline and a reflective journal on the relevance of the candidate’s master’s project for different groups, including thoughts on the dissemination of results to different target audiences. In the overall assessment, the individual papers carry more weight than the group paper.

In order to pass, each individual examination part must be assessed as meeting the criteria for a passing grade. In the event of a fail, all parts of the examination must be taken again.

Grading scale: A–F.

Compulsory activities:
Group assignment: choose a master’s thesis in applied linguistics (with a good grade) and develop a plan for dissemination of the results of this thesis to different target audiences (e.g. the general public, professionals, users, etc.).
Prepare a first draft of a project outline, including a defined research question, theoretical framework, research method, choice of empirical data and ethical considerations.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Assumes admission to the Master's program in language and communication in professions