Thesis Seminar Tutors María Esther Lemus Hidalgo, PhD in Ed. M. Ed. Benjamin Stewart M. GDEIE Karla Valdés Márquez January 27, 2014

Agenda Review syllabus Go over course guidelines Present course schedule Cover tips for completing your thesis

Syllabus COURSE DESCRIPTION: Thesis Seminar is a workshop, which will help students to design and carry out a research project related to the teaching and learning processes during the 8th semester of the Bachelor’s degree in English Language Teaching. This project must integrate language-learning theory with a practical application in a classroom, an institution, or in the analysis of ELT materials.

Syllabus GENERAL OBJECTIVE: The student will conduct research integrating the theoretical and practical knowledge related to the field of language teaching or learning.

Syllabus CONTENTS: ∙ Research questions development ∙ Literature review ∙ Instruments design ∙ Data collection ∙ Data analysis and results ∙ Discussion ∙ Conclusion ∙ Abstract

Syllabus METHODOLOGY: Each student will conduct an individual research project based on a topic of interest related to language teaching or learning. Students will be guided throughout the research process as follows: · Writing process (tutor feedback) · Mock presentation · Oral defense · Written thesis

Syllabus ASSESSMENT: A final assessment will be done by a team of three academic examiners for both the written thesis and oral defense. The whole course will have the following percentage: Process with tutors: 40% Journal: Log Reflections Ongoing assessments: Literature review Data collection Results/discussion Final draft Mock presentations

Syllabus - Assessment Oral presentation: 20% Written project (5,000 to 6,000 words): 40% NOTES: APA style is required. If plagiarism is found in the final draft, a grade of 0 (zero) will be given for the course. Refer to the course guidelines. Tutors will evaluate students on a weekly basis. In order to do your mock presentation, you must turn in your final draft of your written thesis by the due date according to the work schedule. You must be punctual to your final presentation. Bibliography (refer to written syllabus)

Course Guidelines Attendance: Attendance will be taken each week. Students should not accumulate more than three absences (i.e., three weeks) during the course. Missing one weekly session with the tutor is equivalent to being absent eight hours. Tutor assessment (40% of total grade): Attendance will be taken each week. Students should not accumulate more than three absences (i.e., three weeks) during the course. Missing one weekly session with the tutor is equivalent to being absent eight hours.

Course Guidelines Rubrics: One rubric will be used for the final thesis paper and a separate rubric for the oral defense. These rubrics will be shared with each student the first day of class and will be the same rubrics examiners use at the end of the semester. Plagiarism: One rubric will be used for the final thesis paper and a separate rubric for the oral defense. These rubrics will be shared with each student the first day of class and will be the same rubrics examiners use at the end of the semester.

Course Guidelines Estimated word-count for each section: Introduction: problem, purpose, and research questions, approximately 250 words Literature review: approximately 2,250 words Method: approximately 500 words

Course Guidelines Estimated word-count for each section (continued): Discussion: approximately 2,500 words Conclusion: approximately 500 words References: A minimum of 10 references are required and should include three-to-four books, articles, and online sources each.

Course Schedule Jan : Choose a topic and divide up in groups, one group per tutor. Feb. 3 - Feb. 28: Complete literature review. Mar : Complete instruments design. Mar Apr. 18: Complete data collection. Apr : Complete results/discussion. May : Complete abstract/conclusion and final draft.

Course Schedule May 26 - Jun. 6: Mock presentations June : Oral defense (Specific dates for each student will be determined at a later date.)

Final Tips For week 1, complete the Preliminary Brainstorming Handout for Thesis SeminarPreliminary Brainstorming Handout for Thesis Seminar Refer to the APA Survival Kit ( survival-guide) in order to avoid common errors in academic writing. survival-guide This presentation is available online: cwXaQmug3e5b5Tc-iZL_- aGG7U44/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms= cwXaQmug3e5b5Tc-iZL_- aGG7U44/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

Final tips UAA Virtual Library: The UAA virtual library has powerful search tools, databases, magazines, and additional external virtual libraries available. Take advantage of this excellent source of information!