Course Overview

This is an applied English communication exercise for students who have earned credits for Research Proposal Writing in English 1. Students will learn to give accurate explanations in English about their own research as well as related research areas. The course is led by a research advisor in the Neuroscience degree program who is a native English speaker. The course is designed to develop students' scientific English, logical thinking, and expressive abilities sufficient to write a "master's thesis research proposal in English and a master's thesis abstract in English".

Learning Achievement

By the end of the year, each student will have to have a manuscript of their Master's thesis project. The manuscript should be in the Journal of Neuroscience format, including:
Abstract, Introduction (background research and purpose of study), Methods, Results and Discussion (interpretation of the data).

Competence

Communication competence, Internationality competence, Research information collection / ability to disseminate finding, Ability to think logically

Course prerequisites

Only students who have earned credits for Basic English for Science 1 may take this course.

Grading Philosophy

Grades will be based on student’s presentations, their completion of grant proposal, participation in class discussions and attendance.
30% presentation; 30% grant proposal; 20% participation; 10% attendance.

Course schedule

The aim of the course is to train master’s students in scientific communication in English. The class is structured around giving presentations by each of the students, on their research projects, followed by critical discussion concerning the subject matter, including the basic reasoning behind the study, how it will be done, the expected findings, interpretation, etc.

Course type

Class Exercises

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Matsumoto Masayuki,Pasqualotto Achille,Nakata Mariko

Other information

One of the main shortcomings for many students (both graduate and undergraduate) in Japanese institutions (as witnessed by most professors) is the lack of student participation or involvement in class discussions. This also limits the ability of students to critically evaluate previous published research and to logically plan their own projects. The goal of this class is to actively engage students in discussions and instill in them the ability to participate in the scientific process.

Site for Inquiry

Link to the syllabus provided by the university