Information Acquisition and Writing Skills (3 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

Students can
- expand and develop their knowledge by using systematic information search and retrieval methods.
- adapt the main information search techniques to different databases and user interfaces.
- find information relating to their own field of study in a systematic and efficient manner, including material from international sources.
- find the most relevant, up-to-date, and comprehensive sources relating to their own field.
- use different types of source materials.
- use sources ethically, by observing intellectual property rights etc.
- apply critical judgment to the information found.

Students can:
- plan a writing task in advance and follow the plan throughout the writing process.
- incorporate relevant sources into their own texts in a versatile and critical manner; combine their own ideas with information from different sources in order to create a coherent and stylistically unified whole.
- write, clear, informative and grammatically accurate texts in formal style.
- follow the guidelines for writing a bachelor’s thesis laid down in TAMK’s Report Guide.
The student
- is capable of carrying out research and development projects, utilising existing knowledge in the area concerned.
- has the language skills necessary to work in his/her chosen field, and to develop the field as a whole.
- is capable of taking responsibility for his/her own actions and the consequences of these actions.
- can act in accordance with the ethical principles which apply to his/her professional field.
The Student
- is working easily in different Networks and can develope his own Acting bu Means of them.
- can set up a Network and use systems taking advanced in digitalisation
- is able to estimate the Usabillity of the Service and the Reliability of the Contents

Content (course unit)

- Systematic information retrieval and search methods to expand and develop one’s knowledge
- Basic information search techniques
- Effective information search planning and realization
- Use of different types of source materials
- Ethical use of information, e.g. how should intellectual property rights be observed
- Evaluation of information search results and source materials
- The main Finnish and international databases and information sources for the students’ fields of study

- Stages in the writing process
- The basic structure of a written text
- The conventions of academic writing
- Supporting one’s arguments
- Using sources
- Incorporating in-text references to sources
- Standard lay-out of formal documents
- Writing formal texts

- Different Network Communities
- Relialibity of Networks
- Principles of Networks
- Acting in Networks
- Developing Networks

Evaluation methods and criteria

The whole is assessed on the basis of a problem-based text written during the course.
The evaluation of the essay takes into account the following factors:
- topic delimitation
- setting a goal for writing
- structure of the text
- justification of one's own thoughts and arguments
- use of sources (fluency of referencing, combining one's own thoughts with referenced)
- labeling of sources (source references and list of sources)
- the structure of the problem-based text
- neutral business style
- layout according to the instructions in the text.
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Data acquisition:
The student's task is to search for source material on their own topic and to compile a list of sources of the best findings. The part of the course is evaluated on the basis of the use of suitable source materials, the success of information searches and the relevant sources included in the literature review.

Assessment scale

Pass/Fail

Teaching methods

Activating writing assignments, exercises, independent online learning, guided online learning, online discussion
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distance lectures, assignments, e-learning, workshop work, personal tutoring if needed.

Student workload

81 h

Completion alternatives

AHOT-käytänteistä jne. on sovittava opettajan kanssa erikseen.

Assessment criteria - pass/fail (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Participation in teaching and completion of assigned tasks are the basis for assessment.