JPN220 Research Methods and Writing of Academic Papers

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jiří Matela, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Marek Mikeš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Zuzana Rozwałka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Ivan Rumánek, PhD. et PhD (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jiří Matela, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
In this course students will learn how to write a scientific essay in the field of humanities and social sciences. The course is particularly geared towards Japan majors and their requirement to submit a final bachelor thesis in order to graduate.
Related to this, the course deals with the following themes:
a) research puzzle and scope of research
b) proper essay structure
c) localization of research sources
d) techniques of scientific writing
e) technique of presentation of research results
This class avoids unnecessary theorizing. It is very practical and focuses on the most common problems students encounter during their bachelor thesis writing.
Learning outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- work out suitable research questions and a research plan
- properly structure the research essay
- work with university e-databases and find sources pertaining to the study of Japan
- cite and paraphrase correctly
- apply a correct writing style
Syllabus
  • 1) General Introduction: Steps and processes in writing a scientific (bachelor's) thesis + formulating a "research question" (Matela 21.2.)
  • 2) Working with literature and sources of information (Mikeš 28.2.)
  • 3) Types and methods of research (Mikeš 13.3.)
  • 4) Structure of the thesis and bibliographic records (Matela 20.3.)
  • 5) Academic language and common language problems 1 (Rumánek 27.3.)
  • 6) Academic language and common language problems 2 (Rumánek 10.4.)
  • 7) Writing introductions 1 (Rozwałka 24.4.)
  • 8) Writing introductions 2, practical exercise (Rozwałka 15.5.)
  • 9) Final task: assignment of the thesis and finding a supervisor: due by 30.6.
Literature
  • SZOTKOWSKÁ LACKOVÁ, Eva. Bakalářská a diplomová práce je hra, aneb, 10+5 tipů, jak napsat závěrečnou práci rychle, efektivně a bez stresu. Vydání první. Písek: Genius Institut, 2019, 119 stran. ISBN 9788027052936. info
  • ZADRAŽILOVÁ, Iva. Jak napsat a obhájit kvalitní diplomovou práci. 2013. URL info
  • FRANCÍREK, František. Absolventská práce : co, jak a proč připravit, zpracovat, napsat a zhodnotit (obhájit). Vyd. 1. Praha: Ingenio et Arti, 2012, 74, 49. ISBN 9788090528703. info
  • KŘOVÁČKOVÁ, Blanka and Martin SKUTIL. Jak napsat seminární a závěrečné práce ve společenských vědách. Vyd. 1. Hradec Králové: Gaudeamus, 2009, 31, xvii. ISBN 9788070418635. info
  • WILHELMOVÁ, Radka. Jak napsat bakalářskou práci. 2008. URL info
  • KUBÁTOVÁ, Helena and Dušan ŠIMEK. Od abstraktu do závěrečné práce : jak napsat diplomovou práci ve společenskovědních a humanitních oborech : praktická příručka. 4., přeprac. vyd. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2007, 90 s. ISBN 9788024415895. info
  • ČMEJRKOVÁ, Světla, František DANEŠ and Jindra SVĚTLÁ. Jak napsat odborný text. Vydání první. Praha: Leda, 1999, 255 stran. ISBN 8085927691. info
  • ECO, Umberto. Jak napsat diplomovou práci. Translated by Ivan Seidl. Olomouc: Votobia, 1997, 271 s. ISBN 8071981737. info
  • SLANÝ, Antonín and Jaroslav NEKUDA. Jak /ne/napsat závěrečnou práci (How to write/ not to write a diploma thesis). Brno: Masarykova univerzita Brno, 1993, 86 pp. ISBN 80-210-0727-3. info
Teaching methods
This class is conducted in a form of lectures and seminar classes supplemented by home assignments. It requires active participation and regular completion of assigned tasks.
Assessment methods
The conditions for the completion of the course are:
- attendance of at least 80 %
- fulfillment of assignments
- finding a thesis supervisor and entering a preliminary thesis description into the information system
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught: every other week.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: konzultace s vedoucí/m práce.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/JPN220