African Languages, Independent Project at Bachelor Level

The course is offered as a freestanding course.

To be admitted to the course, students must have completed 10 credits on the course AF1301, or completed the course AF1311, and courses equivalent to at least 60 credits in at least two of the following subjects: Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Xhosa/Zulu, Oromo, linguistics/general linguistics, or the equivalent thereof. Of these, courses in linguistics/general linguistics may comprise a maximum of 30 credits. A further requirement is 15 credits in Academic Communication in English or the equivalent thereof. Exception is made to the requirement for Swedish as a general entry requirement.

The major aim of the thesis course is that students should practice writing and defending their own scholarly work using idiomatic academic English. Students will, therefore, in consultation with their supervisors, practice planning a linguistic study and independently carry out and present it. Students are also required to defend their theses at a seminar where they also review another thesis in a critical and constructive way.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• show specialised knowledge of that aspect of African linguistics that is treated in the thesis as well as of current research on that topic:

Competence and skills

• delimit an appropriate topic with regard to the scope of the project;
• independently identify and formulate research questions;
• justify and carry out the project in a consistent and appropriate way, with adequate methods and within the given time frames;
• analyse and assess different sources that are included in the work and integrate these in his/her own analysis;
• orally and in writing give an account of and discuss his/her conclusions with different groups of people;
• organize and structure the essay in a scholarly fashion by adhering to standard requirements on terminology and formal aspects of the text;

Judgement and approach

• demonstrate, using a critical approach, his/her ability to search, collect, evaluate and interpret relevant information in the chosen field;
• observe current research-ethical norms;
• take responsibility for his/her own learning process.

The teaching is conducted in the form of seminars and supervision.

Language of instruction: English

To what extent the student has achieved the aim of the course is examined through an independent research project in the form of a thesis. The thesis should be written in English. The thesis should also be defended at a final seminar which is open to the public. The student should also analyse and discuss another student's thesis critically. For more specific assessment criteria, see the department's template for assessing theses.

A student who has failed a course item is eligible for a retake exam/assignment. In connection with written assignments, supplementary assignments may be offered in order for the student to achieve a Pass grade. Such a supplementary assignment should be done within the stipulated time (normally five working days after the result has been
posted). Otherwise a Fail grade will be reported.

A student who has completed an exam/assignment with a passing grade is not eligible for a retake for the purpose of receiving a higher grade. Nor may a student withdraw a test/assignment once it has been submitted for the purpose of avoiding receiving a grade
for the work.

If a student who has twice received a failing grade for the same examination component wishes to change examiner ahead of the next examination session, such a request should be made to the department in writing and should be approved by the department unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

If the University of Gothenburg has decided that a student is eligible for special study support, the examiner may, provided it is compatible with the aim of the course and it can be done within the scope of available resources, decide to offer the student an adjusted examination or a different examination format.

If the course has been discontinued or substantially revised, a student should be guaranteed to sit the examination on at least three occasions (including the ordinary examination occasion) during a period of at least one year, but not later than two years after the course was discontinued or revised. The same applies to internships and professional placements (VFU), although this is restricted to just one additional examination session.

If you do not finish your essay: about supervision, examination and re-registration

1. Supervision of essays is linked to the term when a student is registered on the course for the first time. Supervision can be done individually or in a group. Hours for supervision are allotted at the course introduction for the term in question.

2. If students are unable to finish their essays within the course period, they must notify the Director of Studies as soon as possible in order to save any remaining supervision for the next course opportunity. Such a notification must be given before the course ends. If no notification is given, the supervision will be regarded as forfeited and the students only have the right to be examined in connection with later examination occasions.

3. Any remaining supervision that has been saved according to point 2. can be used during the six (6) subsequent terms from the first occasion when the student registered on the course. Saved supervision may only be used during one and the same term. After
that, students only have the right to have their essays examined in connection with a re-registration on the course. A student may be given a new supervisor when the remaining supervision is used.

4. Students who have saved supervision according to point 2 and who intend to use it in connection with a later course opportunity, need to notify the Director of Studies for the subject in question no later than 20 April (before the Autumn term) or 20 October (for the Spring term). This also applies in case a student wishes to use supervision the
following term after the first course opportunity.

5. To be able to use remaining supervision according to points 2-4, students must re-register on a course opportunity when the saved supervision is to be given. Students must also re-register on a course opportunity to have their essays examined.

6. In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as illness, saved supervision that a student has planned to use according to point 4, may be postponed by agreement with the Director of Studies/Study Counsellor.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The students are given the opportunity to make a written evaluation of the course. The results of the evaluation are published digitally.

Equality aspects should be taken in consideration in content, literature, teaching and evaluation.

To follow a web-based course, students must have access to a computer, web camera and stable broadband connection.