Thesis Seminar

The Centre of African Studies runs a Thesis Seminar each semester.  MA students must sign up for the thesis seminar.

The purpose of this seminar is to enhance the student’s focus, skills and confidence in the thesis-writing process. This includes consideration of methodological, theoretical and writing aspects, as well as the provision of substantive feedback on the formulation of ideas and actual written work. A key element of the Thesis Seminar is participation by each student in two feedback/opponent sessions in which written material, directly linked to the thesis itself, is presented and discussed.

The first written ‘paper’ must be between 3,400 and 6,700 characters (including spaces). The paper should provide an overall outline and description of what the thesis is about, including a clearly defined research problem and question, an indication of the proposed thesis structure, and a timetable for the writing process.

The second written paper should be between 15,000 and 30,000 characters (including spaces). This paper has to be a coherent text (not in note form), such as one of the chapters of the thesis.

The written materials are presented in group sessions, and the group members provide detailed and constructive feedback as active ‘opponents’ to one another. The Thesis Seminar is based on active participation and requires that the students both present their own work and that they act as ‘opponents’ in response to other students’ work.