Course syllabus for Technical writing in Computer Systems and Networks

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-04 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameTeknisk rapportskrivning inom Datorer, Nätverk och System
  • CodeDAT147
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPCSN
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyComputer Science and Engineering, Software Engineering
  • DepartmentCOMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 12114
  • Maximum participants70
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0114 Project 7.5 c
Grading: UG		7.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

The requirements for the course are to have successfully completed an education with a Bachelor¿s degree within Computer Science or equivalent and having passed a majority of the courses in year 1 of the MPCSN program or having equivalent knowledge.

Aim

This course aims to develop the student's awareness of the underlying structure of scientific and engineering research papers and to improve proficiency in writing and reviewing as well as presenting such papers in public. A further goal is that the student should be able to make ethical considerations of his/her work.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Get acquainted to a research field:
The student should have investigated a selected area of research and deepened his/her knowledge in said area. This knowledge is used for writing a scientific paper.

Perform an independent literature review:
Given a scientific problem in the studied field, the student should be able to find the most relevant papers in scientific literature, review them and communicate the review result.

Write an analytical survey paper or other scientific paper:
The student should be able to plan, structure and write a research related paper in a selected scientific field. The report will be based on already published papers and the student should be able to independently select those papers.  

Make ethical assessment:
The student should be able to make and defend ethical judgement in general, and in particular within the area of scientific writing, e.g. related to plagiarism and authorship. Where applicable, the student should be able to discuss and value the societal and economic consequences of his/her work.

Content

The student examines and surveys current state of the art in a specific research area and writes an analytical survey paper or other scientific paper in this area. The paper should be based on a selected topic within a research area in the Computer Systems and Networks field. Each research area and a number of related topics are briefly presented to the student in the introduction lectures. As a student you will be asked to form a group with a few other students. To each group will be allocated a topic for the paper that is to be written. The paper should be orally presented. Students are also required to make peer reviews of other papers. There will be lectures, seminars and workshops in the areas of scientific writing, reviewing and presentation as well as in ethics.

Organisation

The course organisation includes the following items: lectures, seminars, workshops, home assignments, report writing, and oral presentation.

Literature

See separate literature list.

Examination including compulsory elements

To pass the course, the student must:, (1) Write an analytical survey paper or other scientific paper for a given topic in a specific research area, (2) Complete review assignments and (3) Make an oral presentation of the paper, (4) Participate in lectures, seminars and workshops in technical writing and presentation techniques, (5) Participate in the ethical parts of the course and complete given assignments in the Ethics area.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.