WRITING A PAPER

Some practical advice

Why?

Because

Expression deepens impression Reflection is necessary to learn from experiences We (Hald and the partners) want to know what you are learning

A Great Opportunity to

Dig deeper in an area of your interest Relate your chosen literature to your practical experiences Get in touch with people in a different way Ask questions that wouldnt have been answered otherwise Good preparation for information work Read more about the subject

Finding A Topic

Something you are interested in knowing more about? Questions from literature you have read? What is particularly interesting where you are working? Something useful for your information work?

How To Develop An Idea

Brain storming Mind-map? Discuss with others Ask yourself different questions Let your ideas blossom without judging them - And then afterwards: Decide on a topic!

Problem For Discussion

Formulate a question you want to answer (based on your interests and knowledge) You may change this question as you work on the paper Say something about why you find this question important to answer You may also develop sub-questions

Types of Questions

Description; about facts

What? Who? How?

Investigate the relation between phenomenon

Why is it so that?
Between groups, cultures, youths, churches

Contrasts and differences

Different Types of Papers

a)

Based primarily on written material

Books, internet, magazines, reports etc.

b)

Based on a study that you are doing yourselves

Observations, interviewing people etc.

The most important thing, however: That you are LEARNING and reflecting

Planning a Field Work

The field could be any kind of social setting

The church, a school, a youth group, kindergarten Ex that you are a student interested in learning more about

Plan how you will present yourself

How will you gather the information?

Writing things down?

Keep a Note Book!

Write things down when you

get an idea find some interesting observations learn something new are collecting data more specifically

Doing an Observation Study

Write down your observations immediately afterwards Reflection notes

New questions that came to your mind Things you observed and did not understand?

Key informants

Anybody who knows much about the topic?

Relevant literature on the topic?

Writing the Paper

Main task: Answering your question Find arguments for your interpretations Sentences should not be very long and complicated Consistence Fulfill the formal requirements (length, fonts, deadline etc)

References

ALWAYS mention the source when you are picking up facts/arguments In the literature list:

Surname, First name (year). Title of the book/source, Place published, Publisher (Surname or source, year)

In the text:

Contents of a Paper

Introduction f.x about why you chose the subject Presenting the question you will answer How did you collect your material? (Methods) Main part / analysis answering the question from different perspectives Conclusion summing up what you have found Literature list

Formal Requirements:

All students shall write two field papers.

The first shall be about an issue related to the context you are working in (society, culture, politics, history, communication, etc) The second shall be related to your work / the focus for your programme (mission, church, development issues, student work, education, etc)

You choose a more specific subject according to your interest, within these frames

Formal Requirements cont.

The dates for delivery are:

Length of paper: 2500 words (In Word: Tools, Word Count) Language:English Send to:

1st of December 2010 for the first paper 15th of March 2011 for the second paper

Siv Elise Topstad ya (Connect) siv-elise.oya@hald.no Nine Justvik (Act Now) nine.justvik@hald.no