Follow-up seminar

Code:

MCF13_18

Acronym:

MCF13_18

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Forensic Sciences

Instance: 2019/2020 - A (of 09-09-2019 to 31-07-2020)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Forensic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCF	4	Current Studies Plan	2	-	3	20	81

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This curricular unit is intended to allow students to develop a work of literature review, to present it and discuss with the group, along with the teaching staff, the various dissertation projects, seeking to promote their oral presentation and argumentation skills as well as their abilities to critically discuss, in a multidisciplinary perspective, topics of forensic science in general. Moreover, students will benefit of useful suggestions to the development of the individual project. It is also intended that students acquire skills in the process of search and bibliography selection, structuring of a work, as well as capacity for scientific discussion on a topic. By this way, the student takes contact with the theoretical fundaments of the dissertation project. During the performing of this written work the student maintains a close relationship with the supervisor, who offers him/her the supervison on the work to develop, the literature search, and meets with the student regularly.

Learning outcomes and competences

As referred, this curricular unit does not enclose specific curricular contents. Nevertheless, through the presentation and discussion of the dissertation projects in seminars – which assumes the discussion not only of the scientific aspects related to the subject of each project and the forensic sciences in general, but as well as about the more suitable investigation methods, considering each precise case -, the contribution given by the group to each dissertation may prove to be of a great relevance to make each project stronger. The writing of the dissertation will be also facilitated by the training acquired during the writing of the Seminary.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Not applicable

Program

Bibliographic search on the selected topic to be performed by the student under the supervision of the supervisor(s).

The scheme of the seminary is designed by the supervisor(s). It is expected that the student progresses in the writing and production of the work, in order to acquire autonomy in the development of the subject and in the framework according to the scheme proposed by the supervisor(s). The syllabus shall have, specifically, to do with the subject matter of the dissertation projects to be presented and, in general, with the forensic sciences matters lectured during the course.

Mandatory literature

CM Roberts; The dissertation journey: A practical and comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your dissertation. 2nd edition, CM Roberts, London, 2010
Justin Z & Gruba P; How to write a better minor thesis. Victoria: Melbourne University Press, 2014
Umberto E; How to write a thesis. Milano: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015
RL Joyner, WA Rouse, AA Glatthorn; Writing the winning thesis or dissertation: A step-by-step guide. Corwin, 3rd edition, 2012.

Teaching methods and learning activities

With this Curricular Unit it is intended since the beginning of the 2nd curricular year the establishment of a close relationship between the student and the supervisor(s), in this case through a literature review on the topic of the dissertation. The supervisor demonstrates how to perform literature search, beginning with the choice of keywords and databases to consult. In the scientific field of this Cycle of Studies, the UP offers an extensive list of online journals that can be accessed in real time since the registration.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	30,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	40,00
Trabalho de campo	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	1,00
Estudo autónomo	19,00
Total:	20,00

Eligibility for exams

Through the presentation and discussion of the dissertation projects in seminars, the student will not only prepare their oral presentation and argumentation skills about scientific work as well as to promote their critical thinking and their ability to discuss forensic issues, in a multidisciplinary perspective. One of the aims of the curricular unit consist in the acquisition by the student of autonomy in the performing of bibliographic search in a specific subject, to select and organize it in order to elaborate a coherent written work, under the scheme proposed by the supervisor(s). The methodologies of teaching adopted by the supervisor(s) proportionate this learning.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation takes place through the public presentation of the seminar, with final discussion of it in the presence of examiners and the supervisor. The evaluation will take into account the student's performance in the public defense (40%), the quality of the produced document (30%) and the supervisor information (30%) regarding the capabilities and student commitment to the development of the seminar.