Saint-Louis University - Bruxelles
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POLS1150 - Introduction to university work in social sciences



Credits : 5

Lecturers :
Teaching assistants :
Mode of delivery :
Face-to-face , first term, 22,5 hours of theory and 15 hours of exercises.

Timetable :
First term
Friday from 13:30 to 15:30 at 43 Botanique 1

Language of instruction :
French

Learning outcomes :
The learning objectives for the ITUSS course are centred on an initiation to the work of the social science student in terms of affiliation to the university and building a relationship with knowledge, as well as in the development of skills related to university working methodology.

By the end of the course, students:
1. will have questioned their own relationship with the educational institution/university, with knowledge in general and with the surrounding environment

2. will have been initiated to the appropriation of knowledge in social science and, in particular:

a. will be able to recognise a scientific text with respect to other sources and prioritise the sources to be used for a university assignment in social science
b. will be able to implement the reading strategies which allow a scientific text to be fully understood, i.e.:
i. develop a specific reading of a text
1. identify the source and type of text
2. evaluate the credibility to attach to the source
3. situate the text with respect to the reading objectives, the level of difficulty of the text and previous knowledge
ii. carry out operations which are external to the appropriation of a text
1. determine the status of a text (from the author's point of view and the professor's point of view)
2. identify the registers used
3. question the context of the text
iii. develop a general comprehension of a scientific text
1. distinguish between the theme of a text and the author's theory
2. recognise the main theme of the argument
3. identify the key concepts and notions
4. identify the references to different authors

iv. develop a detailed comprehension of a scientific text
1. draw inferences (identify implicit information)
2. identify the logical links (how sentences and paragraphs are connected)
3. develop a detailed understanding of the vocabulary
4. identify the formal methods used by the author (how the author details his or her views)
c. will be able to demonstrate their understanding of texts in a structured manner, i.e.:
i. make a summary of a text (using a reading grid)
ii. make a comparison of several texts

d. will understand the reason for the rules of scientific ethics and will be able to use bibliographical resources and reference the authors when writing a summary or a comparison of several texts, i.e.:
i. use available bibliographical resources
ii. know why and how to use citations
iii. write a bibliographical reference in keeping with the available systems of conventions
e. will know how scientific knowledge is produced, in particular:
i. distinguish between different levels of discourse (personal opinions based on personal experience, commonly heard opinions, facts taken from a solid methodological approach, scientific interpretations based on theories, etc.)
ii. question common representations and suspend obvious facts
iii. make rigorous definitions of fundamental concepts in social science
iv. acquire a general understanding of the scientific approach

3. will be aware of what is expected of students in 'Bloc 1' in terms of understanding exam instructions and writing answers, i.e. will be able to:
i. categorise the different types of exam question and identify the cognitive operations to be used (definition, comparison, analysis, application, etc.)
ii. identify the characteristics of a good answer to an exam question
iii. understand the meta-instructions which explain the expectations in terms of answering an exam question
In the end, students will have taken part in a collective spirit of collaboration and affiliation with the university and their branch of study, and will have begun to understand the scientific approach used in social science. In so doing, they will have learned about the different dimensions of the university: institutional context, various types of public, profiles and expectations of professors/researchers and the relationship with knowledge which is expected of them.



Prerequisites :
None

Co-requisites :
None

Course contents :
The general theme of this teaching unit (Unité d'enseignement - UE) in terms of contents is that of the university as an institution specialised in the production of knowledge and of the position of students in this context, as well as that of professors/researchers in social science as subjects of knowledge. This takes place with the following two interlinked questions as a 'common thread': who are we as students and professors/researchers and what is the scientific attitude expected at university?

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The UE will include:
- an alternation between lectures (with the entire auditorium), practical work sessions in small groups (of twenty or so students) and individual support (campus-based and distance);
- an alternation between lectures and moments of participation;
- reading of texts to understand (decode) and reproduce (re-encode) in a guided or autonomous manner (personal reading).


Assessment methods and criteria :
Evaluation is individual, both continuous and retrospective.

Continuous evaluation (6 points):
- Interim test (4 pts): written test based on a text which was the object of a guided reading. This test consists in writing a lengthy answer to a question. During the test, the students will have access to the text and to a written aid (one side of an A4 sheet) which they have prepared during practical work. The students will have the opportunity to retake this test to improve their mark (the higher mark will be used).
- Referencing exercise (2 pts): done during a practical work session, this exercise aims at mastering the ways of making bibliographical references.
Retrospective evaluation (14 points):
A. An individual written work (worth 6 points), referencing the authors in keeping with conventions and including:
• A portfolio of the preparations made for the practical work sessions
• A critical synthesis of the two last texts read during the practical work sessions
B. A written exam (for 8 points) on all of the material seen during the course and practical work, i.e.:
a. the first 3 chapters of the book Pratique de la lecture critique en sciences humaines et sociales
b. the introductory note « À / dans quoi nous engageons-nous à travers ces études de BA ? »
c. the slides presented during the lectures
More detailed 'Evaluation directions' will be available on MoodleUSLB.



Recommended or required reading :
Course aids available from the Service reprographie:
- the reference work whose first three chapters will be considered as acquired knowledge in order to begin the UE Démarche et méthodes en sciences sociales in the 2nd four-month term of 'Bloc 1': MARQUIS N., LENEL E., VAN CAMPENHOUDT L., 2018, Pratique de la lecture critique en sciences humaines et sociales, Paris, Dunod, 240 p.;
- a selection of texts to read and use in a guided or independent manner; this selection will be introduced by a note related to the scientific approach and the commitment to university studies.
To be obtained from MoodleUSLB:
- the slides used during lectures and practical work;
- the 'evaluation directions';
- the pages from the guide Devenir étudiant universitaire studied during the course and practical work