Poslední úprava: RNDr. Olga Kurtinová, Ph.D. (12.02.2023)
Requirements, course assignment
Students are expected to read selected papers in English; reading lists of required and suggested papers and books for each topic will be provided during the course. Each student is expected to prepare an assignment, selecting one of the options outlined below. The assignment topic should be approved by the lecturer, Tomas Sobotka. Assignments can be prepared by individual students or by two cooperating students. Each student has to successfully pass an exam to complete the course.
The working language of the course and of the assignments is English.
Exam requirements:
• Successfully completing an assignment (40%); see more detailed information below
• Two short tests during the course (30%); students can work with their notes and external sources
• Final oral exam (in person or online via Zoom) (30%)
Assignment options
1. Prepare a short seminar paper
• An essay on a selected topic related to population issues and challenges (broadly defined)
• Short & focused: 2-6 pages (plus references); can contain a few illustrations (figures, maps, tables) created by the student
These essays should not provide detailed or comprehensive review on a given topic, but rather a compelling argument, which is clearly formulated and then critically discussed and evaluated. Students are expected to demonstrate their ability to formulate clear questions and arguments, show independent thinking, and, by using available data and literature, to build support for their argumentation and reach a convincing conclusion.
2. Prepare an infographic on selected population issue
• Series of charts, maps, illustrations with short texts
• The design, clarity, and the interconnection between different elements important
(Wikipedia: Infographics (…) are graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly)
Assignments – evaluation criteria:
All assignments:
• Style of presentation, clarity
• Work with the literature (a few relevant studies sufficient); all sources need to be documented
• Work with the data (when relevant), graphical presentation (when relevant)
• Demonstration of critical thinking, novelty and relevance of the topic
• Originality (please avoid copy-pasting from the existing sources)
Essays:
• Structure, coherence, logic and plausibility of argumentation
• Justification of conclusions (logical, plausible, how convincing)
Infographic
• Design and visual presentation; how informative and well does it convey data, facts and links between different phanomena
Deadlines:
Assignment topic to be suggested by 13 March 2023 (i.e., until the 3rd lecture); topics can be consulted with the lecturer in advance. Each topic needs to be approved by the lecturer, T. Sobotka.
Students can give a short (2-3 minutes) presentation of their topic during Lectures 4-6.
Deadline for completing the assignments: 5 June 2023 (recommended earlier)