This week begins with an introduction to the course, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the instructor, classmates, and learning environment. The session covers an overview of Research and Presentation Skills, emphasizing its significance and the necessity of active student participation. The importance of substantial student input for effective learning and skill development is also discussed.

Activities

• Reading: Syllabus
• Join NTHU EEClass System
• Join Microsoft Teams
• The illustrated guide to a Ph.D.by Prof. Matt Might from University of Alabama at Birmingham

This week focuses on the importance of research, covering its key components and processes. The session explores what defines research, its significance, and the essential aspects that should be emphasized. Through this overview, students will gain a clearer understanding of how research is structured and the critical elements that contribute to effective academic inquiry.

Activities

• Reading: Chapter 1 of Textbook 2

This session focuses on proposal writing, covering key aspects of structuring a research proposal and crafting effective titles, abstracts, and introductions. Students will learn how to define research objectives, conduct a literature survey, and organize related work. Common mistakes in research writing will be discussed, helping students refine their writing skills and enhance the clarity and impact of their proposals.

Activities

• Reading: Unit 1 of Textbook 1
• Reading: "A thesis proposal is a contract" by Prof. Matt Might from University of Alabama at Birmingham

This session focuses on presentation skills, covering key principles for effective communication, including cognitive load theory, structured information flow, and audience engagement. Students will learn to reduce noise, enhance clarity, and organize content for maximum impact. Techniques for guiding the audience’s attention and improving visual storytelling will be discussed, helping students deliver clear, compelling, and well-structured presentations.

Activities

• Reading: Effective Communications
• Reading: Atikinson, Beyong Bullet Points, 3rd edition, Microsoft

Over the next two weeks, students will practice presenting their research topics, covering motivation, related work, and objectives. This session not only enhances presentation skills but also teaches students how to ask insightful questions and host discussions effectively. Through active participation, students will refine their ability to communicate research ideas clearly and engage in meaningful academic dialogue.

Activities

• Homework 1 due at 3/15 23:59

This week, students will work in groups to select presenters and refine their slides. Through practice, they will compare the original and revised versions, analyzing how modifications impact clarity and effectiveness. By evaluating different revision approaches, students will gain a deeper understanding of what works and what doesn’t, enhancing their ability to create and deliver more effective presentations.

Activities

• Homework 2 due at 3/29 23:59

This session focuses on research strategies, covering key methodologies such as quantitative and qualitative approaches, deductive and inductive reasoning, and the role of theory, hypotheses, and objectives in research. Students will learn to define research problems, develop structured strategies, and apply systematic problem-solving techniques. The session also introduces the S.M.A.R.T. framework to help refine research goals effectively.

Activities

• Reading: Chapter 2 of Textbook 2
• Reading: Chapter 6 of Textbook 2

This session introduces framework design, starting with key concepts and examples for discussion. Students will explore how to decompose problems, analyze components, and structure research frameworks. Next week, they will present their own frameworks for discussion, fostering peer feedback and collaborative learning. The goal is to refine research approaches through structured problem-solving and practical application.

Activities

• Reading: Unit 7 of Textbook 1

Students need to identify their corresponding research topic before the end of this week. It it quite important for students to discuss with their own advisers and instructors.

Activities

• No class for this week
• Schedule private meeting with either your own advisor or the lecturer to clarify the research progress in the Week of 4/11

In this course, students will explore selected research papers to analyze their structure, logical flow, and writing techniques. We will guide students on how to read academic papers efficiently, identifying key arguments, methodologies, and conclusions. Through this process, students will gain insights into effective academic writing styles. By mimicking well-structured papers, they will develop stronger writing skills, improving clarity, coherence, and logical progression in their own work. This hands-on approach ensures that students not only understand research content but also refine their ability to communicate ideas effectively in academic and professional settings.

Activities

• Reading: Unit 2 and Unit 3 of Textbook 1

This session focuses on peer review skills, covering key aspects such as evaluating research quality, detecting mistakes, assessing novelty, and providing constructive feedback. Students will learn to critically analyze papers based on clarity, significance, methodology, and ethical considerations. The session also explores effective review structures and evaluation criteria, helping students develop fair, objective, and insightful review practices.

Activities

• Reading: Unit 2 and Unit 3 of Textbook 1
• Reading: "How to peer review" by Prof. Matt Might from University of Alabama at Birmingham

This session focuses on how to respond to peer review, covering strategies for writing effective paper rebuttals and response letters. Students will learn how to address reviewers' comments professionally, clarify misunderstandings, and highlight improvements. Emphasis is placed on polite and constructive language, handling criticism effectively, and structuring responses to strengthen their manuscript’s chances of acceptance in academic publishing.

Activities

• Reading: Unit 2 and Unit 3 of Textbook 1
• Reading: "Responding to peer review" by Prof. Matt Might from University of Alabama at Birmingham

This session covers effective poster design and presentation. In the first week, students will learn key principles, including contrast, hierarchy, flow, unity, and whitespace, to create visually engaging and informative posters. They will also practice evaluating posters based on clarity and impact. In the second week, students will present their research in poster format, applying these techniques in practice.