Writing the “kappe” for article-based PhD dissertations in the humanities

This course identifies the “kappe” as a distinct element of the full body of work in an article-based PhD dissertation and offers conceptual and practical perspectives on how to position the “kappe” and how to write it.

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This course is a part of HF's PhD week.

Course Description

The article-based dissertation, or thesis by publication, has quickly become a common, even preferred format for doctoral research. This format transition, which is still to some degree understood against the backdrop of the more traditional monograph, presents its own challenges and possibilities for the PhD candidate, not least within the humanities. Still, the need to package and present discrete research outputs as part of a larger cohesive and holistic body of work remains an essential part of the article-based dissertation.

The “kappe” then, is a final piece of the thesis which can do just that. But how to write the “kappe” is far from obvious, and guidance on how to do so is still emerging. This course identifies the “kappe” as a distinct element of the full body of work in an article-based PhD dissertation and offers conceptual and practical perspectives on how to position the “kappe” and how to write it.

Course Preparations

Participants are asked to find a recent (within the last 7 years) article-based dissertation from their field (or another relevant discipline) which they find particularly excellent or particularly troubling and to bring it with them to the course.

In class

This course is divided into two sections. The first section considers the “kappe” itself in the current Norwegian research environment and in the context of PhD research internationally, and establishes premises and practical frameworks for further work. The second section is built to provide participants with the necessary framing and orientation to write a “kappe” appropriate to their own research and to the demands of the genre in light of the considerations provided in the first section.

Language

The course language is English.

Registration

Registration opens February 20 at 12:00 pm.

Register here

Course convenors

David Burke, Academic Writing Centre, david.burke@ub.uio.no

Published Feb. 13, 2024 10:42 PM - Last modified Feb. 16, 2024 10:27 AM