Course Subject：

Number of Credits：

Research Camp

2Instructor：
Academic Advisor

Major, Area of Specialization：
General Course (for Ph.D. Students)
Course Objectives：
The course aims to help students develop the ability to present their own research results in English (or otherforeign languages) effectively and by appropriate means under the guidance of instructors. Students will study
publication manuals used in international academic societies in the field; write resumes, research papers and research
notes; and practice and acquire skills such as giving oral presentations and making effective use of visual aids inposter presentations. While acquiring the ability to answer questions on their own research results, students will be
trained to involve themselves actively in discussions on the research results of others based on objective and logicalideas. Through these activities, they will acquire a researcher-oriented outlook as well as the ability to discussmatters in a logical manner. In relation to their own research subjects, they will also learn to take aspects of theirstudies clarified through this exchange opportunity and incorporate them into their future research plans under theguidance of instructors based on evaluation from others at a research camp.
Expected learning outcomesStudents will acquire the capacity to:
1. summarize research results to create presentations;
2. produce slides, posters and other presentation materials;
3. give clear and logical explanations at presentation meetings;
4. understand questions and give accurate explanations in question-and-answer sessions;
5. conduct necessary communications at an adequate level of English; and6. make objective judgments on the progress of their own research and develop future guidelines.
Course Outline：
Students will engage in research exchanges with overseas universities based on their research subjects,participate in seminars and research presentations, and take part in discussions about them. Students will bedispatched to or invited by overseas universities. Pre-camp orientation and research supervision are provided.
Course Content：
Advance preparations
・ Orientation in the skills necessary for research presentations in the field of scientific technology will be given.
・ Model answers to expected questions will be provided.
・ Practice will be conducted in introducing topics concerning research subjects in presentation form, and related
discussions will be held with other graduate students and instructors.
・ The results of the above will be evaluated based on feedback from instructors and other graduate students.
Research camp・ Students will participate in joint seminars and research presentations at camps through visits to overseas
universities or by visits from invited instructors and graduate students from such universities, and their researchpresentations will be discussed.
・ Discussions will be held on incorporating the findings of the camp’s seminars, research presentations, anddiscussions into future studies.

Post-guidance
・Discussions with instructors will be held about the results of the research camp, and guidelines for future researchand coursework completion will be developed based on formative assessment by instructors.
Textbooks and/or Other Study Materials：
None. Materials will be distributed as necessary.
Reference：
While reference materials will be presented by individual instructors as necessary, the following arerecommended as basic general references:
1.

The Chicago Manual of Style, Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 15th edition , 2003.

2.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association,, Publisher: American Psychological Association(APA); 6th edition, 2009.

3.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Publisher: Modern Language Association of America; 7thedition, 2009.

4.

The Craft of Scientific Presentations, by Michael Alley. Springer-Verlag, New York, 2003. Good information,current technologies.

5.

A Handbook of Public Speaking for Scientists and Engineers, by Peter Kenny. Published by Adam Hilger, Ltd.,
Bristol, 1983.

6.

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, by Edward R. Tufte. Graphics Press, Cheshire, CT, 1983.

7.

The Complete Academic - A Practical Guide for the Beginning Social Scientist, by Mark P Zanna and John M.
Darley (eds.); Random House, New York, 1987.

8.

Woolsey, John D. (1989) Combating poster fatigue: how to use visual grammar and analysis to effect better visualcommunications. Trends in Neurosciences, 12(9):325-332.

Grading Policy：
Comprehensive assessment will be made based on term papers and class attendance, as well as onpresentations, discussions, and other aspects of performance during the camp.
While this assessment will be made by Niigata University instructors, separate practical/formative assessment
and guidance on research content and presentation skills will be provided as a reference through consultation with
instructors from universities participating in the research camp.