WSQA0352 Special Exercises of Advanced Science and Engineering Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering B

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2025Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering (Master's Course) Division of Advanced Science and Engineering Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering Program

Lecture Code WSQA0352 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 理工学融合特別演習B

Subject Name
（Katakana）リコウガクユウゴウトクベツエンシュウビー

Subject Name in
English Special Exercises of Advanced Science and Engineering Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering B

Instructor HISANO MASUMI

Instructor
(Katakana) ヒサノ　マスミ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2nd) Inte：Faculty Office

Lesson Style Seminar Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face, Online (simultaneous interactive)

Presentation and discussion

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 　 Language of Instruction B : Japanese／English

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 25 : Science and Technology

Course Area（Discipline） 03 : Natural Environment

Eligible Students Master course student

Keywords Academic Writing, Literature Review, Biodiversity, Global Change, Ecology, Wildlife (Birds and Mammals), Agricultural Ecosystems, Land Use Change, Climate Change, Forest Ecology, SDG_15, SDG_13, CN

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline In this seminar, students will systematically review literature related to their research topic and write a logically structured review paper. By engaging in discussions with the supervisor and student peers, they are expected to comprehensively deepen their understanding of their field and acquire the fundamental abilities of research planning and implementation, scientific thinking, and academic writing. The goal is to complete a review paper that can form one of chapters (literature review section) of the master’s thesis.

Class Schedule October: Overview and guidance for reviewing articles, topic setting, and beginning of literature review.
- End of October report submission: Submit a five-paragraph essay (review article introduction) describing the title of the review article, the international importance of the topic, trends of and development on the topic in recent years (what has been studied to what extent so far), and knowledge gaps (what is unknown).

November: Develop a literature map based on the literature review and develop an original perspective and framework (including a concept map) that takes into account the knowledge gaps.
- End of November report submission: Submit a manuscript (the body of the review article) including a literature map, conceptual figures, and literature review for each section.

December: Develop and improve the review paper based on feedback and discussion.
- Interim report (end of December) submission: Submit the first draft of the review article.

January: Develop and improve the review paper based on feedback and discussion.
- End of January report submission: Submit a revised version of the review article.

February: Develop and improve the review paper based on feedback and discussion.
- Final report submission: Submit the final version of the review article.

Exams/Assignments
- Monthly report assignments (review paper)
- Monthly mini-exams of academic writing

Text/Reference
Books,etc. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper (Robert A. Day, Barbara Gastel)

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, Microsoft Teams, Zoom

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Paired Reading, Quizzes/ Quiz format, Project Learning

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review - Basic knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and management is required
- Basic academic writing skills and knowledge are required (e.g., IELTS >6.5; TOEFL >80)
- Actively access the university library’s writing center to complete each assignment
Reference: https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/wrc/appointment
*If you do not meet the above language scores or not have the academic writing knowledge and skills, study materials will be provided, so make sure to supplement your learning by self-study

Requirements Important Notices
- The use of AI tools (Chat GPT, Copilot, Gemini, DeepSeek, etc.) to generate original text for assignments is strictly prohibited (including summary generation of references, translation, fabricating citations, and automatically generating figures, etc.)
- When reviewing literature, make sure to thoroughly read the text and figures and tables, and confirm and understand the essential content before citing
- Plagiarism is strictly prohibited (the final report will be checked by faculty using plagiarism-checking software)
* If students violate any of the above policies, they will not receive credit for this course

How to Submit Reports
- Use the specified Word format (shared in class)
- Use reference management software (such as EndNote or Zotero, which will be introduced in class)

Grading Method Evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
- Monthly mini-exam scores (10%)
- End-of-month reports, midterm reports (interim reports on review articles), and final reports (final versions of review paper) (90%)
*The final assignment will be graded strictly based on a set of criteria, with the level of the work expected to be equivalent to a manuscript submitted to an international journal.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message - This course is not merely an exercise in completing tasks. Students are expected to recognize how the knowledge and skills they acquire will contribute to their future careers (not only in academia, but also in the public and private sectors, by developing the logical thinking and communication abilities essential for success in society)
- Students should identify the significance of the exercises for themselves and engage with the course in a proactive and self‑directed manner

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2025Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering (Master's Course) Division of Advanced Science and Engineering Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering Program
Lecture Code	WSQA0352	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	理工学融合特別演習B
Subject Name （Katakana）	リコウガクユウゴウトクベツエンシュウビー
Subject Name in English	Special Exercises of Advanced Science and Engineering Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering B
Instructor	HISANO MASUMI
Instructor (Katakana)	ヒサノ　マスミ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2nd) Inte：Faculty Office
Lesson Style	Seminar	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face, Online (simultaneous interactive)
Presentation and discussion
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	B : Japanese／English
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	25 : Science and Technology
Course Area（Discipline）	03 : Natural Environment
Eligible Students	Master course student
Keywords	Academic Writing, Literature Review, Biodiversity, Global Change, Ecology, Wildlife (Birds and Mammals), Agricultural Ecosystems, Land Use Change, Climate Change, Forest Ecology, SDG_15, SDG_13, CN
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	In this seminar, students will systematically review literature related to their research topic and write a logically structured review paper. By engaging in discussions with the supervisor and student peers, they are expected to comprehensively deepen their understanding of their field and acquire the fundamental abilities of research planning and implementation, scientific thinking, and academic writing. The goal is to complete a review paper that can form one of chapters (literature review section) of the master’s thesis.
Class Schedule	October: Overview and guidance for reviewing articles, topic setting, and beginning of literature review. - End of October report submission: Submit a five-paragraph essay (review article introduction) describing the title of the review article, the international importance of the topic, trends of and development on the topic in recent years (what has been studied to what extent so far), and knowledge gaps (what is unknown). November: Develop a literature map based on the literature review and develop an original perspective and framework (including a concept map) that takes into account the knowledge gaps. - End of November report submission: Submit a manuscript (the body of the review article) including a literature map, conceptual figures, and literature review for each section. December: Develop and improve the review paper based on feedback and discussion. - Interim report (end of December) submission: Submit the first draft of the review article. January: Develop and improve the review paper based on feedback and discussion. - End of January report submission: Submit a revised version of the review article. February: Develop and improve the review paper based on feedback and discussion. - Final report submission: Submit the final version of the review article. Exams/Assignments - Monthly report assignments (review paper) - Monthly mini-exams of academic writing
Text/Reference Books,etc.	How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper (Robert A. Day, Barbara Gastel)
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Microsoft Teams, Zoom
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Paired Reading, Quizzes/ Quiz format, Project Learning
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	- Basic knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and management is required - Basic academic writing skills and knowledge are required (e.g., IELTS >6.5; TOEFL >80) - Actively access the university library’s writing center to complete each assignment Reference: https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/wrc/appointment *If you do not meet the above language scores or not have the academic writing knowledge and skills, study materials will be provided, so make sure to supplement your learning by self-study
Requirements	Important Notices - The use of AI tools (Chat GPT, Copilot, Gemini, DeepSeek, etc.) to generate original text for assignments is strictly prohibited (including summary generation of references, translation, fabricating citations, and automatically generating figures, etc.) - When reviewing literature, make sure to thoroughly read the text and figures and tables, and confirm and understand the essential content before citing - Plagiarism is strictly prohibited (the final report will be checked by faculty using plagiarism-checking software) * If students violate any of the above policies, they will not receive credit for this course How to Submit Reports - Use the specified Word format (shared in class) - Use reference management software (such as EndNote or Zotero, which will be introduced in class)
Grading Method	Evaluation will be based on the following criteria: - Monthly mini-exam scores (10%) - End-of-month reports, midterm reports (interim reports on review articles), and final reports (final versions of review paper) (90%) *The final assignment will be graded strictly based on a set of criteria, with the level of the work expected to be equivalent to a manuscript submitted to an international journal.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	- This course is not merely an exercise in completing tasks. Students are expected to recognize how the knowledge and skills they acquire will contribute to their future careers (not only in academia, but also in the public and private sectors, by developing the logical thinking and communication abilities essential for success in society) - Students should identify the significance of the exercises for themselves and engage with the course in a proactive and self‑directed manner
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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