WMG03301 Academic Writing for International Peace and Co-existence

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program

Lecture Code WMG03301 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name Academic Writing for International Peace and Co-existence

Subject Name
（Katakana）

Subject Name in
English Academic Writing for International Peace and Co-existence

Instructor RAND NERIDA

Instructor
(Katakana) ランド　ネリダ

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

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (Int) Inte：IMC-Main 2F Seminar Rm

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face, Online (simultaneous interactive), Online (on-demand)

Lecture, discussion, project

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 　 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 21 : Fundamental Competencies for Working Persons

Course Area（Discipline） 09 : Common Gradate Education

Eligible Students Mainly master's students of International Peace and Co-existence Program. This is an intensive course scheduled in November and January.

Keywords academic writing, research design, critical thinking

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 This course will teach you the skills of academic research and academic writing.  It will focus more heavily on one or the other in alternate years.  You can therefore choose to take the course in the year that meets your specific needs.  You are also very welcome to take the course twice to gain a full coverage of both topics, but credit will only be awarded once.
This year’s focus will be on how to conceptualize and design your research.  You will consider how to best choose and design your research question.   Then you will examine how to design research the investigates your specific question or questions.
A main focus of the course will be “why do we do it this way?”. This is not to be proscriptive, but to give you a critical stance for your current and future research endeavors.

Class Schedule ⚫︎In person
11/28　13:00-17:50
11/29　10:30-17:50
1/30   10:30-17:50
1/31  10:30-17:50

⚫︎On demand deadlines
18 December  23:59

【DAY1: in-person】(28 November – 13:00-17:50)

*Over the course of the classes, you will work together in groups to design an entire research project.  This will be practice for the solo research design that you will submit for final assessment.

HOUR 1: FORMULATING RESEARCH PROBLEMS – Research questions, problems, objectives, and the differences and importance of each

HOUR 2: VARIABLES – What are variables, and how do we determine them?

HOUR 3: VARIABLES - More on different types of variables, including extraneous variables and what they mean
(A short introduction to) HYPOTHESES – What is a hypothesis and why do you or don't you need one? How do you determine a hypothesis and test it, and what is the difference between a hypothesis and bias?
【DAY ２: in-person】(29 November – 10:30-17:50)

HOUR 1: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH & STUDY DESIGN - Planning research to answer the specific research question(s)

HOUR 2 : METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION - Types of research tools (Particularly interviews, questionnaires/surveys, and observation.

HOUR 3: METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION - Types of questions

HOUR 4: PRACTICE & APPLICATION – Confirming the skills learned so far
【ONLINE (On-demand)】(any time until 18 December  - 23:59)

HOUR 1 - PRESENTING YOUR RESEARCH - How to do a short “pitch” of your research. Online module to be watched and presentation prepared for final class on 31 January
(There will be a short homework task for submission, to confirm the homework, but the main assessment for this topic will be the final presentation)

【DAY ３: in-person】(30 January – 13:00-17:50)

HOUR 1 ‒ METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION ‒ Review

HOUR 2 ‒ METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION ‒ Attitudinal scales (measuring people’s reactions to events, situations and interventions)

HOUR 3 ‒ SAMPLING ‒ What is it, why do we need it, and how to we sample without introducing bias?
【DAY ４: in-person】(31 January – 10:30-17:50)

HOUR 1: PRESENTATIONS! Presenting the “pitch” for your research (completion of task from on-demand lesson)

HOUR 2: REVISION!

HOUR 3: PRACTICE & APPLICATION – Completing the class project (design stage)

HOUR 4: PRACTICE & APPLICATION – Completing & testing the class project (data collection questions)
COURSE WRAP-UP

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Materials for this class will be uploaded to the moodle, at least two weeks ahead of schedule.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Audio Materials, Visual Materials, Zoom, moodle

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Flip Teaching, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review You will have to watch assigned videos, read any material that is assigned for reading, and complete basic exercises BEFORE each class.

Requirements None

Grading Method Short research pitch (including associated on-demand task) 30%
Research plan (individual)         70%

You must obtain a passing grade in both tasks to obtain a pass in the course.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

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	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program
Lecture Code	WMG03301	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	Academic Writing for International Peace and Co-existence
Subject Name （Katakana）
Subject Name in English	Academic Writing for International Peace and Co-existence
Instructor	RAND NERIDA
Instructor (Katakana)	ランド　ネリダ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, Intensive
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(Int) Inte：IMC-Main 2F Seminar Rm
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face, Online (simultaneous interactive), Online (on-demand)
Lecture, discussion, project
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	21 : Fundamental Competencies for Working Persons
Course Area（Discipline）	09 : Common Gradate Education
Eligible Students	Mainly master's students of International Peace and Co-existence Program. This is an intensive course scheduled in November and January.
Keywords	academic writing, research design, critical thinking
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	This course will teach you the skills of academic research and academic writing. It will focus more heavily on one or the other in alternate years. You can therefore choose to take the course in the year that meets your specific needs. You are also very welcome to take the course twice to gain a full coverage of both topics, but credit will only be awarded once. This year’s focus will be on how to conceptualize and design your research. You will consider how to best choose and design your research question. Then you will examine how to design research the investigates your specific question or questions. A main focus of the course will be “why do we do it this way?”. This is not to be proscriptive, but to give you a critical stance for your current and future research endeavors.
Class Schedule	⚫︎In person 11/28　13:00-17:50 11/29　10:30-17:50 1/30 10:30-17:50 1/31 10:30-17:50 ⚫︎On demand deadlines 18 December 23:59 【DAY1: in-person】(28 November – 13:00-17:50) *Over the course of the classes, you will work together in groups to design an entire research project. This will be practice for the solo research design that you will submit for final assessment. HOUR 1: FORMULATING RESEARCH PROBLEMS – Research questions, problems, objectives, and the differences and importance of each HOUR 2: VARIABLES – What are variables, and how do we determine them? HOUR 3: VARIABLES - More on different types of variables, including extraneous variables and what they mean (A short introduction to) HYPOTHESES – What is a hypothesis and why do you or don't you need one? How do you determine a hypothesis and test it, and what is the difference between a hypothesis and bias? 【DAY ２: in-person】(29 November – 10:30-17:50) HOUR 1: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH & STUDY DESIGN - Planning research to answer the specific research question(s) HOUR 2 : METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION - Types of research tools (Particularly interviews, questionnaires/surveys, and observation. HOUR 3: METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION - Types of questions HOUR 4: PRACTICE & APPLICATION – Confirming the skills learned so far 【ONLINE (On-demand)】(any time until 18 December - 23:59) HOUR 1 - PRESENTING YOUR RESEARCH - How to do a short “pitch” of your research. Online module to be watched and presentation prepared for final class on 31 January (There will be a short homework task for submission, to confirm the homework, but the main assessment for this topic will be the final presentation) 【DAY ３: in-person】(30 January – 13:00-17:50) HOUR 1 ‒ METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION ‒ Review HOUR 2 ‒ METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION ‒ Attitudinal scales (measuring people’s reactions to events, situations and interventions) HOUR 3 ‒ SAMPLING ‒ What is it, why do we need it, and how to we sample without introducing bias? 【DAY ４: in-person】(31 January – 10:30-17:50) HOUR 1: PRESENTATIONS! Presenting the “pitch” for your research (completion of task from on-demand lesson) HOUR 2: REVISION! HOUR 3: PRACTICE & APPLICATION – Completing the class project (design stage) HOUR 4: PRACTICE & APPLICATION – Completing & testing the class project (data collection questions) COURSE WRAP-UP
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Materials for this class will be uploaded to the moodle, at least two weeks ahead of schedule.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Audio Materials, Visual Materials, Zoom, moodle
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Flip Teaching, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	You will have to watch assigned videos, read any material that is assigned for reading, and complete basic exercises BEFORE each class.
Requirements	None
Grading Method	Short research pitch (including associated on-demand task) 30% Research plan (individual) 70% You must obtain a passing grade in both tasks to obtain a pass in the course.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
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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