Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

- Recognize the differences between academic and non-academic texts
- Master the basic conventions (e.g. use of language) and formats (e.g. for referencing) associated with academic writing within the social sciences
- Provide a critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of academic arguments, and the implications (research & practice) of academic findings
- Develop a well-structured, clearly articulated and analytically sound academic essay or research proposal
- Grasp the essence of various theoretical traditions within the social sciences (and in the context of the master program in political science and management)