Course From Analysis to Text

Course Objectives

The aim of this course is to develop participants’ ability to produce and reflect on an academic text. You will learn how to develop an argument in a text (a draft of a chapter or an article), how you ensure validty, and to place the sub-argument it in the wider context of the overall argument of the thesis. The course will explore different styles of writing to enable you to think critically about the ethical implications of your stylistic choices and to inspire your writing.

Methodology

Day 1 (24 March) will present analytical tools for dissecting the form and argumentation of scientific texts. This will be applied to pre-circulated drafts of excerpts from participants’ theses (a chapter or an article, max. 15 pages) in the “aquarium model” in order to identify specific strategies for improving the text (you will be given three constructive challenges or “benspænd”). These should be incorporated and the revised text circulated before the second meeting. Two participants will be assigned as discussants for each paper at the second meeting.

Day 2 (14 April) revisions will briefly be discussed in the aquarium model. It is explored how the argument relate to the overall structure, and the process of revision is analysed and discussed.

The second part of the day we will discuss the implications of different styles of writing based on readings of short paradigmatic texts. These are selected on the basis of the needs identified at the first seminar.

The participants are requested to forward a thesis excerpt (maximum 15 pages) and a contextualisation (1 page). The deadline for submission of the text is 16 March 2026 at noon (via email to etncw@cas.au.dk and helle.bundgaard@anthro.ku.dk ).

Before day 2 all participants are expected to prepare a revised text, prepare for two “revised text dissections” and to read one paradigmatic text. The deadline for submission of the revised text is 6 April 2025 at noon (via email to etncw@cas.au.dk and hanne.mogensen@anthro.ku.dk ).

Readings

Before day 1: thesis excerpts from all participants, material on form and argumentation in a scientific text. 
Before day 2: revise your text, prepare two revised thesis dissections, and read one paradigmatic text.

Course organisers

Cameron Warner (cameron@cas.au.dk), Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Aarhus University.

Helle Bundgaard (helle.bundgaard@anthro.ku.dk ), Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen.

Venue

• 24 March 2026. 11.00-17.00: KU
• 14 April 2026. 11.00-17.00. Trøjborgvej 84 , 8000 Aarhus C. Building 1915, room 118

Course dates:

• 24 March 2026 11:00 - 17:00
• 14 April 2026 11:00 - 17:00