Module 103

Essay

Purpose
This assignment is the first exposure and onhand training of scientific writing. A qualified
scientificwritingonanissueshouldhavethefeatures:1)preciselyformedcentralquestion
concerningtheissue,2)anobjectivethatfitstothecentralquestion,3)elaborationofthe
objectivebasedonrecognizedbodyofknowledge,informationandtheauthorsevidence
based arguments, 4) logically drawn conclusion. Writing should comply with all standard
protocolsofscientificwritinganddocumentproduction.

Nature
Studenthastoproducea2022pagesstructuredwritingofscientificnature,whichwillbe
graded as the final grade for Module 103: New Approaches of SME Development. This is
essay is an individual assignment. Student can generally write on any issue of his or her
interest. The issue picked for the essay should comply with the purpose of Module103
whichisdevelopmentandpromotionofSMEslargelyundertheframeworkof
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Globalvaluechain
Innovation,InnovationSystemandPolicy
SocialCapital
InternationalizationofSMEs

Anyessaytitleshouldfallintoanyoftheareasmentionedabove.

ProcessandSupervision
Normallystudentwilldevelopatitleforhis/heressayandnotifySEPToffice.Basedonthe
relevance of the title with the previously mentioned four areas, concerned
Professors/Mentors will be assigned as the Supervisors for the essays. Before sending the
title to SEPT Office student can also avail the opportunity to discuss his/her primary idea
abouttheessaywithanyoftheProfessorsinvolvedinthelecturesofthismodule,.Afterthe
deadline for submission of topics, SEPT Office, in a reasonable, time will notify individual
studentsaboutthehis/herSupervisor.
During the process of writing student can avail the opportunity to get advice from the
Supervisor/Mentor. Before official submission of the essay, student may avail the
opportunitytogetareviewofthefullandfinaldraftoftheessaybyhis/herSupervisor.

TheSupervisorsarenormallyeagertogivethebestsupporttothestudents.Stillthisisthe
responsibilityofthestudenttoestablishcontactwiththeSupervisorallowingtheSupervisor
adequate time to respond to the students need. With all the earnest efforts from the
Supervisors,astudentmayhavetowait02workingdaystogetanemailresponse.Meetings
fordiscussionsarearrangedonanagreedupondateandtime,whichmayalwaysnotbea
date requested by the student. For the review of a full length final draft of the essay,
Supervisorhastobeallowedatleast05workingdays.
Please note that each Supervisor has individual approach of supervision. Individual
Supervisorhasthefreedomtosetsupervisoryarrangementsbeyondthisstandardprocess.
SEPTProfessorsandMentorsarealwayscommittedtostudentsneedbasedsupervisionof
thescientificprojects.Inordertomakethebestutilizationofsupervisorysupport,students
areadvisedtoplantheiressaysandestablishcontactswiththeSupervisorswelladvanceof
thedeadlines.

Contents
Chapter1:Introduction(20%oftotalpages)
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4

Ageneralintroductiontotheissueaddressedintheessay
Rationale
Centralquestionandobjective
Scopeoftheessay

Chapter2:Reviewofliteratureandconceptualframework(20%oftotalpages)
This chapter should be devoted to describe the state of the relevant knowledge (mainly
academic point of views) concerning the issue being addressed in the essay. If the author
explainsthecentralissueoftheessayorpursuetheobjectiveoftheessaybasedoncertain
patternofrelationshipsbetweendifferentconcepts,suchpatternhasbedescribedhere.
2.1
2.2

Chapter3:Descriptionofthephenomenon
In this chapter author will describe the phenomenon he/she will presenting in order to
addressthecentralissueorpursuetheobjectiveoftheessay.
3.1
3.2

Chapter4:Conclusion(10%oftotalpages)
In this chapter author will produce a takehome message for the readers and scientific
community about the issue addressed and discussed. This chapter is expected to be
constitutedwithauthorsinsights,learningandlogicalcomments.

Listofreferences

Annex

Usageofmaterials
Normally students are advised to prepare their essays based on secondary information. In
anycaseanyinput(intheformofconcept,statistics,chart,table,diagram,pictureetc.)used
intheessaythatisnotauthorsownmustbeproperlycited.Anycitationshouldbedouble
citation: 1) should be cited immediately in short form where it is used in the document,
and then 2) short form must be duly elaborated in the list of reference. There are
differentcitationstylee.g.AmericanPsychologicalAssociation(APA),Harvard,Chicagoetc.
Any of them can be followed; please do not use them in your document in a mixed way.
Examples of such formats are available from difference sources in the web. This is an
exampleofHarvardSystemcitationformat
http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm

Pageproductionandformatting
Essayshouldbea2022pages(excludingfrontmattersandtableofcontentsandannex).
Font:TimesNewRoman,Fontsize:1111.5,Linespace:1.5,Margin:Normal2.5top,2.0
bottom,2.5right,2.5left.Otherprotocolsofscientificwritinge.g.formattingofillustrations
andcitationsarealsoapplicableinthiscase.
Incaseofanyillustration(chart,table,diagram,pictureetc.)usedinthedocument,eachof
themshouldbeproperlyformatted.Anillustrationshouldbepresentedwithanumberand
titleonthetopandcitationofsourceonthebottom.
Anyacronymusedinthebodyofthetextshouldcomewithitsfullversiononthefirstuse
and then for further instances abbreviated version can be used, e.g. World Bank (WB)
.expectedgrowth.WBwasnot
Do not start any paragraph just with an illustration and do not end it with illustration. An
illustrationshouldalwaysbeinbetweentexts.

Ethicalrequirementandconsequences
Asamatterofpolicy,eachofthefinalsubmissionmustsuccessfullypassthemachinerun
electronic check for plagiarism, before it is handed to the Supervisor for grading.
International SEPT Program is committed to an extremely conservative tolerance policy in
thisregard.

Assessment
Essaywillbegradedonascaleof1.05.0.Gradesaregivenon10individualcontrolpoints
ofanessay,thenaveraged.Minimumpassinggradeisaverage4.0.Anyessaygradedwithan
averagegrademorethan4.0isconsideredasafailinggrade.
In case of obtaining a failing grade, student subject to due administrative process is given
further chances to repeat the essay. In case of each repetition, student has to write on a
fresh topic. About assessment and administration of the examination process, University
Examination Policy is followed and SEPT Examination Board is responsible for its
administration;SEPTOfficeservesasthecontactandcommunicationagentinthisregard.

Submission
Final submission of the essay should be made on the prescribed SEPT template, please
contact SEPT Office for this. Final submission should be, on or before the deadline, as an
electronic submission (one pdf) via email to SEPT official email account. Please note that
finalsubmissionshouldnotbemadetotheSupervisor.