ASSOSAUNIVERSITY (ASU)
Engineering COLLEGE(EC)
Department of SURVEYING Engineering (DSE)
INTRODUCTION TO A SEMINAR PAPER
Compiled & presented by Abeje Asefa (MSc Geo informatics.)
Presentation out lines
•What is a Seminar?
•What is purpose Seminar?
•What is the benefit of seminar?
•Why seminar paper is written for?
•What is a research seminar?
FROM DIFERENT SOURCES
INTRODUCTION TO SEMINAR
What is a Seminar?
A seminar is a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered
by a commercial or professional organization.
 It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing
each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is requested to
participate.
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Compiled & presented by Abeje Asefa (MSc Geo informatics.)
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 This is often accomplished through an ongoing Socratic dialogue with a seminar leader or
instructor, or through a more formal presentation of research.
 Normally, participants must not be beginners in the field under discussion.
 The idea behind the seminar system is to familiarize students more extensively with the
methodology of their chosen subject and also to allow them to interact with examples of the
practical problems that always occur during research work.
 It is essentially a place where assigned readings are discussed, questions can be raised and
debates can be conducted.
 It is relatively informal, at least compared to the lecture system of academic instruction.
• What is purpose Seminar?
• A seminar may have several purposes or just one purpose. For instance, a
seminar may be for the purpose of education, such as a lecture, where the
participants engage in the discussion of an academic subject for the aim of gaining
a better insight into the subject
• What does seminar course mean?
• Seminars small classes typically driven by discussion and other forms of active
learning and in which students often take on teaching roles and responsibilities
offer tremendous opportunities for students and educators to make learning
experiential, meaningful, and lasting.
• What are the types of seminar?
What is the benefit of seminar?
• Attending a seminar has numerous benefits, including improving communication skills, gaining
expert knowledge, networking with others and renewing motivation and confidence.
What is the difference between a course and a seminar?
• As nouns the difference between seminar and course is that;
• seminar is a class held for advanced studies in which students meet regularly to discuss original
research, under the guidance of a professor
• while course is a sequence of events
What does First Year Seminar mean?
• The first year seminar courses are special courses for first year students to enhance their
academic and social integration into college. The course is designed to help first year students adjust
to the university, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential
academic survival skills.
• A seminar paper is the written analysis of a particular topic specified in the seminar. It has to fulfill all
requirements for a scientific article: the ideal seminar paper resembles a journal article. Any research
paper is a means of communication between the researcher and the academic community.
What are the best procedure and format for writing a seminar paper?
• Answer to this question
• The procedure and format for writing a seminar paper are in many ways similar to those for writing a
research paper.
• Thus, you need to identify a study area, go through the current literature on it, identify gaps that you
could develop into a research problem, come up with a research question, formulate a hypothesis,
develop the methodology, conduct the study, evaluate the results, and finally, form a conclusion based
on the results.
• However, in certain ways, preparing for and writing a seminar papers are different from that for a
research paper.
• The key factor is that of the audience, and you will need to keep this in mind when preparing your
paper.
• Why seminar paper is written for?
• A seminar paper is written for an audience that is especially interested in the broad area of your study. So,
in your paper, be sure to include examples, illustrations, discussion topics, and other such content points that
will be of special relevance to the audience.
• A seminar paper is written for the purpose of presentation. While you may choose to read from your paper,
it is better to have a visual aid such as a PowerPoint presentation.
• A visual presentation can help bring alive the topic and also make the presentation engaging. The
presentation needs to include the key points from the paper.
• A seminar paper is written to be engaging /atractive. Whether you choose to have a visual presentation or
not, the paper should be written in an interesting style.
• Thus, it should have an introduction that immediately arouses the audience’s curiosity and interest, and the
rest of the paper (or presentation) should maintain that interest. In the discussion section, you can include
questions to take up with the audience at the end, thus increasing the level of engagement.
A seminar paper is written under the close guidance of your professor.
 For the reasons outlined above, your professor is usually closely involved in a seminar paper.
 It is best to check and run through all the key milestones and aspects of the paper from research
question, hypothesis, discussion points to the format of the paper and presentation with your
professor.
 Which is also why each seminar paper is likely to be different from the other? So, while you may refer
to the broad structure of a research paper, you may make changes to it based on discussions with your
professor.
 To answer your specific questions, rather than chapters, it is better to structure a seminar paper by
sections (such as Introduction, Methodology, Results, and so on).
 The length of the paper could roughly be anywhere between 12-20 pages.
 However, your university might have some guidelines about this, so it's best to go with the prescribed
length. For the presentation, go with a thumb rule of 2 minutes per slide.
Thus, if you have 1 hour, you should have at least 30 content slides ready.
However, the number can go up or down depending on how much text you incorporate
in each slide.
The best way is to start with 30 and then practice at home keeping a record of the time.
This will help you understand whether you need more slides or less.
Here are some resources to help you with planning, preparing, and presenting your
paper
What is a research seminar?
• Research seminars help students refine their skills of research, text processing, searching
scholarly information and presenting their work.
• Research seminars help students develop research skills and prepare for writing the
term paper and Master's thesis.
The sooner you can check these tasks off your seminar planning list, the better!
1. Establish your goals and objectives. Write down your seminar's purpose. ...
2. Put together a rough budget. Set your ticket prices. ...
3. Select a date. ...
4. Choose a location, venue, and vendors. ...
5. Research speakers. ...
6. Start your sponsor search.
How long should a seminar last?
• About two hours typically about two hours, though some are longer.
•
CHAPTER I.
INTODUCTION
HOW TO WRITE A SEMINAR PAPER
DEFINITION (WHAT IS RESEARCH SEMINAR?)
• What is Seminar?
1. Meeting on specialized subject: a single session or short, often one-day meeting devoted to presentations on
and discussion of a specialized topic, usually at an advanced or professional level.
Example: A seminar on the industrial applications of GIS & RS technologies
2. Specialized educational class: a course of specialized graduate or undergraduate study under faculty
supervision, in which ideas, approaches, and advances are regularly shared among participants
Examples: 1. A seminar on the generalization of PURPOSE OF SEMINAR
2. A seminar on the quality of education in higher education institutions.
3. Meeting of students and academic supervisor: a meeting of university or college students for study or
discussion with an academic supervisor, or the group that participates in it.
Example. A seminar on the applications of hand GPS in cadastral surveying
• What is research seminar?
• What
is seminar paper?
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Compiled & presented by Abeje Asefa (MSc Geo
informatics.)
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Definition (Cont…d)
• A seminar paper is a work of original research that presents a specific thesis and
is presented to a group of interested peers, usually in an academic setting.
• For example, it might serve as your cumulative assignment in a university course.
• Although seminar papers have specific purposes and guidelines in some places,
such as law school, the general process and format is the same.
• The steps below will guide you through the research and writing process of how
to write a seminar paper and provide tips for developing a well-received paper.
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Compiled & presented by Abeje Asefa (MSc Geo informatics.)
Characteristics of Seminar
Where happen?
• Academic institution – less formal than formal class
• Commercial and Professional organization
• held at a hotel meeting space or within an office conference room
Nature & Functions of seminar?
•
small groups recurring usually held for groups of 5-10 - 50
•
Apart from workshops seminars are geared more toward learning about a particular topic
or related subtopics.
•
regular meetings focusing each time on some particular subject,
•
Sometimes referred as “conference” where given information or training about a specific
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Compiled & presented by Abeje Asefa (MSc Geo informatics.)
Points to be considered about seminar (cont…d)
•
A place where assigned readings are discussed, questions can be raised
and debates can be conducted.
•
Socratic dialogue with a seminar leader or instructor, or through a more
formal presentation of research
•
business seminar focus on personal development and business strategies.
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Compiled & presented by Abeje Asefa (MSc Geo informatics )
• In academia everyone present is requested to participate
• In some countries revolve around term papers, exams,
presentations, and several other assignments.
• Large lecture by known thinker (Europe), research talks
• In some countries university class that includes a term
paper or project,
Seminar in Academic World
• Sometimes an event planner is called on to execute a seminar in an academic
setting. Less formal than a class lecture, a seminar allows for small groups to meet
and discuss academic topics or required reading, as well as set goals for research
and continuing investigation.
• For example: a school district that is revamping/give new and improved form its
science curriculum, might hold a seminar for its science teachers to address the
new standards and practices.
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• Workshops, involve a group of people tackling a specific project, such as strategic
planning. Those attending are expected to contribute
• Business seminars appeal to entrepreneurs or small business owners.
• They share success stories and strategies, as well as information about marketing,
licensing and franchising, or other concerns.
• An example of one of these seminars might be a gathering focused on marketing
through social media. Attendees would learn best practices for promoting their
businesses through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media
platforms.
• Seminars for personnel devt. are designed for the training and enrichment of
employees.
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COURSE OBJECTIVE
The student is expected to learn how to design, prepare & edit seminar papers, write
according to internationally accepted writing style based on know how obtained during
research methodology course.
After successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
• review, design and organize seminar/scientific ideas,
• develop critical thinking & comment on research thoughts, papers, thesis
• Select appropriate topics, draft seminar papers according to set international standards.
• The Supervisors Responsibility?
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BASIC POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR SELLECTION OF
PROJECT/RESEARCH TOPICS
(ABCD’s
to be understood first)
B) Basic Knowledge of research
methods
A) Knowledge of your
World/Country/
Environment/People/
& their Challenges
D)
Selection of
Appropriate
Research
Problem/Topic
C)
Identification
of subject of
interest &
ability
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TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE
2.1. Scientific Knowledge
2.2. Technical/Engineering Knowledge
2.3. Common Sense Knowledge
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BASIC POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED (cont….d)
(Relations b/n Science, Engineering & Technology)
1. Science seeks to
understand the
natural world, and
often needs new
tools to help
discover the
answers.
Science
Engineering
2. Engineers use
scientific discoveries
to design products
and processes that
meet society’s
needs.
Technology
3. Technologies (products and processes) are the result
of engineer’s designs. They are created by technicians
to solve societal needs and wants.
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BASIC POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED (cont….d)
(Steps of the Engineering Design Process)
Step 1
Identify the Need
or Problem
Step 2
Research the
Need or Problem
Step 8
Redesign
Step 7
Communicate the
Solution(s)
Step 3
Develop Possible
Solution(s)
Step 6
Test and Evaluate
the Solution(s)
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Step 4
Select the Best
Possible Solution(s)
Step 5
Construct a
Prototype
Compiled & presented by Abeje Asefa (MSc Geo
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THE RESEARCH PROCESS IN GENERAL
1. INITIATE
What do I really
need to find out?
6. ASSESS
2. LOCATE
What did I learn
from this process?
How do I find the
information?
RESEARCH
PROCESS
5. PRESENT
3. SELECT
How can I
communicate my
research?
What information is
relevant and
reliable?
4. ORGANIZE
How can I use this
information?
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BASIC POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED (cont….d)
(Quality Criteria of Research/Seminar/Thesis /Dissertation)
1. Novelty/Anew or unfamiliar thing:

The results are new, not known before
2. Relevance:

Problem is important, worth knowing ,

Study is made with appropriate methods.

References are up-to-date and related to the subject of the study
3. Design of study

Problem statement is clear,

Selection of methods is justified and clear,

Results presented clearly (others can repeat the study).
4. Quality of results, significance

Results are clear and serve the purpose of the study,

Research problem is solved,

Results have significance, provide improvement,

Conclusions are based on facts only.
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The End
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION !